Anyone happen to notice...

[AFHawk86]

...that Iowa's 3 toughest duals are on the road this season? Okie State, Penn State, and Minnesota are all away (at least Iowa State was a home dual). That makes for a tough season, especially for a relatively inexperienced team. One down, two more to go. I think the Hawks stand a good chance against Minnesota, but I'm not sure about Penn State. I don't know what to make of all the hype Cael's team has received thus far. They're definitely good and have seen positive results this season, but can they endure a long, grueling season?

Meanwhile, Iowa will continue to get better!

 

[ih8olives]

... I'm not sure about Penn State. I don't know what to make of all the hype Cael's team has received thus far. They're definitely good and have seen positive results this season, but can they endure a long, grueling season?

Meanwhile, Iowa will continue to get better!

I take solace in Caels track record of having teams fade as the season goes on.

 

[smoot27]

What makes it tough to see is that Cael has recruited some true blue chippers. Alton, Taylor and Ruth are immediate title contenders. Our former top prospects such as Gambrall and Nate Moore are just decent wrestlers now even though the've been in the system 3 years now. The younger guys like DSJ, Telford, Ramos, Nick Moore, E. Lofthouse, Evans, Ballweg all show promise, but are not currently at the level of the 3 from Penn State. I'm going to stay optimistic this year as I realize it's hard to repeat after losing so many seniors. Hopefully we are back to being dominant by next season.

 

[goiahawks]

Yeah it's a tough schedule and it's going to be a grind from here out for all the guys. I'm just glad that our "rebuilding" year is better than most other schools best seasons. We'll be just fine!

 

[CRwrestling]

Cael definitely can recruit. Having the greatest college resume ever and a gold medal to boot will do that.

The difference as I see it, is that I don't know if McD is a national champion in any other room. He is the type of hard nosed, out-work the competition wrestler that Iowa can turn into a champ. Out of high school he wasn't an elite recruit though, Cael wouldn't know what to do with him.

 

[goiahawks]

That's a great point about McD CR.

 

[KWOODHAWK]

Cael definitely can recruit. Having the greatest college resume ever and a gold medal to boot will do that.

The difference as I see it, is that I don't know if McD is a national champion in any other room. He is the type of hard nosed, out-work the competition wrestler that Iowa can turn into a champ. Out of high school he wasn't an elite recruit though, Cael wouldn't know what to do with him.

OK, just a WAG on my part of course, but I guess Cael would know what to do with MCD.

He would run him out of the program and not let him transfer anywhere good, just because he wasn't one of the guys Cael recruited. Just saying.

 

[ih8olives]

I think thats the core of why Iowa is what it is. From Gable, to Zalesky, to Brands. The hawks recruit a style, a work ethic, a heart. Not just talent. I mean okie state recruited teague moore and iowa recruited jesse whitmer. Zalesky recruited daniel dennis and not jimmy kennedy. One was blue chip the other was blue collar. Iowa always finds these diamonds in the rough that are extremely talented but can only reach their full potential in the iowa room. Look no further then Mark Perry he knew that the iowa room was the only place to reach his full potential.