Feb. 6, 2014
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By JAMES ALLAN
hawkeyesports.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Thinking about Sunday’s Senior Day puts a smile on University of Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands’ face.
Six Hawkeyes — Joe DuCharme, Tomas Lira, Ethen Lofthouse, Tony Ramos, Derek St. John and Nick Trizzino — will be recognized on Mediacom Mat inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena for their final home dual when No. 3 Iowa hosts No. 11 Michigan at 2 p.m. (CT).
“They’ve been here for 4.5 years, going on five years,” Brands said Thursday inside the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex. “There is a lot of water under the dam for them and good memories from my point of view. I am kind of smiling right now on all of them.
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“These are not things you get emotional about because you feel good they’re in a good place to go forward with the rest of their lives as young motivated men who are going to aspire.”
UI head coach Tom Brands
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“These are not things you get emotional about because you feel good they’re in a good place to go forward with the rest of their lives as young motivated men who are going to aspire.”
Brands says St. John, Lofthouse and Ramos have displayed toughness, success and fight to be considered “household names”.
“Look at the (All-America) board and there are a lot of accolades there,” said Brands. “There is a national championship and hunger there. This is a big event for them and shows their diligence in not just being in the lineup for one year or one event.
“They have been household names for the last 3.5 years, now let’s finish strong.”
Collectively, the six wrestlers have posted a 90-10 record inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which includes an unblemished 33-0 mark by Ramos. The 133-pounder wants to make it 34-straight to extend his home winning streak to eight years.
“It would be awesome,” said Ramos. “I looked back to see in high school if I ever lost a home meet, and I never lost there either. That’s eight years of protecting your home turf.
“The last Iowa wrestler to do that for four years was Tom Brands. (Brent) Metcalf did, but only for three years. It’s a big thing. I don’t know how big it is yet, but I know there is a lot of talk about it.”
The actual dual features ranked matchups at 8-of-10 weight classes. The three key bouts will come at 149 (No. 7 Eric Grajales vs. No. 12 Brody Grothus), 165 (No. 6 Dan Yates vs. No. 4 Nick Moore) and heavyweight (No. 2 Adam Coon vs. No. 3 Bobby Telford).
Sunday’s dual will be streamed live on the Big Ten Digital Network via BTN.com or on Hawkeye All-Access on hawkeyesports.com.