Intrasquad competition is usually a dull, go-through-the-motions event in which the teammates go against each other in friendly competition.
This is not the case for the Iowa Hawkeye wrestling team.
Starting on Thursday, Tom Brands will sick his team against each other in the annual Wrestle-Off, and a lot will be decided by the end of Saturday.
While the winners of the wrestle off will not automatically be named the starters, Brands will use the results to determine who has the fight, guts, and attitude to be a starter on the Iowa wrestling team.
Here’s how the 2010 Wrestle-Off will look:
Thursday’s Match-Ups
133 – Tony Ramos vs. Charlie Joseph
149 – Jeret Chiri vs. Ethan Sebert
Friday’s Match-Ups
133 – Nate Moore vs. Nick Trizzino
133 – Tyler Clark vs. winner of Ramos/Joseph
141 – Mark Ballweg vs. Joe Moore
141 – Josh Dziewa vs. Ethan Owens
149 – Dylan Carew vs. winner of Chiri/Sebert
149 – Jake Ballweg vs. Stew Gillmor
157 – Matt Ballweg vs. Nick Moore
157 – Michael Kelly vs. Derek St. John
165 – Jake Kerr vs. Joe DuCharme
174 – Mike Evans vs. Jeremy Fahler
184 – Tomas Lira vs. Vinnie Wagner
Hwt. – Bobby Telford vs. Jordan Johnson
Saturday’s Match-Ups
125 – Matt McDonough vs. Matt Gurule
133 – Winner of Nate Moore/Trizzino vs. winner of Clark/Ramos/Joseph
141 – Winner of Mark Ballweg/Joe Moore vs. winner of Dziewa/Owens
149 – Winner of Carew/Chiri/Sebert vs. winner of Jake Ballweg/Stew Gillmor
157 – Winner of Matt Ballweg/Nick Moore vs. winner of Kelly/St. John
165 – Aaron Janssen vs. winner of Kerr/DuCharme
174 – Ethen Lofthouse vs. winner of Evans/Fahler
184 – Grant Gambrall vs. winner of Lira/Wagner
Hwt. – Blake Rasing vs. winner of Telford/Johnson
Last year the Wrestle-Off did not carry as much weight, as the team had a majority of proven wrestlers returning to the lineup. This year, 9 out of 10 spots are up for grabs.
The only proven wrestler in Matt McDonough at 125 and because of the damage that McDonough did all of last year, it’s a safe bet that he’ll be the starter even if he gets upset by Matt Gurule on Saturday.
At every other weight class will be up for the taking.
Particularly interesting will be the heavyweight competition. Brands has identified Blake Rasing as the front runner, which is why he gets the bye on Friday and will wrestle the winner of Telford v. Johnson on Saturday. Johnson and Rasing saw the starting lineup last year filling in for the injured Dan Erekson and both have a serious chance of grasping the starting spot. Throw Bobby Telford in the mix, and the heavyweight Wrestle-Off becomes a three way competition.
At 157, we have a four man mini-tournament. Last year Kerr and Janssen traded turns at 157, this year both are scheduled to wrestle in the Wrestle-Offs at 165. This frees up the spot for Derek St. John, who went 11-1 in unattached competition last year. If St. John wins this weekend, you can count on him starting this year. (On a previous post I had Kerr starting at 157 and Janssen at 165, now I may have to change that.)
The only weight class with no Wrestle-Off matches is 197, where Luke Lofthouse is favored to start. He saw the starting lineup last year due to injury, and 197 in now his spot to lose. And because the Hawkeyes only have one other wrestler, Brodie Ambrose, listed at 197, Brands probably elected to not risk an injury to either man.
At 133 you have five guys competing for one spot. Nate Moore is listed in the top 10 in various rankings is the favorite to start, but his 133 standing could be in jeopardy if he comes out poorly this weekend.
A lot of questions will be answered this weekend, but we still won't know everything until the Hawkeyes take the mat against Iowa Central on November 19th.
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