I have been writing and talking about March 21, 22, and 23 in Pittsburgh over and over. It’s finally here. All of the hard work over the last year and for an entire career comes down to the NCAA National Wrestling Tournament that is now upon us. As I have been saying, the prize is in Pittsburgh.
The prize is the opportunity for Iowa wrestlers to match their skills against the best that college wrestling has to offer. The opportunity to chisel your name in stone for the ages is on the line. The title of Division I All American or National Champion are not handed out on street corners. There are no participation trophies handed out like we see in today’s society. These titles have to be earned the hard way.
I will refer to my blog from a few weeks ago titled: Peaks and Valleys. I talked about how there are always ups and downs during a year for an individual wrestler and a team. The whole point is that Nationals is where it counts. The prize is in Pittsburgh.
Now is when the tough times that Iowa Wrestling went through this season with injuries, sickness, and setbacks will pay off. All of the tough times of the regular season prepared them for the battles of the next three days.
The 2019 edition of Iowa Wrestling keeps reminding me of the 1990 Iowa team. We will soon find out how close I am in that comparison.
I feel as though the Iowa team is going to peak at Nationals. They are feeling it and that strength, team unity, and confidence are contagious.
Here are my predictions for Iowa Wrestling at the 2019 NCAA National Wrestling Championships on March 21,22, and 23.
125 – Spencer Lee: National Champion. As I have said for over a year: Spencer Lee is…Spencer Lee. I am very confident about this pick, as I was this time last year.
133 – Austin DeSanto: National Champion. I stated in a recent Iowa Wrestling Fan Podcast there is no way I would bet against Austin DeSanto. Any time you bet against someone with that type of heart, toughness, desire and coaching you run a high risk of getting put down. DeSanto is the wild card in a very tough weight. I do not see anyone at 133 that DeSanto cannot beat and I really like his draw at Nationals.
141 – Max Murin: 8th. Nobody in the Black and Gold of Iowa Wrestling fought harder than Max Murin did at Big Tens. I l-o-v-e- Murin’s draw at Nationals. I believe he has a great chance to be in the Quarterfinals. Murin has a grind out style, riding skills, and strength that will pay off.
149 – Patricio Lugo: 6th. Lugo is coming on at the right time. I wrote in the pre-season that Lugo would have struggles throughout the season but he would be a force at Nationals. Lugo is right on schedule.
157 – Kaleb Young: 2nd. Kaleb Young is feeling it. I down right love his draw. After a real big match in the Quarterfinals with the #3, the semifinals will be the final grudge match between the #2 seed and Iowa Wrestling. I am going with Young in both.
165 – Alex Marinelli: National Champion. I am sick and tired of hearing people complain about Marinelli’s draw. All of those other guys have to wrestle Marinelli who is undefeated, strong, and on a mission. Get the job done Bull.
184 – Cash Wilcke: Round of 12. I have been talking about the potential of Wilcke being able to win the close matches at Nationals for two years. He certainly has the skill set and potential. I am going to go with a third straight year of a Round of 12 finish.
197 – Jacob Warner: 3rd. As with other Hawks, I really like his draw through the Quarterfinals. Also as with other Hawks, I just believe Warner is confident and peaked now and we will see what he has.
Hwt – Sam Stoll: 8th. I believe Sam Stoll is going to win matches at Nationals. That first round match against the #4 is just what I was hoping for. The potential is there to win that big first round match and ride that #4 seed to the semifinals for a rematch that was a close 3-1 decision in the dual meet. Does my appreciation of how tough Sam Stoll is cloud my judgement? Hey, never count out heart and toughness. Sam Stoll makes a way to bring home some hardware.
These predictions would have Iowa with three national champions and eight All Americans. Even if Iowa had two national champions and six total All Americans, that would still be a very good tournament with a second or third place finish in the team race.
National Champions: 3
All Americans: 8
Points: 117.5
Team race: 2nd
The 1998 Iowa team won a national title with three national champions, two thirds, and an eighth place finisher and scored 115 points. I believe we can score more than 115 points based on that comparison.
Factors that weighed in on my picks (in no particular order):
- I believe the talent is there. Recruiting has brought in a new wave of Iowa Wrestling.
- This is a close Iowa Wrestling team. Wrestling is much more of a team sport than I believe most people realize. This is a young team that has something to prove as an individual and together as a team.
- The “Young Guns Factor” of the boys returning home was an influence in me picking Lee, Murin, and Young to finish above their seeds. Home is where the heart is.
- Iowa Wrestling has been the recipient of a lot of criticism and hate from the Oklahoma State dual and Big Tens. That can draw a team in closer. The combination of hate, criticism, and being counted out is like dropping a full sized redwood tree on an already blazing fire. Lot of fuel.
- The seeds. I was very excited when I saw the brackets when they were released. I could not have asked for it any better at 125, 133, 141, and 157. Add in that I did not care how they did it at 165 and I have a lot of reasons to be excited about the draws.
- If the stats from my Iowa Wrestling Fan Blog and Iowa Wrestling Fan Podcast are any indication, Iowa Wrestling fans are really pumped up. The Marinelli match in the Big Ten finals put the Iowa Wrestling Nation in all out kick ass mode. Iowa Wrestling fans are devouring anything out there on Facebook and Twitter about Iowa Wrestling. Their excitement excites me. Having that fanbase in the crowd in Pittsburgh along with locals that are going to cheer for Lee, Murin, and Young will be a factor.
- The confidence, swagger, and ornery demeanor by Tom Brands in my Iowa Wrestling Fan Podcast interview. Iowa Wrestling wants to go into battle and that starts at the top.
- I like the vibe of the team right now and they are feeling it. By feeling it I mean that they look confident, strong, and ready to rumble. They are ready to go as individuals and as a team.
- Iowa is healthy. Between injuries and sickness, this has been a trying season. Those tough times during the regular season will pay off now at Nationals.
- I bleed the Black and Gold of Iowa Wrestling because I believe hard work and heart wins.
The prize is in Pittsburgh.
Let’s get ‘em in the middle.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
