Clark gets chance and working for another

IOWA CITY - Tyler Clark finally got his shot in the University of Iowa's lineup.

The junior became the fourth Hawkeye wrestler to see dual action at 133 pounds this season, joining Tony Ramos, Nate Moore and Nick Trizzino. Even though it ended with an 11-4 loss to Oklahoma State's top-ranked Jordan Oliver on Sunday, Clark is working on earning another chance.

The next opportunity could be Saturday when the eighth-ranked Hawkeyes (8-0-1, 1-0 Big Ten) host Ohio State (2-5, 1-1) at 3 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear gold in what is being described as a "Gold Rush" event.

Clark, a state finalist for Bettendorf, opened his career at Iowa State where he was a two-time NCAA qualifier. He red-shirted while sitting out last year after transferring to Iowa. Clark is focused on improving after being on the wrong end of the most lopsided match in the Hawkeyes 15-15 tie with the Cowboys.

"Everything I'm doing starting from when we got back (Monday) is building to the next meet. That's going to be Ohio State," said Clark, who is ranked 10th by Amateur Wrestling News and InterMat. "Hopefully, I'll get a shot at (Jordan) down the road at NCAA's, but right now I just have to take lessons that I learned, continuing to attack on my feet and put that toward my next match and build off that for the next match. Then we're going to get something going from there."

Clark said he dug too big of a hole against Oliver, who built an 8-2 lead after the first. It was too much to overcome. He wasn't going to dwell on the loss, but rebound by being more aggressive and offensive.

"I really need to focus to do the stuff I'm good at on my feet and my ties, angles and explosiveness," Clark said. "Definitely, take it as a challenge."

Clark has been a regular as a lineup possibility in weekly news releases since returning from a broken hand suffered at UNO's Kauffman-Brand Open early in the season. Iowa Coach Tom Brands didn't tell Clark why he was inserted into the lineup, but he didn't need to know.

"He just told me I was getting a nod for the spot and I didn't question it," said Clark, who is 5-3. "I just took it and worked for it. I just didn't get the result that I wanted."

Brands did not elaborate as to what led to his decision but he mentioned  that Ramos (10-3) won a tournament in Omaha last weekend.

"It was good for both guys," Brands said. "Clark gets a big-time match."

Both guys are listed as possibilities to take the mat against the Buckeyes. Clark won a wrestle-off in overtime, but Ramos won a match in regulation in the Midlands Championships quarterfinals before Clark won a tiebreaker decision for fifth-place there in late December.

Ramos, ranked 16th by Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine, has proven to be the most offensive and aggressive, especially on his feet. Clark wants to match it to go along with his strength on the mat to try and earn the spot.

"My ability to ride and my ability to get away," Clark said. "My intensity, attitude and explosiveness need to pick up on my feet. I think that's where the gap is going to be found in our matches."

Both are listed as possibilities for the dual against the Buckeyes. Either will have a test in Ian Paddock, ranked as high as 11th. It could be one of three matches, pitting ranked foes. At 165, either No. 16 Aaron Janssen or Jake Kerr could face No. 8 Colt Sponseller. In a battle of ranked red-shirt freshman, Ethen Lofthouse, ranked 14th, will face the Buckeyes' No. 12 Nick Heflin.

The Hawkeyes won,32-3, last year, but they are focused on this dual, looking for improvement.

"We need to make progress. Quicker," Brands said. "We need to see some things happen. We talked about it.

"All radar is on Saturday."