McDonough ready to return to top

IOWA CITY - Matt McDonough didn't watch any sports highlights for weeks and hasn't competed in a match for months.

What the University of Iowa two-time NCAA finalist has done is turn the channel and prepare to hit the wrestling mat again.

McDonough enters his junior season as the unanimous top-ranked 125-pounder in NCAA Division I, and will attempt to win his second national title after losing to Arizona State's Anthony Robles in the national championship match in March.

He's ready to move forward toward more gold. 

"I'm extremely eager," McDonough said. "It's something that I haven't competed since that NCAA Championship match. No one wants to stop on a defeat. I'm ready to get right back in to it."

McDonough said he didn't watch ESPN for weeks as Robles, who was born without a right leg, became an instant media darling for his championship. He had no interest in the deluge of images from the match, the awards offered up to Robles or the constant questions surrounding competition against a one-legged opponent.

"It's about how am I going to use that to get better and watching it over and over, I've seen it enough times," McDonough said. "It's not something you want to watch but everything has to work toward making you stronger and impervious to that pain and to the sour taste in your mouth."

Iowa Coach Tom Brands said the loss created a similar situation as Brent Metcalf's loss to Darrion Caldwell in the 2009 NCAA Championships. The result was drawn out by others, producing constant reminders for a long period. Brands said that motivation isn't necessary for competitors like McDonough and Metcalf.

"He's a unique fellow when it comes to competition," Brands said. "Like I said earlier, he's the most dedicatedfellow I've coached in a long, long time."

McDonough said he learned to be ready for any situation. The match bolstered the idea to give every ounce of effort and not hold anything back. He has been focused on the future for a long time.

"I took my time to be upset about it," McDonough said. "Ten, 15, 30 minutes a day and then I moved on and that was it and that's how it has to be.

"It wasn't my last match ever. I'm not done wrestling."

McDonough will look to improve on his stellar 64-3 varsity record, which includes a 2011 Big Ten title and 2010 NCAA crown at 125. He has been a bonus-point machine, winning 49 matches by pin, technical fall or major decisions. He leads the current team with 23 career pins.

"He's a big (125)-pounder. He is very disciplined with his weight," Brands said. "He is literally the last guy to leave every night, every practice. He doesn't miss workouts. He's about the right things."

His mind is about distancing himself from every other wrestler in the country. He is determined not to just be the best but be the most dominant competitor.

"The biggest thing for me is increasing the level not only competing with everyone bu making a gap between everyone, making a gap they can't jump," McDonough said. "Scoring more points than anyone else, but not just beating them, beating them and making it so no one is even close."