No. 1 Hawkeyes, No. 11 Cyclones ready for big early season showdown
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Iowa’s Cory Clark returns Iowa State’s Earl Hall to the mat during Clark’s 8-7 win last season. Iowa State Daily photo.
The NCAA Championships are still almost four months away, but wrestling fans in Iowa will be treated to some high-level wrestling over Thanksgiving weekend.
The annual showdown between Iowa and Iowa State is almost here, and it once again features two strong, tradition-rich programs looking to make a big early season statement.
First whistle between the Hawkeyes and Cyclones is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The dual will be televised live statewide on Mediacom. A Big Ten Network Plus video stream will be available online at btn2go.com.
The Hawkeyes and Cyclones have met at least once a year since 1973. Iowa holds a 62-16-2 edge in the series against Iowa State, and has won the last 10 meetings.
Iowa has won 23 NCAA team titles since 1975 and is gunning for its first championship since 2010. Iowa State has won eight NCAA titles, with its last championship coming in 1987.
The Hawkeyes, ranked No. 1 in the NWCA Coaches’ Poll, have a strong, deep and experienced lineup. Iowa started the season with dominant performances at the Luther Open and the Iowa City Duals the past two weekends.
“We expect what we always expect – we expect our guys to go out and compete,” Iowa coach Tom Brands said during a meeting with reporters on Tuesday afternoon. “I know it’s important for both programs. We want to keep moving forward and we need to be ready to go.
“This is our arena and there’s nothing better than competing in front of these fans when you do your job. And there’s nothing worse than competing in front of them when you don’t do your job, so let’s do our job. Let’s have a big party, a big celebration.”
The Hawkeyes are led by returning All-Americans Cory Clark (133 pounds), Mike Evans (174), Nathan Burak (197) and Bobby Telford (285) along with NCAA qualifiers Nick Moore (165), Brody Grothus (149) and Josh Dziewa (141).
Telford is ranked No. 3 in the nation, Clark and Evans are each No. 4, Moore is No. 5, Burak is No. 6, Dziewa is No. 9 and Grothus is No. 13.
Telford finished fourth at the 2014 NCAA tournament, Clark placed fifth, Evans sixth and Burak eighth.
Hawkeye sophomore Thomas Gilman, a starter for much of last season, is ranked No. 6 at 125. Gilman won the Midlands title last season and was a 2014 Junior World bronze medalist for the U.S. in freestyle wrestling.
“They’re going to be ready for us,” Gilman said. “They think they’ve trained hard and their coaching staff has them talked up. They are going to be fired up to come to Carver-Hawkeye Arena, but once we put that pressure on them they’re going to fold, they’re going to break.
“The mentality we bring to the mat and the pressure we bring, they can’t handle that. We’ve proven that in the past, but we’ve got to prove that this week too.”
Iowa sophomore Sam Brooks, a 2013 Junior World Team member, is ranked seventh at 184.
The Cyclones, ranked 11th nationally, are off to a 4-0 start this season. Iowa State has earned lopsided dual wins over Utah Valley, Boise State, Central Michigan and Michigan State.
“Iowa has had our number for a few years now,” ISU coach Kevin Jackson said during Tuesday’s USA Wrestling Google Hangout. “We have to go out there and make it the rivalry that it’s supposed to be. We’re real excited about it. We’re excited about the opportunity. It’s a gladiators’ arena. We’re looking to hopefully have 15,000 fans in there and put a show on.
“This is one of those events that can put wrestling on a pedestal. We have guys in our lineup that we feel are capable of competing at a very high level. We need 10 men strong who need to wrestle like they are capable to give us a chance to succeed. It’s a great chance for us to compete in an environment like Carver-Hawkeye Arena. If we can perform well there, we can perform well in any environment.”
Iowa State is led by returning All-Americans Kyven Gadson (197), Mike Moreno (165) and Earl Hall (133).
Gadson, a two-time All-American, is ranked No. 2 nationally. Moreno is ranked third and Hall is No. 16 after bumping up a weight class this year.
Gadson, who placed fourth at the 2014 NCAAs, was asked about wrestling in Carver-Hawkeye as a senior.
“It’s awesome – I actually grew up in Iowa City,” said Gadson, whose late father Willie also was an All-American for ISU. “When I was 12 years old, I was at Carver-Hawkeye when Iowa State beat Iowa. I told my dad at that time that I was going to wrestle for Iowa State just like he did.
“I didn’t come to Iowa State to lose to the Hawkeyes. This is our chance to do something special and shock some people outside our room. We believe we can beat them. It’s going to be fun.”
Hall was a 2012 Junior World Team member in freestyle wrestling. Hall placed eighth at nationals last season.
Clark edged Hall 8-7 in last season’s Iowa-ISU dual meet before he posted a 10-4 wrestleback win over Hall in the NCAA tournament.
“It was one of those crazy matches that we had to really get gutsy to win it,” Brands said of the Clark-Hall dual matchup in 2013. “The national tournament was another big match and we came out on top. We have to be ready to go. One thing about Cory Clark is he will give you everything – everything he’s got.”
