Rams return with tons of experience

Cornell College Coach Mike Duroe has achieved success as Rams head wrestling coach.

His seventh year at the helm could be the best one yet.

Cornell is ranked fifth in the National Wrestling Coaches Association NCAA Division III poll, returning six national qualifiers and eight total starters from last year's squad that earned a fifth consecutive top-20 finish at the NCAA tournament. The Rams (1-0) will compete Friday at the Iowa City Duals in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, facing the Iowa Central Community College, University of Iowa, and Baker (Kan.) University, starting at 3 p.m.

"Anytime you have six of 10 weights returning with national tournament experience, there's reason for optimistic expectations," Duroe said in a preseason press release. "The reality is you have to prove yourself each and every year. It's still hard to predict how good we will be."

Duroe, a former coach in the Hawkeye Wrestling Club and international coach who has a strong relationship with Hawkeye Coach Tom Brands, has compiled an 80-56-2 dual record at Cornell. He led the Rams to a 14-8-1 mark last year and a fourth-place finish in the Iowa Conference Championships. Fourteen of 24 NCAA qualifiers have earned all-America status under Duroe.

Six of those returning qualifiers are seniors. Nicholas Loughlin (157) and Joe Hambleton (165) are ranked third individually. Tigue Snider (133) is ranked sixth while Andrew Roberts at 184 and 149-pounder Jacob Schwebke are eighth and ninth, respectively. Tim Hood, the lone All-American after finishing eighth at 125 in 2011, rounds out the group of returning national qualifiers.

"In terms of experience and performance, this is the strongest senior class I've had here," Duroe said. "I'm really happy with the leadership."

That group will be leading them right into the fire Friday. Cornell won its IIAC opener against Simpson, winning five of the final six matches to eclipse a nine-point deficit and earn a 28-16 victory. Wrestling against the top-ranked Hawkeyes in CHA, NJCAA five-time national champion and top-ranked Iowa Central and Baker, an upstart NAIA program ranked 15th, will be a measuring stick for the Rams.

"It's important how our guys perform in a hostile and pressure-packed environment like Carver-Hawkeye Arena," Duroe said in a news release. "We can do one of two things ... we can be intimidated and underperform, or we can be stimulated and represent ourselves.

"To compete in the Iowa Duals is exciting for our coaches and athletes. We appreciate the opportunity to go there and wrestle."