Marion talks about return to wrestling at Carver-Hawkeye Arena

IOWA CITY - Montell Marion didn't hear the ovation the Hawkeye wrestling fans offered when he made his return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The 141-pound junior was comfortable before his first match in front of Iowa's home crowd after being suspended from the program in May following a drunk driving arrest.

“It just felt right,” said Marion, who improved to 2-0 with a 13-5 major decision over Indiana's Mitchell Richy on Friday. “It felt like that's where I'm supposed to be.”

Marion talked to media after the Hawkeyes' dominant 35-6 win over the Hoosiers. He was direct, discussing his doubt of being allowed to return, what it means to be back in the lineup and the measures he has taken to earn his comeback.

View the video package from our John Sears after the Indiana dual Marion interview at the end.

Marion barely took a seat for most of the dual and could be seen cheering on his teammates. He enjoyed the excitement generated during the Hawkeyes win.

“I love the environment,” said Marion, a two-time state champion and four-time finalist from Des Moines. “I love these fans we've got out here.”

When Marion, 22, suffered a drunk driving arrest, it appeared his college wrestling career at Iowa was in jeopardy when he was "permanently suspended" from the program. Marion was not allow to participate in team events until being reinstated to practice only the first week of January.

“I didn't think it was going to happen, because personally there wasn't any glimmer of hope for me when they dismissed me from the team,” Marion said. “After I started doing some things to change my lifestyle and letting them know I was serious about staying in Iowa City for classes, registering for class the new semester.”

That is when Iowa Coach Tom Brands said he started to become an advocate for Marion, but Brands wanted to see action instead of words. It became the first step to show that he was determined to return. Marion said he realizes this is his final chance and he is focused to make it count.

“There's no more playing around,” Marion said. “There's no more leeway for me right now. I'm at the end of my rope and I have to make the best of it and I intend to do that.”

University of Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta recognized the steps Marion has made in the last nine months.

“Montell has made some poor decisions and he continues to pay a significant price,” said Barta in a news release at the time of his reinstatement. “With that said, I'm proud of the changes he is making in his life. I support the plan that has been put in place and, more importantly, I'm encouraged with his commitment going forward. I would take great pride in one day watching Montell walk across the graduation stage.”

Marion made his debut with an 11-9 come-from-behind victory over then-No. 5 ranked Andrew Alton at Penn State. He showed good conditioning, dominating the third periods of both of his matches thus far. Marion seemed to be at a peak in his career when he earned a runner-up finish at 141 pounds at the 2010 NCAA Championships. He finished that season 27-6. The talent and drive have always been there, but the elements away from the program and practice are what he has eliminated.

“The only thing that's changed is more focus and staying away from extracurriculars,” Marion said. “By extracurricular I mean downtown and unnecessary things that aren't conducive to the wrestler mentality. Other than that, my mentality is the same from the national finals to this point.”

Brands said he didn't know if the crowd reaction was for Montell or whether it was for something else.

“If it's about Montell then it's a good tribute to him,” Brands said after the dual.

The story is one Marion wants to put behind him, but he said he understands why it is getting attention. He hopes something constructive stems from it, and he can continue to focus on wrestling.

“I do want to make one thing clear," Marion said. "I'm here to represent the University of Iowa in a positive way and I want to focus on the positive things that I think my story can definitely turn into something positive."

His return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena in an Iowa Hawkeye singlet turned out to be very positive.