NCAA qualifiers Tanner Weatherman (174) and Lelund Weatherspoon (184) also are back this season for the Cyclones. Weatherman is ranked No. 7 and Weatherspoon No. 18. ISU also has NCAA qualifier Gabe Moreno (149) in its lineup.
Moore beat Mike Moreno 3-1 in last year’s dual. Moreno beat Moore 5-3 in the first round of the 2013 NCAA tournament.
“You’ve got two seniors and two guys who are after the same thing,” Brands said. “Neither guy has won a national title yet. They feel good about their guy and we feel good about our guy. Let the fur fly, let the fur fly in all of them.”
Mike Moreno came on strong late in the season, placing fifth at the NCAA tournament.
“I’ve been thinking about this dual a lot,” Moreno said. “I’m real excited to go in there and get it done. Nothing would make me happier than to wrestle in silence in front of that crowd. I’m revved up. I’m ready to go and I’m excited.”
Evans beat Weatherman 10-1 in the 2013 dual.
Brands said the Iowa coaches are still in the process of determining the starter at 149 between Grothus, Brandon Sorensen and Edwin Cooper.
Grothus won the Luther Open before Sorensen won a tournament at Lindenwood University last weekend. All three wrestlers competed in those events.
“We’re getting there,” Brands said of picking a starter at 149. “We’re closer than maybe you think and maybe I’m letting on. Our timetable is all three guys are ready to go. We’re leaning a certain way maybe. We need all three guys to be ready to go anyway, so away we go.”
Burak has been sidelined with an injury and Kris Klapprodt filled in for Iowa last weekend at 197 at the Iowa City Duals.
IOWA VS. IOWA STATE MATCHUPS
125 – No. 6 Thomas Gilman (Iowa) vs. Kyle Larson (Iowa State)
133 – No. 4 Cory Clark (Iowa) vs. No. 16 Earl Hall (Iowa State)
141 – No. 9 Josh Dziewa (Iowa) vs. John Meeks (Iowa State)
149 – No. 13 Brody Grothus or Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) vs. Gabe Moreno (Iowa State)
157 – Michael Kelly (Iowa) vs. Luke Goettl (Iowa State)
165 – No. 5 Nick Moore (Iowa) vs. No. 3 Mike Moreno (Iowa State)
174 – No. 4 Mike Evans (Iowa) vs. No. 7 Tanner Weatherman (Iowa State)
184 – No. 7 Sam Brooks (Iowa) vs. No. 18 Lelund Weatherspoon (Iowa State)
197 – No. 6 Nathan Burak or Kris Klapprodt (Iowa) vs. No. 2 Kyven Gadson (Iowa State)
285 – No. 3 Bobby Telford (Iowa) vs. Quean Smith (Iowa State)
The NCAA Championships are still almost four months away, but wrestling fans in Iowa will be treated to some high-level wrestling over Thanksgiving weekend.
The annual showdown between Iowa and Iowa State is almost here, and it once again features two strong, tradition-rich programs looking to make a big early season statement.
First whistle between the Hawkeyes and Cyclones is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The dual will be televised live statewide on Mediacom. A Big Ten Network Plus video stream will be available online at btn2go.com.
The Hawkeyes and Cyclones have met at least once a year since 1973. Iowa holds a 62-16-2 edge in the series against Iowa State, and has won the last 10 meetings.
Iowa has won 23 NCAA team titles since 1975 and is gunning for its first championship since 2010. Iowa State has won eight NCAA titles, with its last championship coming in 1987.
The Hawkeyes, ranked No. 1 in the NWCA Coaches’ Poll, have a strong, deep and experienced lineup. Iowa started the season with dominant performances at the Luther Open and the Iowa City Duals the past two weekends.
“We expect what we always expect – we expect our guys to go out and compete,” Iowa coach Tom Brands said during a meeting with reporters on Tuesday afternoon. “I know it’s important for both programs. We want to keep moving forward and we need to be ready to go.
“This is our arena and there’s nothing better than competing in front of these fans when you do your job. And there’s nothing worse than competing in front of them when you don’t do your job, so let’s do our job. Let’s have a big party, a big celebration.”
The Hawkeyes are led by returning All-Americans Cory Clark (133 pounds), Mike Evans (174), Nathan Burak (197) and Bobby Telford (285) along with NCAA qualifiers Nick Moore (165), Brody Grothus (149) and Josh Dziewa (141).
Telford is ranked No. 3 in the nation, Clark and Evans are each No. 4, Moore is No. 5, Burak is No. 6, Dziewa is No. 9 and Grothus is No. 13.
Telford finished fourth at the 2014 NCAA tournament, Clark placed fifth, Evans sixth and Burak eighth.
Hawkeye sophomore Thomas Gilman, a starter for much of last season, is ranked No. 6 at 125. Gilman won the Midlands title last season and was a 2014 Junior World bronze medalist for the U.S. in freestyle wrestling.
“They’re going to be ready for us,” Gilman said. “They think they’ve trained hard and their coaching staff has them talked up. They are going to be fired up to come to Carver-Hawkeye Arena, but once we put that pressure on them they’re going to fold, they’re going to break.
