The Iowa Hawkeyes had a good weekend with Big Ten wins over Minnesota and Northwestern.
On Friday the Hawks downed #5 Minnesota, 23-11. Joey Cruz continues to impress with a 7-4 SV1 win over #13 Cooper Flynn. Cruz has a motor and conditioning. Now he is adding finishes to takedowns and confidence to the mix. Great to see.
Michael Caliendo…wow. Caliendo won by a 21-4 tech fall over #11 Andrew Sparks and made it look easy. That would be a typical match in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
I am confident in Kyle Parco at 149 and Jacori Teemer at 157. These guys have been through this process before. The low scoring matches do not bother me, especially against ranked wrestlers. These guys are gamers that I look to pick it up a big notch come tournament time. As I said, I am confident.
Stephan Buchanan has been money all season and the best wrestler on the team. Sure looks like a national champion to me.
I feel as though the match at 184 against Minnesota where he lost 4-1, SV1 was a turning point for Gabe Arnold. I believe he is already better from that match. It was easy to see that Arnold was clearly outsized by an opponent that is undefeated and having a great year.
More than anything Gabe Arnold needs confidence. That can be challenging for any freshman in the Big Ten facing top competition especially when giving up size every match. Arnold has the goods to score takedowns. With confidence and execution, it will happen.
The same thing can be said about Ben Kueter and Miguel Estrada. The goods are there. With confidence and execution, it will happen. Those are three guys to build a program around.
On Sunday Iowa topped Northwestern 37-3. It was great to see Nelson Brands come out and get the tech fall at 174. I also liked the 7-3 decision by Jesse Ybarra at 133 and the 9-0 major by Cullan Schriever at 141.
Ben Kueter lit up the scoreboard with a 20-4 tech fall and Gabe Arnold had a 13-2 major decision.
Miguel Estrada dropped a 4-1 SV1 decision to #9 Trevor Chumbley. True freshman wrestling up a weight for the team against the #9 wrestler in the country. Lot of potential here.
There were a lot of good things to see out of the Iowa Wrestling program with the two Big Ten wins over the weekend.
Tom Brands likes to use “Respond” to describe the ability to come back when a match or dual meet did not go your way. We saw Iowa Wrestling “Respond” from the Nebraska dual meet and get better especially at finishing takedowns.
Now it is on to Oklahoma State. All of the rankings have Iowa and Oklahoma State #2 or #3. Long standing rivalry. Live on BTN in primetime. The sold out crowd in Carver-Hawkeye Arena will show why they are the best fans, by far. Cannot wait.
As I am always saying Iowa Wrestling is my entertainment. I was entertained this past weekend. I plan on being entertained Sunday night.
Let’s get ‘em in the middle.
#2 Iowa vs. #3 Oklahoma State
Sunday, February 23
7:30 PM CST
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Iowa City, Iowa
Live on BTN
Steven Grace and Mark Ironside call the action on AM 800 KXIC and audio streamed online at HawkeySports.com via YouTube.
#3 Iowa 23, #6 Minnesota 11
125 – #26 Joey Cruz (I) dec. #13 Cooper Flynn (M), 7-4 SV1
133 – #3 Drake Ayala (I) dec. #19 Tyler Wells (M), 9-5
141 – #8 Vance VomBaur (M) dec. Cullan Schriever (I), 14-10
149 – #3 Kyle Parco (I) dec. #29 Drew Roberts (M), 5-0
157 – #3 Jacori Teemer (I) dec. #8 Tommy Askey (M), 4-1
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo (I) tech fall. #11 Andrew Sparks (M), 21-5
174 – #11 Patrick Kennedy (I) dec. #22 Clayton Whiting (M), 8-4
184 – #4 Max McEnelly (M) dec. #8 Gabe Arnold (I), 4-1 SV1
197 – #1 Stephen Buchanan (I) dec. #8 Isaiah Salazar (M), 5-1
285 – #1 Gable Steveson (M), #11 Ben Kueter (I), 22-3
#3 Iowa 37, Northwestern 3
157 – #9 Trevor Chumbley (N) dec. Miguel Estrada (I), 4-1 SV1
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo (I) tech. fall #18 Maxx Mayfield (N), 19-4
174 – Nelson Brands (I) tech fall. Aiden Vandenbush (N), 21-5
184 – #8 Gabe Arnold (I) major dec. Jon Halvorsen (N), 13-2
197 – #1 Stephen Buchanan (I) tech. fall #14 Evan Bates (N), 18-2
285 – #11 Ben Kueter (I) tech. fall Dirk Morley (N), 20-4
125 – #26 Joey Cruz (I) dec. Dedrick Navarro (N), 6-1
133 – Jesse Ybarra (I) dec. Massey Odiotti (N), 7-3
141 – Cullan Schriever (I) major dec. Luis Bazan (N), 9-0
149 – #3 Kyle Parco (I) dec. #25 Sam Cartella (N), 9-2
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
