Hawkeyes maintain championship philosophy

IOWA CITY - For most wrestling programs, being third in the nation and returning four All-Americans would be a nice hat-hanging fixture.

The University of Iowa, however, is nothing like any other wrestling program.

The Hawkeyes know there is plenty of work to do to reclaim their championship ways as they open the season ranked second in the national Wrestling Coaches Association/USA Today NCAA Division I Coaches Poll. Iowa will hold wrestle-offs Thursday through Saturday and open the season next weekend at the Lindenwood Open in St. Louis, Mo.

During the team's annual media day Wednesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa Coach Tom Brands referred to the team poster, featuring All-Americans Matt McDonough, Montell Marion, Derek St. John and Grant Gambrall. Accomplished wrestlers that didn't reach their ultimate goal. Even if they did, six other wrestlers would need to work to match that level. So, unless there is a sweep of individual titles, the Hawkeyes approach the season with the same philosophy to work hard in order to become the best and never be complacent.

"I think that's how those guys are," Brands said. "None of those guys are satisfied. Short of perfection, let's pin everybody every time, win a national championship in ten weight classes. That would be a pretty good year."

The Hawkeyes enter the season with a school record 77-dual unbeaten streak, including 33 straight wins at CHA and 35 in a row against Big Ten foes. Iowa is led by McDonough, the 2010 125-pound NCAA champion, who was a runner-up last year, Marion, an NCAA finalist in 2010, who placed fourth last season and St. John (157)  and 184-pound Gambrall, who placed fourth and third, respectively.

They helped Iowa to third place at the NCAA Championships in March and second at last season's Big Ten meet after winning three straight titles in each. The goal is to capture another championship for a program that already owns 23 national titles and 34 Big Ten crowns, including three each in Brands' five-year head coaching tenure with the Hawkeyes.

"There's four guys coming back, and realistically there are however many guys on this team coming in that want to accomplish something that we didn't do last year," McDonough said. "I think that especially hurts because we know we should have, could have and if we don't this year that's unacceptable. It's never acceptable. You're always working for No. 1."

Marion said the goal is to strive for perfection or get as close as possible. The idea applies to the individual and then transfers to the team success. 

"Individually, if you don't have a national title there is unfinished business," said Marion, noting that even with a national title there is work to do to win again or be an unbeaten champion. "As a team, we've got to get the national title. We've got to get it undefeated."

Eight weights have starters returning from last season. Tony Ramos at 133, 174-pounder Ethen Lofthouse, Mark Ballweg (141/149) and heavyweight Blake Rasing all had postseason experience last year. Quite the turnaround from a year ago where the Hawkeyes were replacing seven seniors who graduated from the 2010 NCAA title team.

Ramos, a red-shirt sophomore, was a match away from all-America status last season, going 25-6 including a 12-0 mark in duals. Lofthouse was 20-10, placing third at the Big Ten meet, and, like Ramos, currently starts the season ranked as high as third. Rasing was the Big Ten champion but didn't place at the NCAA tournament, finishing 18-7 overall.

The Hawkeyes will need those wrestlers to make gains, surpassing their previous accomplishments and advancing to a higher level of performance. Brands said they need to keep progressing so they take ownership of the program instead of being a tenth of the equation. 

"It goes back to what our daddys all taught us, and our moms, and that is you don't get anything that you deserve," Brands said. "You get what you earn."

Proven starters will have to earn their spot with a highly-touted group of red-shirt freshmen stepping into the mix. Among those are heavyweight Bobby Telford, Michael Evans (165), Josh Dziewa (141), Nick Moore (165) and Michael Kelly at 157. Brands said there likely will be more than two new faces in the lineup with the competition brewing in the practice room.

"I'm not saying that it's going to be that way the whole year," Brands said. "I'm saying that you're going to see where these guys are going to get a chance."

The fight and toughness some of them have displayed in the room already have caught the attention of the veterans.

"We have some young guys who are scary to watch in the wrestling room," McDonough said. "People who don't want to just eek things out, but people that want to dominate. People that want to mentally and physically demoralize their opponents. That's a mentality that makes a program great."

 It's a sign of depth and Marion said the group has added to the Hawkeyes' trademark intense practice room.

"There are guys who don't want to take back seats to other guys just because they're older," Marion said. "It's real good for the room."

Evans is considered a strong candidate for the 165 spot, and Telford has challenged at heavyweight. Evans said every spot is open and it will fall to whoever wants it most.

"We have some firepower," Evans said about the group of red-shirt freshmen. "We've got some guys that want that spot."

Whoever graces the lineup, the standard will remain the same, which distances Iowa from many programs. The goal is to be the best and with all 10 striving to that level the team titles will take care of themselves. Just like they did three straight seasons before last year.

"Getting third in the nation, everyone else might look back on that and say that's pretty good. That's a good finish," McDonough said. "being around the Iowa program, third, second is never what you want. You want first all the time."

This team's time is now.