It is not a new spot for the Iowa wrestling team but the Hawkeyes enter this season as the top ranked team. The Hawkeyes have won two straight national titles and are 45-1 in duals during the past two years.

Iowa coach Tom Brands says things seem like they are “too tight” with the other top teams and their job is to widen the gap. Brands says despite winning the national title last year the Hawkeyes were not a dominant team. He says they won everything from a team point of view, but they are gearing to widen the gap. “And that’s not a prediction, I don’t make predictions, that’s how we’re training,” Brands says.

Brands says it does not matter what they are ranked in the pre-season the Hawks will have a chance to prove it. He says by the time the Midlands tournament is over, if they do their job, they will be the number one team.

The Hawks open on November 20th by hosting the Iowa duals.