Iowa fights back from the break to capture the growing field at the Soldier Salute

Iowa doesn’t have to go far to get back into contention after a long layoff.

The Hawkeyes, who have not competed since matchups against Princeton and Army on Dec. 6, will be in Coralville on Sunday and Monday for the Soldier Salute, an event they have dominated the past two years. Iowa won team titles both years and 16 individual championships.

Iowa is one of 12 teams in the event, which also includes entries from fourth-ranked Nebraska, #7 Minnesota, #10 Northern Iowa, #13 Iowa State, #14 South Dakota State and #19 Missouri.

“Being in our hometown is great from a travel perspective,” Iowa coach Tom Brands said Friday. “(The event) is growing. It’s becoming more and more legitimate, and that’s what you’re doing. Once you start something, stick with it – just keep it on the same date – and build it up. And it builds.”

A total of 29 wrestlers from Iowa will compete, either affiliated or unaffiliated. In this group, the Hawkeyes will have five 125-pounders (Joey Cruz, Kale Petersen, Dru Ayala, Keyan Hernandez and Anthony Avezzola) and five 149-pounders (Koye Grebel, Kyle Parco, Caleb Rathjen, Miguel Estrada and Kael Voinovich) competing .

The chances of seeing head-to-head games could be important as Brands looks to solidify his lineup heading into the Big Ten schedule.

“We’re looking for guys who compete in the right way and have their hand raised in the right way,” Brands said. “We are looking for people who are consistent. This is an important step to solidify yourself or perhaps secure a spot, but you also have to be consistent. We want people who want to keep up. We want guys who are hungry every time they get on the mat. And that’s really, really important.”

Iowa’s competitors include seven nationally ranked wrestlers – Cruz (No. 27 at 125), Drake Ayala (No. 3 at 133), Parco (No. 4 at 149), Michael Caliendo (No. 2 at 165), Gabe Arnold (No. 5 at 184). ), Stephen Buchanan (#1 at 197) and Ben Kueter (#13 at 285).

“This is a tournament where things can happen that you can’t control or that you don’t predict could happen,” Brands said. “How do you come back after adversity? It’s important to do well, not that we want to stay behind, but if you’re at a point where you don’t want to be at the end, how are you going to compete to come back?

“And the other part of it is that you have a chance here because there are some big names coming in. What will you do with these opportunities? So we have a chance to take out some guys who are pretty high up from other places.”

Battle of 184

One of the possible head-to-head games could take place at 184, where Arnold (5-0 this season) and Angelo Ferrari (6-0) face off.

“A lot still has to happen,” said Brands. “We have two options there that we love. I know those two options will help us wherever these guys end up, no matter what role they play, and that’s what we’re talking about.”

When asked if this tournament could play a role in deciding who is in that spot for the rest of the season, Brands said: “That’s a really good question because it’s like maybe becoming the core of a quarterback team. “But we like our situation there and we will bring the best to the mat, and that means for the team and, more importantly, for the individual.”

Not in the lineup

Two wrestlers not listed among the competitors were 141-pounder Ryder Block and 174-pounder Nelson Brands.

Block is 2-3 this season. Brands is 3-1.

Tom Brands did not elaborate on the pair’s absence, saying: “There are reasons why they are not on the mat. I mean, we have to think about health, and we will think about health, and we have, as you know, a great medical team.”

Fenton’s First

Isaiah Fenton, Iowa’s only 157-pounder in the event, will compete for the first time this season.

Fenton had a 5-1 record as a freshman last season and finished second in the Soldier Salute’s 157A Silver Bracket. At the Pat “Flash” Flanagan Open, he placed fifth in 165 untied rings.

“I need to see him on the mat more often,” Brands said. “We always sort things out with all our guys, we sort things out with him. And he has a chance here. Take your chance.”

Fenton was the 2023 Iowa Class 2A state champion at 152 for Notre Dame-West Burlington. He had a 39-0 record as a senior and won 140 games in his high school career.

Back from break

Brands said taking some time off in the middle of the season was crucial.

He said after training last Thursday everyone got away for the holiday weekend.

“The boys went home for four or five days,” he said. “We had some people come back, go home on Thursday or Friday and come back on Monday. … They went home for three or four days and recharged.”

That’s important, Brands said, as the Hawkeyes enter Big Ten competition. Iowa opens its conference schedule Jan. 12 at Wisconsin.

“We encourage it,” Brands said of the time off. “Thanksgiving, we want them in town. We’re keeping them in town. But Christmas is a good mid-season break. The work can be done as R&R, or while working on the mat. But they all got a little break, and that’s important.”