Morningstar returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena

IOWA CITY – Former University of Iowa wrestler Ryan Morningstar knows how he ranks now that he is a member of the University of Wisconsin coaching staff.

After all, his own grandfather wouldn't replace the Hawkeye sticker in the window of his vehicle with a Badger one.

Morningstar will make his return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena when the Badgers take on the fifth-ranked Hawkeyes (10-3, 5-2) in the Big Ten Conference regular-season finale Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m.

Morningstar was a two-time All-American and four-time NCAA qualifier for the Hawkeyes (2005-10), posting a 24-8 mark for Iowa at CHA. He will share the experience of many of his opponents.

“I'm definitely going to see the other side of Carver-Hawkeye Arena,” said Morningstar, who won 110 college matches. “It's going to be a change to what I'm used to but it's just like any enemy arena. You have to go in with the task at hand and be ready to compete.”

During the summer, Morningstar left Iowa City, where he was training with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, and joined the staff of former Hawkeye and Cedar Rapids Prairie alum Barry Davis. The venture into coaching has been tough. This year the Badgers, who had their top three wrestlers – Tyler Graff (133), Andrew Howe (165) and Travis Rutt (184) – take Olympic red-shirt seasons, are 5-9 overall and 0-7 in the Big Ten.

“It's definitely a learning experience,” Morningstar said. “There's a lot more to coaching than the wrestling part.”

He's enjoyed his time with Davis. He is trying to soak in everything he can from the long-time Wisconsin coach. Morningstar described him as “awesome” and fun.

“I love working with Barry,” Morningstar said. “I'm learning a lot from him. He's really showing me the ropes of coaching.”

The former Lisbon state champion has juggled coaching with training. Morningstar, ranked eighth at 163, has qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials, also held at CHA on April 21-22. It's become a give-and-take relationship with his wrestlers, especially 165-pounder Ben Jordan. Both are training to be the best competitors, although different levels and styles.

Earlier this week he was at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“Basically, when I get a chance,” Morningstar said about training at the USOTC. “Coach Davis is pretty lenient. He knows what it's like to train and coach at the same time.”

Morningstar remains close to his hometown friends and other Hawkeyes, staying in contact with HWC member and former Iowa teammate Joey Slaton and exchanging the occasional text with Hawkeye assistant Mike Zadick. He expects to see some familiar faces Sunday, but knows they will be rooting for the Hawkeyes when the whistle blows.

“It's pretty tough to convert some family members from being a Hawkeye,” Morningstar said. “I'm sure I'll have a good support group there.”