The NCAA wrestling championships begin a three day run on Thursday in Oklahoma City.
The Iowa Hawkeyes qualified their entire ten man roster but the Hawks are considered a longshot to end Penn State’s bid for a fourth straight title. “I don’t think it’s a matter of sitting here and speculating on what needs to happen or trying to come up with a formula of what has to happen. Our best wrestling has to come out and all the good potential that is in these guys has to come out,” Iowa coach Tom Brands says.
Iowa finished second at the Big Ten championships. Hawkeye 133 pounder Tony Ramos is hoping to end his collegiate career with his first national title. Ramos says that is what he has been working for the past five years and it “would really be devastating” if he did not achieve that goal.
The top ranked competitor at 133 pounds is Joe Colon from UNI. UNI coach Doug Schwab says Colon wrestles with a confidence like his opponent has to come take the match, not like he has to take the match from the opponent.
The fifth ranked Panthers were unbeaten in duals, finished second to Missouri at the Mid American Conference championships and will be sending seven wrestlers to Oklahoma City. Schwab says this is what they have been pointing to all year long and they were disappointed that they did not win the MAC Tournament.
Iowa State is sending six competitors to the tournament.