Schwab ready to turn around UNI wrestling

CEDAR FALLS - University of Northern Iowa wrestling coach Doug Schwab arrived at the Panthers media day press conference in "battle mode."

The Panthers' first-year head coach was dressed in a gray workout sweatshirt and sweatpants, wrestling shoes and fully beard. A major contrast from the suit with purple shirt and gold tie he sported when named the UNI skipper.

Schwab's appearance conveyed his message during the media press conference Tuesday at UNI's West Gym. He is ready to work to turn around the Panthers' wrestling program.

“I guess I feel more comfortable in this,” Schwab said of his attire. “I just want my guys to see that I'm right there with you. I'm right there ready to go to war with you. I'm beside you for everything. I lift with the guys, I like to wrestle with the guys, I like to do everything that I can to help them be an example and they can feel that energy.”

Schwab,  an Osage native who was a three-time All-American and 1999 141-pound NCAA champion for the University of Iowa, served as an assistant to Tom Brands the last six season, including the last four with the Hawkeyes. He has brought about a change in culture, increasing the intensity in the room. He's taking a hands on approach to mold the Panthers back into winners, imposing his will on the wrestlers.

“Doug has been striving to make everybody better,” senior Jarion Beets said. “I feel like everybody in the room is a lot tougher than they were last year, and things are going to be a lot tougher around here than they have ever been.”

Schwab has a desire to resurrect a program that has fallen to the lower levels of the Division I ranks. He spent much of his youth in the West Gym, attending UNI meets when his brothers, Mike and Mark, wrestled for the Pantehrs in the 1980's. He wants to see the venue packed again.

“Hopefully, the next year and next coming years, every one of these seats are filled, because of the progress our team has made, making ourselves household names and putting ourselves on the national scene again,” Schwab said.

To build for the future Schwab had to reconnect to the past when he took over in May. He's made connected with alumni and former wrestlers to help restore support, which showed when nearly 200 people attended a practice on homecoming weekend.

It was also a small reason why he decided to move all the Panthers' home meets back to the historic West Gym, which houses the team's practice room.

“I think it's the best thing for my team,” Schwab said. “It's the best environment and atmosphere for my team is here at the West Gym.

“There's a romance and connection with the West Gym. Everybody that I've talked with loves this place. They love that it's going to be here."

The transition between head coaches has been fairly smooth. Sophomore David Bonin said Schwab stepped in and kept rolling, helping the team jump to another level. Schwab said the team has been receptive to his style of coaching.

“I think they like what's going on,” said Schwab, noting that he learned some things when he moved from Virginia Tech to Iowa with Brands. “These guys are young men who have goals and dreams they want to accomplish. They feel this is the best way for them to get it done.”

Schwab has assembled a solid staff, which includes older brother, Mark, who was a two-time All-American for the Panthers. He also retained Randy Pugh from the previous staff. Tolly Thompson is in his 8th season as the volunteer assistant at UNI, returnign for the first time since 2008. Schwab added former Hawkeye NCAA runner-up Joey Slaton as  strength and conditioning coach.

Schwab said he is happy with his staff.

“We get along well," Schwab said. "We joke together. We have good camaraderie. We're getting to be cohesive as a unit.”  

The Panthers return one All-American in Beets, who placed eighth at the NCAA Championships at 174 pounds. Beets, a former Cedar Rapids Kennedy prep, posted a 22-12, winning a Western Wrestling Conference title.

Schwab said Beets is strong and explosive, which produced an impressive offense from his feet. The focus is to expand his ability on his feet and develop Beets' ability to ride his opponent. The senior, who is being pushed by red-shirt freshman Brice Wolf, has potential for great things, according to Schwab.

"He could be a national champion," Schwab said about Beets. "I believe that. I believe that about my guys up and down the board, but I see some good things out of him."

The good things were delayed a bit while development after last season was hindered by a severe injury at nationals. Beets was forced to default from the tournament, suffering a rectus femoris tear that pulled the muscle five centimeters of the bone. he reinjured it in the summer, trying to do too much too soon. It took until mid-August to recover.

“I couldn't do anything,” Beets said. “Everything hurt the hip, so I was out a really long time.”

Confidence is key for Beets to progress into one of the nation's top 174-pounders. Schwab sees that growing, and Beets seems certain of his status come March.

“I still feel like I have a lot of potential,” Beets said. “By the end of the year there will be no doubt in my mind where I'll be and where I'll need to be at that time.”

At that time last year, though, Beets was content with reaching the podium at nationals, completing a late-season surge. Shortly after the season, complacency was replaced by desire for bigger goals.  

"Once you start to taste that and feel it," Schwab said of success. "You get a little bit of it you want more of it and he wants more of it."

Two-time national qualifier Christian Brantley returns at heavweight after going 25-11 last year. Andy O'Loughlin, an NCAA qualifier in 2008, should compete with Joe Johnson and Dustin Bauman for a starting spot at 197.

David Bonin is making a drop from 165 to 157. As an undersized 165-pounder Bonin was a second-team all-conference selection. He is excited about the move down.

“I'm ready to rock and roll. Ready to see what happens,” Bonin said. “I'm pumped for this season."

Bonin wasn't putting any limitations on his achievements this season.

“Go as far as we can get,” Bonin said. “The sky's the limit.”

Trevor Kittleson, an NCAA qualifier in 2009, and 2008 NCAA qualifier Nick Pickerell, who has battled injuries the last two seasons could contribute to the Panthers at 157 and 165, this season.

The time for talking about improvement is over. Schwab wants to see real results on the mat and so do his wrestlers. 

“They're eager and chomping at the bit,” Schwab said. “They're ready to get out there and compete and that's what I'm ready to see too. I'm ready to see how these guys respond.”

So, Schwab is officially in battle mode to make the Panthers to national prominence. He is looking for immediate success.

“I've had a lot of people talk to me about two, three, four years when you get the team in there that you want, when you get your guys in there then you'll really have something,” Schwab said. “I want to say to that, Why can't we win this year?

“We're going to perform that way. We've been training that way. We've trained like a championship team. We're preparing like a championship team and we'll see where the results end up.”