Hawkeye wrestling taking care of business in preseason

CEDAR RAPIDS - It's the same approach. The same championship mentality that has made it one of the top programs in the country.

University of Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands said the Hawkeyes are at it like normal and preparation for the 2011-12 college wrestling season started before the start of official practice.

“We have guys that are wired about business as usual, and it's time to ramp it up,” Brands said. “The good thing about our team is individuals realize it's a steady progression. It's not like they've had months and months off, and now they're into it and then they're gung ho.”

Brands, Hawkeyes women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder and head men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery addressed the Linn County I-Club on Wednesday at Longbranch Convention Center.

The Hawkeyes were third at the NCAA Championships in March and finished runner-up at the Big Ten meet. They enter the season with a 77-dual unbeaten streak. Despite the strong of three straight NCAA and conference team titles being snapped and an unbeaten streak that dates back to January 2008, the Iowa approach continues to be constant.

“I think it's the same,” Brands said. “The urgency is the same. That's the message with our team throughout the spring, and the message isn't even talked about. We would be acting the same right now if we got whipped, meaning if we were 30

^th

in the country, or if we were the national champion by 40 points. That's a sign of a steady program.”

Listen to Brands talk about Matt McDonough and the rest of the Hawkeyes.

Iowa is led by two-time NCAA finalist and 2010 national champion Matt McDonough, the 125-pound NCAA runner-up in March. The Hawkeyes also welcome back two-time All-American and 2010 NCAA finalist Montell Marion, who was fourth at 141 last year. All-Americans Derek St. John (157) and Grant Gambrall (184) return with Big Ten champion heavyweight Blake Rasing and Tony Ramos and Ethen Lofthouse all owning national tournament experience. Up to eight wrestlers who were starters last year give the Hawkeyes a more experienced lineup.

Brands also mentioned Nate Moore (133), Mark Ballweg (149) Dylan Carew (149), middleweights Mike Kelly and Nick Moore, younger brother of Nate, Mike Evans, Vinny Wagner and Tomas Lira, both at 184/197, and heavyweight Bobby Telford are all set to make an impact for the squad.

Brands said it isn't about being better because the wrestler is a year older, instead it is about realizing what needs to be worked on and addressing it to be a more complete competitor. He sees that in his team, and now it must translate to success on the mat.

" The effort is good," Brands said. "Now, it has to be with results.”

All the experience from last year should mesh well with a talented group of red-shirt freshmen ready to contribute on the mat for the Hawkeyes. The group which includes Josh Dziewa (141), Kelly, Nick Moore, Evans, who Brands confirmed was trying to drop to 165, and Telford, who Brands said will give Rasing strong competition for the starting spot. Brands said the lineup will shake out with wrestle-offs right around the corner.

“We like depth,” Brands told the crowd of Hawkeye supporters at the Longbranch. “We like the idea that we have competition in the room, not because you like the fact that if something bad happens to somebody you can plug another guy in, but I think competition is healthy in all aspects of life. It keeps you sharp.”

Now is the time for walking the walk, and reaping the rewards from their effort in training. Plenty of potential exists, if they continue their business-like attitude.

“Veterans and new guys alike have to be about getting the job done,” Brands said. “I think we're about that in spoken word, but we haven't been about it in deed. I think we can win a lot of matches, and I think we're starting to figure out that the way to win is to dominate and then you win those tight matches.”