Moore offense: Hawkeye 165-pounder worked to score more points

MADISON, Wis. – Nick Moore realized the expectations and placed the burden to meet and surpass them on his own shoulders.

He took ownership of his own progress, handling weight management and other issues months before official practice began for the University of Iowa.

“I put a lot of effort into doing it on my own,” Moore said. “I'm getting more out of myself rather than the coaches getting more out of me.”

The product is a more offensive and active Moore, who opened with an impressive 16-5 major decision over Indiana's seventh-seeded Ryan Leblanc in a 165-pound quarterfinal of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships at the University of Wisconsin's Kohl Center.

Moore (20-2) had the highest single-match point total for the Hawkeyes in the first session. It was the ninth time he surpassed double-digits in a match this season, including his third straight. He has worked harder and has become stronger; giving him more chances to score without throwing caution into the wind.

“He's confident,” University of Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “He's strong, he goes to his holds and he believes in what he can do out there. He can hit them and he does.”

Moore scored three takedowns in the opening period against Leblanc, using the outburst to secure a top-six finish and his second straight NCAA berth. In that single match, he scored more points than he did in four matches of his fourth-place Big Ten finish last year.

“I'm scoring multiple times,” said Moore, who credits the improvement to his work in the practice room, especially against 157-pound NCAA champion teammate Derek St. John. “I shouldn't be able to remember how many times I get to the legs (after a match). I should just keep going to the legs.”

The development has been more than just on his feet. He has become more of a complete wrestler and has been affective in every position.

“I'm getting riding-time points, so that's another area of wrestling,” Moore said. “I'm getting out fairly decent. I'm not getting ridden that much.”

The flashes of what made him a highly-touted recruit and a four-time state champion for Iowa City West are more evident. He has become more consistent as well.

“We always knew he had ability,” Brands said. “I know that.

“Now, he's wrestling really well. We have to keep it going.”

Tough draws

The Big Ten Conference is the best in college wrestling. The individual brackets prove that fact.

Of five defending NCAA champions in the field, only Penn State 184-pounder Ed Ruth is the top-seed. Illinois' Jesse Delgado (125) and two-time national titlist Logan Stieber (141) were seeded second. Iowa's 157-pounder Derek St. John was fourth and Minnesota two-time NCAA champion heavyweight Tony Nelson was the fifth seed.

All five advanced to the semifinals, including Nelson, who edged Iowa's Bobby Telford, 2-0. The quarterfinal was the same pairing of the 2012 Big Ten Championship match that Nelson also won 2-0.

Heavyweight is the deepest weight in the conference, receiving nine automatic berths to the NCAA tournament March 20-22 at the Chesapeake Energy Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The bonus round

The University of Iowa helped its cause early, tallying 10 bonus points in the first session. The Hawkeyes scored four major decisions and three pins in seven of its first eight wins.

The first five Iowa matches were won by more than a regular decision.

“Bonus points are always important,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “It adds to the team and the individual. It adds to your wrestling; it adds a factor. When guys are wrestling and scoring fast, you have a good chance to pick up bonus points because you jump on things quick.”

Iowa received falls from Brody Grotius (149) and 197-pounder Nathan Barak in pig-tail matches. Tony Ramos (133) pinned Rossi Bruno in a 133-pound quarterfinal. Josh Driveway (141) opened with a major decision, while Cory Clark (125), 165-pounder Nick Moore and Mike Evans at 174 had major decisions. Moore led the Hawkeyes with a 16-point performance.

“It's good,” Brands said. “We have a lot of good things going on right now and that's what we have to build on.”