For the second time this season, Iowa’s 149-pounder Brandon Sorensen was awarded Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honors.

However, the award isn’t exactly the highest goal Sorensen has set for himself this season.

“These awards mean something, sure, but the thing I’m after is a national title,” Sorensen said. “That’s what I want.”

Wanting a national title is anyone’s dream, but Sorensen is making a strong case that come March, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

In fact, his award came after Sorensen downed defending NCAA champion Jason Tsirtsis 3-2 in overtime during Iowa’s dual win over Northwestern on Jan. 23.

Oh and his other ‘Wrestler of the Week Award?’ It came against the other NCAA finalist — Josh Kindig.

“He is handling the success well, obviously, and he still has more to give, and I think that he knows that, and he’ll even say that,” head coach Tom Brands said. “He’s doing a good job, and he has to keep doing a good job and believe in the things that he does well even more.”

Clark ready for Dardanes

Iowa’s dual with Minnesota will produce a number of top-ranked matchups, but fourth-ranked Cory Clark against No. 1 Chris Dardanes will be one of the biggest.

However, that’s not exactly how Clark is looking at the match.

“It’s the same as anyone else, preparation-wise, you got to get ready to wrestle hard,” Clark said. “I’ve been giving up first-period takedowns and stuff, and that’s been hurting me — I have to work on that and come out really, really ready to go and getting the first takedown of the match.”

The two wrestlers have not met at a college level and with it possibly being one of the bigger swing matches in the meet, the pressure is increased.

It could also be a chance for him to grab a statement win — something he does not have this season.

“This is pretty big, No. 1 guy, you could really make a statement there by getting a win and going out not only to win by one, but going out to opening it up, wrestle my match,” Clark said. “Control the match from start to finish.”

Battle of the titans

When the Hawkeyes head to Minneapolis on Friday, they’ll be in for a test.

A passionate program, No. 2 Minnesota has a strong wrestling tradition and with the team having such a strong season, its taking things very, very seriously.

“The other day you get the ‘probables’ from them, and it wasn’t probable, it was a fight card — actually I think they called it a match card,” Brands said. “It was full-color, good looking. You know they had their guys with their rankings and an ‘M’ by each guy, and they had our guys with a ranking a Tigerhawk by each.

“They bill it for what it is, two titans going at it.”