The University of Iowa wrestling team, ranked fourth nationally, secured two victories on Friday night at the Journeymen Wrestling “Uncivil War” event held at Korf Gymnasium in Hannibal, Missouri. The Hawkeyes defeated Chattanooga 37-6 and followed with a 33-7 win over Utah Valley.
Head coach Tom Brands commented on the team’s performance: “If you are ready to score when the opportunity arises you are going to be fine. You saw that tonight. Adjustments from one match to another, good adjustments. I think Utah Valley was a better team than Chattanooga and I think we got sharper, and guys were more ready, but we need to be ready ready.”
In their first dual against Chattanooga, Iowa won eight out of ten matches and earned bonus points in seven. Dean Peterson started strong at 125 pounds by defeating Cooper Flynn with a technical fall. Other notable performances included Ryder Block’s technical fall at 149 pounds and Michael Caliendo’s pin at 165 pounds.
Gabe Arnold, who moved up to compete at 197 pounds for this event, said: “I love to wrestle. I love having fun. I just do what I do best and that is compete. I am a competitor. I love it. Good to be in here, a good environment.”
Chattanooga’s Bryce Luna and Ethan Vergara picked up wins for their team at 133 and heavyweight respectively.
In the second dual against Utah Valley, Iowa again claimed eight victories with five matches earning bonus points. Coach Brands addressed the absence of three regular starters: “We had three guys out,” he said. “Kueter, Endene and Ayala. We always say next guy in, you’ve got to go. Whatever our best team is, we will put it together. That’s what you do. It doesn’t matter if our best team is out there or not. I remember last year Ayala sat out against Ohio State and he really wanted to wrestle for the team, but we aren’t going to lose because Ayala doesn’t wrestle. There are 10 weight classes; everybody do your job and we are in good shape. We’ve got guys going forward the right way and that is what I like.”
Ryder Block pinned his opponent in under a minute at 149 pounds: “I dug his wrist on his back,” Block explained after his match. “I used to do that all the time. Once I got it on his back and got my arm snaked through, I pretty much thought it was wraps if I could get it up. So, once I got it I felt pretty good there.”
Michael Caliendo recorded two pins during the night’s events: “I was a little pumped up to get a pin,” Caliendo said after his second victory by fall of the evening. “I can’t remember the last time I got a pin, and then I got two today. I put on a dominant performance that I would say I am proud of. Like I said, I was just happy to get a pin. I can’t remember the last time. I get a lot of tech falls, but I don’t usually put guys to their backs and get a lot of back points, so that was a good refresher.”
The Hawkeyes’ next competition will continue their season as they look ahead toward future conference matchups.