Janssen different approach to similar position

IOWA CITY - University of Iowa wrestler Aaron Janssen finds himself in a similar position as he did last year, but he has a different attitude to score from it.

The Hawkeyes senior is in another battle with fellow senior Jake Kerr for a starting in the lineup, following the duo's battle for the 157-pound spot last season. Both are listed as possible wrestlers at 165 pounds when the unbeaten Hawkeyes host Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Friday, starting at 7 p.m.

Last year, it was Kerr that received the final nod and converted it into an NCAA Championships berth. Janssen turned the disappointment into a new outlook.

"Last year I was beyond upset," Janssen said. "So, I said I'm not going to hold anything back this year. I'm just going to go out and wrestle hard like I know I can wrestle and how I've been able to wrestle the last four years."

Janssen, who posted a 12-4 record last year going 10-2 in duals, said he wrestled with his back against the wall. He was concerned with just winning that he limited his performance. He said he takes the mat without as many worries, concentrating on wrestling to the best of his ability.

"When I get the chance just go out there and put a statement on my performance as well as just going out there and doing my thing," Janssen said. "I'm not worried about winning a match by a point or two. I'm trying to go out there to dominate."

The idea is to take advantage of the chance when he gets it.

"Take every opportunity for what it's worth," Janssen said. "Just going out there and wrestling without any worries."

Janssen, ranked 15th by InterMat, leads all other projected Hawkeye starters for Friday's dual with 14 victories, according to a press release from the UI sports information department. He has won the UNI Open and placed third at the UNO's Kaufman-Brand Open. Janssen placed fifth at 165 pounds at the Midlands Championships, beating four seeded wrestlers with both losses coming to Missouri's fifth-seeded Zach Toal. Kerr, seeded sixth, did not place, with his final loss was a 3-1 decision to Janssen.

Janssen's effort was tied for second-best by a Hawkeye, joining Tyler Clark (133) and Ethen Lofthouse (174) in fifth.

Iowa Coach Tom Brands said Janssen showed explosiveness, energy, wrestling from all positions and denying opponents' counters. He has to do it all the time.

"The things he did well are the things he needs to continue to do well consistently," Brands said. "That's what you like to see."

Janssen didn't care to see an alarming trend in his bouts. Slow starts found him in an early hole, even in the matches he won. He will have to reverse that, if he wants to continue to win and be considered for the starting spot. The state champion from Emmetsburg prefers to be cool, calm and collected before matches, but somewhat joked about resorting to some face-slaps and foot-firing to get his motor started for the opening whistle.

"That can't happen. I have learned I have to come out hot and hit my stuff right away," Janssen said about slow starts. "Right before the match I'm going to have to do something where I'm burning diesel fuel for seven minutes straight."

Even though he surrendered some early scores, the key is he never surrendered and continued to fight. Brands picked up on the effort.

"He got taken down right away and battled," Brands said. He didn't get taken down and cave in. You get taken down and you keep battling and that's what he did."

The Midlands Championships were expected to be an opportunity where a Hawkeye could separate themselves from teammates and take a step closer to claiming the starting spot on their own. The competition between Janssen and Kerr, who won a preseason wrestle-off between the two, wasn't settled with the latest tournament.

"I don't look at it that way at all. I look at it like we have to continue to bring two guys along," Brands said. "We have two guys there getting ready to go. That's the way it is."

It appears the same can be said for 133 and 149. Clark and Tony Ramos are vying for the 133 spot. The two split matches at the Midlands with Ramos finishing a spot behind in sixth.

"They were 1-1 against each other," Brands said. "We'll make a decision on Friday."

Jeret Chiri has held the 149-pound spot after Dylan Carew lost the season to surgeries to repair ligaments in both knees. Senior Matt Ballweg has cut to 149, where he wrestled at the Midlands. Neither placed. Both are listed for the dual against the Cougars, and that's when the decision will be made.

"We'll dress both guys," Brands said. "We're bringing those guys along. They all have to be brought along."