Dec. 14, 2012
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Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide.
NEW YORK — College wrestling is looking for exposure and the Hawkeyes are en route to the Big Apple to find it.
The University of Iowa wrestling team departs for New York City today to push its brand in the “World’s Most Famous Arena.” The Hawkeyes are one of 14 schools competing at the first-ever college wrestling event at Madison Square Garden, billed nationally as the “Grapple at the Garden.”
“It’s going to be fantastic,” said UI head coach Tom Brands. “We’ve been talking about it quite a bit. It’s been a good thing in the works and now we’re at zero hour.”
The Hawkeyes face Hofstra and Bucknell in consecutive duals beginning Sunday at 10 a.m. (CT), and Brands wants Iowa to be more than just a Grand Marshal for college wrestling’s first parade through The Garden.
“It’s not good exposure just because you’re in that environment. I don’t buy into that as much,” Brands said. “I buy into the fact that you have to create the fireworks and keep it going. We’re on the stage, so let’s go out and perform like it is big time. Let your best wrestling come forward.”
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“It’s not good exposure just because you’re in that environment. I don’t buy into that as much,” Brands said. “I buy into the fact that you have to create the fireworks and keep it going. We’re on the stage, so let’s go out and perform like it is big time. Let your best wrestling come forward.”
UI head coach Tom Brands
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The Hawkeyes are historically the biggest draw to college wrestling’s premier events — the program has set the national attendance record 11 times — but they’re not the only attraction this week. Sixty-five nationally ranked competitors will be on display and there are a number of matchups featuring two ranked wrestlers going head-to-head, including a marquee bout featuring Cornell’s Kyle Dake and Oklahoma State’s Tyler Caldwell.
Dake is a three-time national champion and the country’s top-ranked 165-pounder. Caldwell is a former NCAA finalist and ranked No. 3 in the nation.
“Oklahoma State and Cornell wrestle here, that’s exciting,” said Brands. “Potential matchup at 165 if everybody is healthy with Dake and Caldwell, that’s exciting. There’re a lot of things going on that can help the sport. But there has to be some fireworks involved too, and we have to do our job as well.”
In addition to Dake, the field includes former NCAA champions Matt McDonough, Jordan Oliver and Logan Stieber. All four hold the No. 1 spot in the national rankings at their respective weight, as does Derek St. John, the unanimous No. 1 wrestler at 157 pounds.
The Hawkeyes will travel with 15 wrestlers, including eight of the field’s 65 ranked competitors. The “Grapple at the Garden” teams and individual participants have the opportunity to perform in front of the masses on a big stage, but for Brands the goal goes beyond simply having a chair at the head table.
“Really it’s about putting a high power team on the mat and scoring points up and down the lineup,” Brands said. “When you’re capable of scoring 12 points, score 12 points. Don’t be conservative because you scored a takedown and try to win 3-2.
“We always talk about exposure, but now we’re on the world stage and you know what, let’s go out there and do something exciting.”