With 2 titles, wrestlers eye another
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With a stockpile of talent and a veteran lineup, the Iowa wrestling team could be one of the best ever this season.
What you should know
The national champion Iowa wrestling team essentially returns its entire lineup from a year ago, despite losing senior Charlie Falck at 125 pounds and Alex Tsirtsis at 141.
Last season, the Hawkeyes were without former All-American and NCAA finalist Joe Slaton, who struggled with weight management and only competed twice at 133 during the beginning of the 2008-09 campaign.
However, should Slaton find his way into the lineup this season, Iowa will field eight seniors — seven of whom have garnered high honors in the last two years.
Senior-to-be Dan LeClere may also enter the picture as a ninth senior after suffering a neck injury.
“You know, you can talk about what could be,” head coach Tom Brands said. “But you’ve got to take care of individual development and moving forward that way, from my perspective.
“It’s not about being the best team in the history of collegiate wrestling, to me. It’s about putting together a group of individuals who are after those titles, and we have that.”
Whom you should know
Aside from NCAA finalist and former 149-pound NCAA champion Brent Metcalf, the Hawkeyes have several top-ranked wrestlers worth noting.
Heavyweight Dan Erekson made significant strides midway through the season last year, which ultimately allowed him to pin Iowa State’s No. 1-ranked David Zabriskie at the national tournament.
Senior Ryan Morningstar also managed a lucrative career as Iowa’s new 165-pounder last year, placing third at the NCAA championships following a lackluster season at 157 in 2007-08.
“I’m not satisfied at all,” Morningstar about his bronze-medal finish. “That overtime loss in the semifinals, it’s hurting me right now. It feels good to go out there and get a win in front of the big crowd, but I’m still stinging pretty hard from that loss.”
Main rival
Finishing in third-place after giving Iowa a scare at the national tournament, Iowa State remains the Hawkeyes’ No. 1 rival.
In spite of the Hawkeyes having won eight of the last 10 meetings with the Cyclones, the war for home-state supremacy has historically been close, and this year’s battle for bragging rights is in Ames.
“I’d say there is a lot of dislike [for the Cyclones],” 184-pounder Phillip Keddy said before Iowa’s home showdown with Iowa State last season. “We probably hate them. They’re the in-state rival.”
2008-09 regular-season dual points scored by weight:
125 — Charlie Falck (Sr.): 73
133 — Daniel Dennis (Jr.): 76
141 — Alex Tsirtsis (Sr.): 79
149 — Brent Metcalf (Jr.): 123
157 — Matt Ballweg (Soph.): 35
165 — Ryan Morningstar (Jr.): 64
174 — Jay Borschel (Jr.): 81
184 — Phillip Keddy (Jr.): 94
197 — Chad Beatty (Jr.): 60
Hwt. — Dan Erekson (Jr.): 72
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