The University of Iowa athletics department recently released the schedule for the 2010-2011 wrestling team, and while I am excited to get things going for the Hawkeye grapplers this season, I am, quite honestly, severely disappointed with this year’s schedule.
Not only do the Hawkeyes miss a dual meet against Big Ten foes Wisconsin and Illinois, the Hawks are not scheduled to participate in the 2011 Cliff Keen National Duals Tournament in Cedar Falls!
I can get over not wrestling Illinois, but losing the dual against the Badgers seems like an egregious offense. Wisconsin head wrestling coach (and Cedar Rapids native) Barry Davis is a former Hawkeye athlete, and one of the first star wrestlers under Dan Gable. At Iowa, Davis was a four-time All-American and three-time NCAA champion. Although Wisconsin doesn’t reach the same level of Iowa on the mat, this dual always included a little fire. Most notably, two years ago Iowa wrestler Ryan Morningstar and Badger Andrew Howe slugged it out through four overtime periods. The match was finally settled off of riding time, but not before an all out shouting match involving Tom Brands, Barry Davis, Dan Gable, and more than a few rabid Hawkeye fans. All the while, Howe and Morningstar were too winded to do anything but focus on the next breath of air.
But to drop the dual tournament! For shame! The last two year, I have had the privilege of covering wrestling for KRUI. While attending the 2010 NCAA Championships in Omaha was a great highlight, I enjoyed the duals tournament more than anything. You get to see all the best dual match-ups, and both of the Iowa wrestling rivals are in attendance: ISU and Minnesota. Now the duals tournament is lacking the Hawkeyes, pulling away both fans from Iowa and interest from other schools that get the chance to beat Goliath. N
This year the duals will feature Ohio State, UNI, ISU, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Minnesota, Virginia Tech and Cornell, among others, but no Hawks. Not only do these squads miss the opportunity to knock off the Hawkeyes, but the Hawkeyes miss the chance to sharpen their skills against top notch opponents. And, among other black-and-gold faithful, I miss the chance to see it!
I can't wait for the ISU meet, and look forward to the Midlands Championship, but right now the 2010-11 Iowa wrestling schedule feels like a bratwurst with no sauerkraut: good, but lacking.
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