Iowa's Brandon Sorensen seeks the top of the NCAA podium to close out college career

Brandon Sorensen is on the cusp of finishing a great career at Iowa, historically one of the best collegiate wrestling programs in the nation.

A senior for Hawkeyes, Sorensen has produced top-four finishes in all three of this NCAA showings, taking fourth in 2015, second in 2016 and third in 2017. In addition to his high All-American finishes, Sorensen has also produced three top-three performances at the Big Ten Championships, arguably one of the toughest college tournaments in the nation.

While those accolades are impressive, Sorensen has only one thing on his mind.

“There’s a big urgency to get on the top of the podium. That’s been the goal,” he said. “I’m staying calm and getting ready. I’m just making sure that I’m doing things right.”

Sorensen competes at 149 pounds, a weight that has been dominated by two-time NCAA champion and 2017 Hodge Trophy winner, Zain Retherford of Penn State.

For the Hawkeye, it’s not necessarily about training for just one person. It’s about training for every person that can come between him and an NCAA title. He’s already identified the key to getting to the top.

“I’m preparing for [Retherford] and preparing for everyone else at the weight that stands in front of me,” Sorensen said. “The main thing is getting to where I wrestle and where I’m strong. To achieve that, one thing I really have to do is pick up the pace and move my hands and feet at the same time. It can’t be one or the other. I have to be moving, feeling good and ready to go.”

Up next for Sorensen is the Midlands Championships on Northwestern’s campus in Evanston, Ill., Dec. 29-30.

The senior has already won the tournament twice and looks for a third-straight championship performance. He said it’s a good time to see where he stacks up with the field and what he needs to work on.

“Midlands is important because it’s a big tournament and there are two-day weigh-ins, which emulate nationals’ three-day format,” Sorensen said. “There are always lessons you can take away from this tournament and there’s good competition. There are guys that you’re going to see throughout the rest of the year. It’s easier to move forward toward success when you put it all on the line. I just have to wrestle my matches and wrestle to my ability.”

With his collegiate career drawing nearer and nearer to a close, Sorensen looks back on his time with the Iowa wrestling program.

“It’s great. It’s a family here with great atmosphere and great coaches. Everyone on the team has something different to bring to the table, and it’s been a fun time,” he said.

The biggest benefit for him has been his time around head coach Tom Brands and assistant coach Terry Brands.

“The coaches are, in my opinion, the best in the country,” Sorensen said. “They want the best for every athlete and they care. They want every wrestler that comes through this program to develop, to excel in life and do positive things, not just come through their wrestling room. The coaches give me guidance, but they also give me freedom to do things how you want to do them. They don’t try to change you. Everyone is different here. Everyone has their own style and their own little quirks. That’s really what makes this program come together.”

For Sorensen, he hopes to leave a legacy at Iowa, not just for his wrestling but also for doing everything right.

“I want to end up on top and be a national champion,” he said. “I want people to look back and think that I did it all right between school, wrestling and my life off the mat. I want to be a positive impact here and move forward with my life in a positive way.”