Iowa’s work begins to return to top

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The University of Iowa produced its best postseason finish in five seasons.

Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, they are still looking for their first national title since 2010.

After a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, the focus turns to what needs to happen for the Hawkeyes to soar back to the top of college wrestling.

'We need to score more points,” said Iowa Coach Tom Brands, who led he program to a share of the Big Ten Conference tournament team title, a conference dual championship and a runner-up finish at the NWCA National Duals. 'Those are hard to get.

'Regardless of how you want to say it or why, we have to score more points.”

Plenty of firepower returns. The Hawkeyes have six wrestlers with NCAA tournament experience and four All-Americans, including 133-pound national finalist and two-time national medalist Cory Clark.

Nathan Burak (197) notched his second straight top-eight finish and sophomore Thomas Gilman placed fourth at 125 in his first NCAA tournament appearance. Sophomore Sammy Brooks was a win from placing at 184, going 2-2. Brody Grothus was a 2014 national qualifier.

Alex Meyer wrestled behind senior Mike Evans, but defeated two top-10 ranked opponents this season. Edwin Cooper was an NCAA Division II national finalist for Upper Iowa in 2014 and will be in his second season with the program.

'Our team probably has the best depth of any other team,” said freshman Brandon Sorensen, who placed fourth on Saturday. 'We have a lot of guys coming in and looking throughout the summer to keep work hard. Keep progressing.”

Even though five senior starters graduate, the Hawkeyes still return with 58 ½ of their 84 points from the national meet. The returning total is fourth behind champion Ohio State (75), Oklahoma State (65) and Cornell (60). The underclassmen led the way.

'We took the reins and ran with it,” Gilman said. 'Now, we're going to take these guys under our wings and we're going to run with it again next year.

'They have a lot of big shoes to fill, but then again, the shoes really aren't that big.”

Gilman said the Hawkeyes need to become mentally tougher. He would also stress that sacrifices need to be made where guys are willing to make wrestling a 12-month, 365-day devotion.

'We have to get tough,” Gilman said. 'We have some pretty tough freshmen. Some guys looking to compete for that spot next year, but we have a lot of work to do toughness-wise. We came to this tournament and we had a couple first and second round losses and that can't happen.”

Sorensen became the second straight red-shirt freshman to earn All-American honors, joining Cory Clark. He noted the first-year talent that might be waiting in the wings, including 141-pounders Logan Ryan, of Bettendorf, and Seth Gross, former North Scott state titlist Mitch Bowman at 184 and Burke Paddock (165/174). Freshman heavyweight Sam Stoll is expected to contribute next year. Gross was a three-time state champion for national power Apple Valley, Minn. Paddock was a two-time state champ from Warsaw, N.Y.

'I could see a few of them,” Sorensen said about the likelihood of another red-shirt freshman All-American next season. 'They are some really good guys who have potential and it could really happen.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com