Iowa's Thomas Gilman eyes third Midlands title

Thomas Gilman's mettle was tested.

Iowa's two-time All-American and NCAA finalist hadn't wrestled his first official match as a Hawkeye when he was eliminated from a college tournament for the first time. The only time, actually. Gilman went 2-2, wrestling unattached at the 2012 Ken Kraft Midlands Championships.

'I think that was a good measuring stick for me my true freshman year,' Gilman said. 'They threw me in the fire there and maybe I wasn't quite ready for it but I got my eyes opened and I was ready the next year.'

Gilman has made the finals since, earning titles in 2013 and 2015. The top-ranked 125-pounder has a chance to become Iowa's 11th three-time titlist at the storied Midlands Championships at Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena. Competition begins Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

The feat isn't lost on Gilman, who is aware of the tradition of past champions including former Iowa State champion and legendary Iowa coach Dan Gable. He could join other former Hawkeyes Joe Williams, Mark Ironside, Chris Campbell, Randy Lewis, Royce Alger, Ed Banach, Brent Metcalf, Jim Heffernan, Chuck Yagla and former Northwestern head coach Tim Cysweski.

'It would mean a lot,' said Gilman, who is 14-3 all-time in this tournament. 'I know the history of Midlands, going back to even Gable competing in the tournament. Being able to win my third one I think that would be real cool going down in the books that way.'

Gilman (8-0) is one of 11 nationally-ranked wrestlers by trackwrestling.com in the bracket. He might take a peek at potential opponents, but Gilman focuses more on himself than anyone he could face.

'I look at it and maybe watch some film and think about some things, but never dwell on them,' Gilman said. 'Just be aware of opponents and capabilities but that's about it.'

Gilman isn't the lone Hawkeye with a chance to enter select territory. Junior 149-pounder Brandon Sorensen can become a member of the 20-in-4 Club, which consists of wrestlers who have won at least 20 matches in their first four years in the tournament.

Sorensen, ranked second, is 17-2 all-time in the tournament, winning last year's title after consecutive third-place finishes. Sorensen would join John Bowlsby, Barry Davis, Williams, Ironside, Wes Hand, Jody Strittmatter, Doug Schwab and Cliff Moore. Gable was the first to accomplish it, winning 20 from 1966-69 for the Cyclones.

'It's another feather in the cap there and it's not done yet,' said Sorensen, a two-time All-American and returning national runner-up with a 10-0 mark this season. 'Nothing is proven this year. I still have to go do that. That's the plan.'

The 54th Midlands remains one of the marquee regular-season college tournaments, including wrestlers from all divisions and even post-collegiate and international competitors. Iowa Coach Tom Brands said the achievements would be considered a big deal.

'You want to be put in the conversation with the best guys to go through that tournament because of the history and tradition,' Brands said. 'It's not so much the past, it's more what they do now and then years from now we can look back and say they were one of the best to wrestle in the Midlands. We've got an opportunity with two guys that are going to put their name up there with the best to ever wrestle in the tournament, if they do their job in the present.'

Iowa could trot out a familiar face that has been absent from competition and a freshman possibly proving he is ready to shed a redshirt this season.

Top-ranked Cory Clark is not on the team's list of competitors and hasn't wrestled since the Purdue dual Nov. 27. Heavyweight Sam Stoll, who has been rehabbing from knee surgery after last season, is expected to wrestle in at least part of the tournament.

'I feel really good,' Stoll said. 'It should be fun.'

Stoll has been on the mat in the practice room, but he spent much of the last nine months restricted to a stationary bike. He said he hasn't enjoyed being a spectator.

'I really want to get back out on the mat,' Stoll said. 'I've wanted to for a while. I'm so excited.'

Brands has reiterated the program's approach, noting they are aggressive in treatment and conservative with competition. Stoll probably won't complete the tournament, getting a few matches in and possibly defaulting out of the event.

'That could be the plan,' Brands said. 'If he wrestles in the Midlands, it won't be the full tournament.'

True freshmen Alex Marinelli and Kaleb Young (both at 165) and Carter Happel (141) will make their Midlands debuts.

Marinelli has been at the center of talks about shedding his redshirt and entering the Hawkeyes' lineup. Redshirt freshman Joey Gunther is 10-0 as the 165 starter, but the highly-touted Marinelli came to Iowa City with potential of being an immediate starter.

Midlands could serve as a good indicator and Brands said that is accurate for the Iowa program.

'There's no secret he (Marinelli) is in the conversation and we'll see,' said Brands, who didn't pull redshirts from Derek St. John, Sorensen or 157-pounder Michael Kemerer, who placed at Midlands their first year unattached. 'He won't be out of redshirt at the Midlands but it will be an indicator and, more than that is whether or not he's capable but whether or not he wants to do it and we need him to do it.'

Marinelli hasn't wrestled since opening with a title at the Grand View Open. He said he expects a grind, but is confident in his strengths.

'I think this is a good tournament for me and a good test to see where I'm at and where to go forward with the team process,' Marinelli said. 'I'm really excited about that and to get going.'

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