Trying to Make Sense of 2010-11 Wrestling Team

Complete Turnover.

That's how head coach Tom Brands describes his wrestling team. With nine out of ten spots up in the air, this year will be a roller coaster ride.


Here's how I see the wrestling spot shaking out, at least for the first meet of the season.


PROBABLE LINEUP:

125- Matt McDonough, SO (Last year: McDonough) – Most dual meets start with the 125 match, giving the Hawkeyes the chance to send out their only returning NCAA champion.

133- Nate Moore, SO (LY: Daniel Dennis) - Ranked #9 by Intermat, Iowa City West’s Nate Moore saw the starting lineup when Dennis was injured, going 9-6 in collegiate competition.

141- Mark Ballweg, SO (LY: Montell Marion) – One of three Ballweg brothers on the team, Waverly-Shell Rock product Mark Ballweg went 11-5 overall but only 0-2 in collegiate competition.

149- Dylan Carew, RSFR (LY: Brent Metcalf) Unranked Carew went 11-1 and won two tournaments wrestling unattached last year. Another IC West High product

157- Jake Kerr, SR (LY: Kerr/Aaron Janssen) Kerr went 13-11 and placed fourth in the Big Ten championships last year. RSFR Derek St. John, ranker #12 by Intermat, could replace Kerr by the end of the season.

165- Aaron Janssen, (LY: Ryan Morningstar) Janssen went 12-4 overall and 4-0 in Big Ten duals wrestling on and off last year as Brands tried to figure out the 157 spot.

174- Ethan Lofthouse, RSFR (LY: Jay Borschel ) Wrestling unattached, Ethan Lofthouse went 30-7, including 9 pins.

184- Grant Gambrall, SO (LY: Phil Keddy) The third IC West wrestler on my lineup, Gambrall was 15-5 in collegiate competition and 22-6 overall last year.

197- Luke Lofthouse, (LY: Chad Beaty) Ranked #13 by Intermat, Luke, the uncle of Ethan Lofthouse, went 19-13 wrestling for Iowa and 4-1 in Carver Hawkeye Arena in 2009-10.

HWT- Blake Rasing, (LY: Dan Erekson) Filling in for injured Erekson, the New Hampton native only won one dual match out of five. Rasing lost roughly 15lbs in the off season and will use athleticism and agility over brute strength this year.

By the end of the year, the lineup could be totally different: St. John could be a starter, Jordan Johnson could be the heavyweight, and a myriad of wrestlers could capture the 141 spot. For that matter, a myriad of wrestlers could capture any spot.

But probably not 125.