Second-ranked Iowa made a strong early season statement, winning 8 of 10 matches en route to a decisive 29-6 win over No. 9 Iowa State on Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum.
The Cy-Hawk dual was more lopsided this year than many anticipated after Iowa edged ISU by a point last year in Iowa City.
The Hawkeyes certainly have the type of firepower to contend for a national title. It's still November, but Iowa has its best team since it last won NCAAs in 2010.
The Cyclones can still bounce back and have an excellent season as Kevin Dresser and Co. continue to build the ISU program.
Kudos to everyone who showed up at Hilton on Sunday. There was an excellent turnout of 11,238 fans, the largest crowd for an ISU home dual in 20 years.
Here are five top takeaways from the Cy-Hawk dual.
1. The Hawkeyes are loaded
There is a reason the Hawkeyes started the season as the favorites to win the 2020 NCAA team title. Iowa's lineup is very strong, top to bottom, and that was evident Sunday afternoon. There is not a weak link in the Hawkeye lineup as fans witnessed during this much-anticipated dual meet. That traditional Iowa swagger and confidence looks to be back on a team loaded with talent and experience. The Hawkeyes are hungry to regain their perch atop the college wrestling world.
2. David Carr delivers in dazzling debut
Wrestling fans have been waiting for their first glimpse of Iowa State's David Carr and the talented Cyclone newcomer didn't disappoint in the first big match of his college career. Locked in a close match against second-ranked Kaleb Young of Iowa, Carr came on late with a takedown and a near fall from a cradle to prevail 6-1 at 157 pounds. Carr, a Junior world champion, will make a huge jump in the rankings after downing Young. Carr, who was ranked 11th at 157, is every bit as good as advertised. The son of three-time Cyclone national champion Nate Carr is going to be so much fun to watch over the next four seasons.
Nelson Brands defeated No. 7 Sam Colbray at 184 pounds (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Luns.com)3. Welcome to the Nelson Brands Era
David Carr wasn't the only freshman making a big splash Sunday. Iowa newcomer Nelson Brands delivered a huge win when he knocked off No. 7 Sam Colbray of ISU 4-3 in overtime. Brands drove in to score a takedown in the first tiebreaker period on his way to a dramatic win. Brands was a 165-pounder, but he has moved up to 184 pounds with two-time All-Americans Alex Marinelli (165) and Michael Kemerer (174) already in the stacked Iowa lineup. Brands is undersized at 184, but he's a guy who isn't cutting any weight plus he already has a huge gas tank where he doesn't wear down. The hard-nosed Brands has a style that is reminiscent of his father, Terry, Iowa's associate head coach. Terry Brands won two NCAA titles for the Hawkeyes before winning two world titles.
4. Reversal of fortune for Lugo
The 149-pound bout was expected to be close and it was with returning All-Americans Jarrett Degen of Iowa State and Pat Lugo of Iowa battling. Degen downed Lugo twice last season, including the seventh-place match at the NCAA tournament. The fifth-ranked Lugo reversed his fortunes Sunday, earning a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the fourth-ranked Degen. Expect to see these guys battling again this season. Lugo is looking to climb a few spots on the NCAA podium this season and he's certainly capable.
Two-time NCAA champ Spencer Lee opened the dual with a technical fall over No. 7 Alex Mackall (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Luns.com)5. Spencer Lee supplies spark
How good is two-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee of Iowa? The remarkable Lee reminded us in what was supposed to be the first test of his junior season. He led off the dual by powering past No. 7 Alex Mackall of ISU by a 17-2 technical fall. Lee took command early, taking Mackall to his back and nearly pinning him at 125 pounds. Lee's win set the tone for a huge day by the Hawkeyes, who are going to be difficult for anyone to beat this season. Lee is ready to lead this team to the top.
Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now