Not much could top the way the Iowa wrestling team opened up its season.
The Hawkeyes began their 2015 campaign 1-0 after topping Oklahoma State in front of 42,287 people, the most an NCAA dual meet has ever seen.
Now, though, it is time for Iowa to focus on what is next: the rest of the season.
“It’s definitely time to move on,” 125-pounder Thomas Gilman said. “It was a big event, it was an exciting event, and we lived it up, but it’s in the past now, so we have to move on.“
The main concentration for now is Maryland, which will be at the Iowa City Duals on Friday.
“They’re a little bit upset that they didn’t get a prime-time dual time or date, so they’re going to come in here and try to whip us,” Gilman added. “We have to whip them instead.”
Middle weights
If there was anything to be learned from Grapple on the Gridiron, it was that Iowa has some questions at 141, 157, and 165.
Logan Ryan, Edwin Cooper Jr., and Patrick Rhoads all lost their matches at those weight classes on Nov. 14.
Iowa head coach Tom Brands sees potential in all the possible options for the middle weights, which also included Topher Carton, Brody Grothus, and Burke Paddock. However, he believes those wrestlers have some growing to do before heading into the Big Ten season.
Cooper will continue to be the guy at 157 for the Hawkeyes, Brands said. Iowa will likely also use Ryan at 141 again this weekend while using Paddock at 164. With Iowa wrestling four different duals on the day, it’s likely Iowa will see a wide variety of wrestlers.
“I feel like I’ve done my work out there in the practice room; I just need to perform better in high-stakes levels like last weekend out in Kinnick,” Cooper said. “I have to be aware of my surroundings and get the job done when it’s live combat.”
Rankings
Not much changed in Flowrestling’s rankings after Iowa’s match against Oklahoma State. Cory Clark (No. 2), Brandon Sorensen (No. 3), Alex Meyer (No. 6), Sam Brooks (No. 11), and Nathan Burak (No. 4) are all in the same position they were in before the Nov. 14 meet. The only Hawkeye wrestler who made a move was 125-pounder Thomas Gilman, who slid up a spot to No. 2.
However, as a team, Iowa dropped one spot to No. 3. Even after the Hawkeyes’ 18-16 win over the Cowboys, Oklahoma State was the team to replace Iowa at No. 2.
Iowa will see only three ranked wrestlers on Friday at the Iowa City Duals, all three from Maryland. No. 14 Geoff Alexander (133), No. 17 Alfred Bannister (141), and No. 18 Louis Mascola (157) will be in the lineup for the Terrapins.