“The mentality we bring to the mat and the pressure we bring, they can’t handle that. We’ve proven that in the past, but we’ve got to prove that this week too.”
Iowa sophomore Sam Brooks, a 2013 Junior World Team member, is ranked seventh at 184.
The Cyclones, ranked 11th nationally, are off to a 4-0 start this season. Iowa State has earned lopsided dual wins over Utah Valley, Boise State, Central Michigan and Michigan State.
“Iowa has had our number for a few years now,” ISU coach Kevin Jackson said during Tuesday’s USA Wrestling Google Hangout. “We have to go out there and make it the rivalry that it’s supposed to be. We’re real excited about it. We’re excited about the opportunity. It’s a gladiators’ arena. We’re looking to hopefully have 15,000 fans in there and put a show on.
“This is one of those events that can put wrestling on a pedestal. We have guys in our lineup that we feel are capable of competing at a very high level. We need 10 men strong who need to wrestle like they are capable to give us a chance to succeed. It’s a great chance for us to compete in an environment like Carver-Hawkeye Arena. If we can perform well there, we can perform well in any environment.”
Iowa State is led by returning All-Americans Kyven Gadson (197), Mike Moreno (165) and Earl Hall (133).
Gadson, a two-time All-American, is ranked No. 2 nationally. Moreno is ranked third and Hall is No. 16 after bumping up a weight class this year.
Gadson, who placed fourth at the 2014 NCAAs, was asked about wrestling in Carver-Hawkeye as a senior.
“It’s awesome – I actually grew up in Iowa City,” said Gadson, whose late father Willie also was an All-American for ISU. “When I was 12 years old, I was at Carver-Hawkeye when Iowa State beat Iowa. I told my dad at that time that I was going to wrestle for Iowa State just like he did.
“I didn’t come to Iowa State to lose to the Hawkeyes. This is our chance to do something special and shock some people outside our room. We believe we can beat them. It’s going to be fun.”
Hall was a 2012 Junior World Team member in freestyle wrestling. Hall placed eighth at nationals last season.
Clark edged Hall 8-7 in last season’s Iowa-ISU dual meet before he posted a 10-4 wrestleback win over Hall in the NCAA tournament.
“It was one of those crazy matches that we had to really get gutsy to win it,” Brands said of the Clark-Hall dual matchup in 2013. “The national tournament was another big match and we came out on top. We have to be ready to go. One thing about Cory Clark is he will give you everything – everything he’s got.”
NCAA qualifiers Tanner Weatherman (174) and Lelund Weatherspoon (184) also are back this season for the Cyclones. Weatherman is ranked No. 7 and Weatherspoon No. 18. ISU also has NCAA qualifier Gabe Moreno (149) in its lineup.
Moore beat Mike Moreno 3-1 in last year’s dual. Moreno beat Moore 5-3 in the first round of the 2013 NCAA tournament.
“You’ve got two seniors and two guys who are after the same thing,” Brands said. “Neither guy has won a national title yet. They feel good about their guy and we feel good about our guy. Let the fur fly, let the fur fly in all of them.”
Mike Moreno came on strong late in the season, placing fifth at the NCAA tournament.
“I’ve been thinking about this dual a lot,” Moreno said. “I’m real excited to go in there and get it done. Nothing would make me happier than to wrestle in silence in front of that crowd. I’m revved up. I’m ready to go and I’m excited.”
Evans beat Weatherman 10-1 in the 2013 dual.
Brands said the Iowa coaches are still in the process of determining the starter at 149 between Grothus, Brandon Sorensen and Edwin Cooper.
Grothus won the Luther Open before Sorensen won a tournament at Lindenwood University last weekend. All three wrestlers competed in those events.
“We’re getting there,” Brands said of picking a starter at 149. “We’re closer than maybe you think and maybe I’m letting on. Our timetable is all three guys are ready to go. We’re leaning a certain way maybe. We need all three guys to be ready to go anyway, so away we go.”
Burak has been sidelined with an injury and Kris Klapprodt filled in for Iowa last weekend at 197 at the Iowa City Duals.
IOWA VS. IOWA STATE MATCHUPS
125 – No. 6 Thomas Gilman (Iowa) vs. Kyle Larson (Iowa State)
133 – No. 4 Cory Clark (Iowa) vs. No. 16 Earl Hall (Iowa State)
141 – No. 9 Josh Dziewa (Iowa) vs. John Meeks (Iowa State)
149 – No. 13 Brody Grothus or Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) vs. Gabe Moreno (Iowa State)
157 – Michael Kelly (Iowa) vs. Luke Goettl (Iowa State)
165 – No. 5 Nick Moore (Iowa) vs. No. 3 Mike Moreno (Iowa State)
174 – No. 4 Mike Evans (Iowa) vs. No. 7 Tanner Weatherman (Iowa State)
184 – No. 7 Sam Brooks (Iowa) vs. No. 18 Lelund Weatherspoon (Iowa State)
197 – No. 6 Nathan Burak or Kris Klapprodt (Iowa) vs. No. 2 Kyven Gadson (Iowa State)
285 – No. 3 Bobby Telford (Iowa) vs. Quean Smith (Iowa State)
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