The Iowa Hawkeyes have had four wrestlers compete at 174 so far this season in seven dual meets. Nelson Brands is back in the lineup to stay after recovering from an injury. Brands is 2-1 on the season and ranked #17.
Brands will face seven ranked wrestlers in the nine remaining dual meets. Among that group will be the #1, 3, and 4 ranked wrestlers in the country. That elite competition will prepare Brands well for the Big Tens and Nationals.
I will be patient as Brands will work himself back into competition shape. Scoring points above his current ranking of #17 at Nationals would be huge. The team points scored at 174 by Iowa could be a significant factor in the team race.
I do look for Brands to end his career as a Hawk on a high note. I look for the best performance of Nelson Brands career to be at the NCAA National Tournament.
Results at 174
Drake Rhodes (UI) major dec. Zach Rowe (CBU), 13-4
#21 Ben Pasiuk (ARMY) major dec. Carson Martinson (UI), 15-4
Joe Kelly (UI) major dec. Ryan Bolletino (SH), 17-7
Marcus Petite (UB) dec. Joe Kelly (UI), 2-0
Nelson Brands (UI) dec. #19 Nick Incontrera (Penn), 5-1
#15 Nelson Brands (UI) major dec. MJ Gaitan (ISU), 13-5
#16 Rocky Jordan (UTC) dec. #14 Nelson Brands (UI), 3-1
Upcoming ranked opponents at 174 (InterMat Rankings) for #17 Nelson Brands
#10 Edmund Ruth Illinois Jan 6
at Purdue Jan 8
#20 Troy Fisher Northwestern Jan 13
#2 Mikey Labriola Nebraska Jan 20
at Wisconsin Jan 22
#1 Carter Starocci at Penn State Jan 27
#16 Bailee O’Reilly at Minnesota Feb 3
#31 Joseph Walker Michigan Feb 10
#4 Dustin Plott Oklahoma State Feb 19
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
