I had to let the dust settle a little bit before writing about Iowa’s dual meet win over Minnesota, 24-10. To say that was what I wanted to see out of Iowa Wrestling is an understatement. Flat out that was the best performance of the year for the Iowa Wrestling team.
The setting was great. I have been to two dual meets at Minnesota and they put on a good show with passionate fans. If their records are correct on the University of Minnesota website, the Maturi Pavilion old record crowd was 5,205 for a Minnesota-Oklahoma State dual meet during the 1993-94 season. Time to replace that old attendance record with the new. 5,238 fans made a sold out arena a great place for a nationally televised college wrestling meet. Tim Johnson, Jim Gibbons, and Shane Sparks of BTN reminded you that this was a big dual meet.
I had stated on my Iowa Wrestling Fan Podcast on Friday that this dual meet was a Y in the road for his Iowa team. A good showing at Minnesota and they would have a good year. Another setback like at Midlands and the rest of the season would not be very fun. So from my perspective, there was a lot riding on this dual meet.
I thought Iowa had a great day so I am then in turn excited about the rest of the season. I thought all ten wrestlers put a solid effort on the mat. Even the three matches we did not win, the Iowa wrestler was fighting and competitive with two of those matches being very close.
Let’s take a quick rundown of the lineup:
157: Kaleb Young really did nothing to impress me until the last :07, and that is perfectly fine. Young hit one of the best moves I have ever seen in my life. I have a feeling we will see that move along with the audio of Ironside going crazy on the jumbo screen at Carver for the next 2.5 years. And rightfully so. That was a toss to remember. If you have not seen it yet, it is on YouTube, BTN, and Flo I have it on my Twitter and Iowa Wrestling Fan Facebook page as well.
165: Alex Marinelli is S-T-R-O-N-G! We needed the pin, and he got it. Just what you would expect out of your leader that goes by the nickname of Bull.
174: I called this match on my Podcast. Mitch Bowman had to be within 3-4 points heading into the third. I knew the Minnesota wrestler would gas, and he did. I definitely want a rematch. Bowman drops a close one, but picked up confidence from the fans that were able to see what he can do. Mitch Bowman will look much different to the wrestling world by the time Big Tens roll around.
184: Cash Wilcke with a solid win. I am going to keep writing and saying that Wilcke has a ton of talent and can go real deep at the NCAA’s. I thought yesterday was a step in the right direction. This guy has it all.
197: Jacob Warner got back on the winning track. I look for Warner to also improve a lot between now and Big Tens. This kid has so much potential to be a dominating wrestler right now. Just give him about a month to six weeks and you will see what I am talking about.
Hwt: Nothing but respect for Connor Corbin. Corbin fought a much bigger wrestler than him and did us all proud with grit and toughness. That match may have lifted the Iowa bench as much or more than any other (outside of 133). Gotta love that kind of fight.
125: Spencer Lee defeated a tough wrestler for a solid win. As with several others, just give Spencer Lee some time. It is just now entering mid-January. I liked Lee’s comments after his match. Lee is on the right track. No doubt in my mind that Spencer Lee answers the bell when the $ is on the table at the NCAA National Championships on March 21, 22, and 23. No doubt at all.
133: Wow! Now that is the Austin DeSanto that I have been telling you about. After a very solid Midlands title, DeSanto took it up another notch with a great win. DeSanto has momentum going now. I have never seen an Iowa wrestle with better conditioning. This guy doesn’t even think of getting tired. I know 133 is the toughest top 4 of any weight in the country, but hey, don’t tell DeSanto that. This guy looks like he is on a mission.
141: Tough loss for Max Murin. The potential is definitely there as he just went a 5-3 match with the #6 wrestler in the country. Murin has everything: strength, endurance, attitude, work ethic. Some fine tuning of his technique on takedown execution could make a huge difference in those close matches and turn the score around in his favor. You get Murin finishing his shots as quick and efficient as Marinelli, look out. Max Murin is so close to making a huge improvement and winning those big matches.
149: The same thing I said about DeSanto. Wow! Now that is the Patricio Lugo I have been telling you about. Lugo just destroyed a former All-American in his home arena, 14-0. When I told you that Lugo needed confidence and time, that Minnesota match should foot the bill. I am hoping we see Lugo continue to wrestle like that.
Maybe even more so than the wrestlers, I want to give a shout out to the Iowa Wrestling coaching staff. That was a very well coached and prepared team that took the mat up in Minnesota. As I said on my Iowa Wrestling Fan Podcast, I was confident the coaches would have their boys ready to go. And they did. The intensity from the bench could be heard and at times seen on TV. That was a total team effort and that is great to see.
That was by far the best that Iowa has looked as a team so far this year and yet I expect them to all improve quite a bit. The Hawks peaked at the NCAA’s last year and I would say they are right on track to peak at nationals this year as well.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
