I have had a lot of people requesting information about the team, incoming recruits, schedule and lineup. This is really a slow time of the year as far as information because it's hard to actually get the whole team at one workout because of summer schedules to form an opinion. This info comes from conversations with coaches, wrestlers and of course my invaluable opinion.
I often get asked where McD is going next year weight wise, McD has told me several times he wants to be back @ 125. I think Andy Hamilton has stated this after talking to him also.
Tony Ramos is another hot topic. I have had several people tell me that they have heard he is close with McD and Moore, that's not the case. Ramos is a very good wrestler, but he is not at that level yet. Does he occasionally score on those guys, yes, but he is still playing catchup with those guys yet. He has also had some issues this summer, so it will be interesting to see where he is come the start of the season. I'm also not sure he could be a career 125.
Tyler Clark is also a hot topic. Clark could challenge Moore at 133, but right now Moore is the frontrunner for that weight. Tyler has been gearing up now knowing that this year actually "counts" for him and there is an opportunity for him. In hindsight if he didn't transfer he would be ISU's 125 or 133, but it sure is nice having him in the room.
People want to know who is going to fill 141 this year. Right now it looks like it's going to be Mark Ballweg. Mark is somewhat limited athletically, but he will have a little more success than Matt did at 157 a couple of years ago. Mark is a competitor and is chomping at the bit so to speak .
The 157/165 debate sparks a lot of debate and it's really not settled yet. DSJ is the main item of conversation when talking about these two weights. It still is up in the air where DSJ is going to go, but he has stated in the past he would like to go 165. He has been trying to bulk up, but that has gone a little slower than both sides would have liked. If he does go 165, it is not certain that Janssen and Kerr will make the cut again. Both have added quite a bit of weight during the offseason. If they don't make the cut then that will leave Matt Ballweg at 157. If DSJ goes 157 then that would leave Janssen and Kerr to do battle at 165.
I will echo many of the comments that have already been made about Ethan Lofthouse, the kid is a stud and will be a great wrestler. One of the hardest working kids on the team and DSJ has benefitted greatly from having him to work out with and vice versa.
Grant Gambrall has had a up and down summer and looks to be on the right track. He needs to be more consistent for this team to be a legitimate title contender.
There are a couple of contenders at 197 with Ambrose and Lofthouse. We know what we will get with Lofthouse and that is 110% effort. He is the most gifted athlete, but he has shown quite a bit of improvement over the summer. I know the coaches really like the potential of Ambrose, but he needs to get more mat time. He also needs to be more disciplined with his weight to be effective at 197.
At HWT Johnson and Rasing will battle here and I think Rasing will be the guy even though I think we could see Johnson win the head to head match up. Both guys would be solid choices, but Rasing's size will be a tough match up for a lot of HWT's.
As for the Freshman I have personally seen all but Telford. There are a lot of people hopeful that Dwieza can come in at 141, and I'm going to tell you that will not happen. First off Dwieza has a ways to go to be able to hold up physically at 141, he is SMALL right now. Second, even if he did beat Ballweg out he wouldn't be a vast improvement that would be a difference maker. Baldy is a impressive looking freshman, I have heard comparisons to Metcalf and I just don't see it and that would be being overly generous. No doubt he is very good he still has work to do and he has grown quite a bit since his junior year and will be looking to go 157. 149 is not out of the question according to someone I talked to recently, But it may be a stretch for him. Moore and Kelly will both be in the 157/165 range. Moore is not a big HS 160 so I think he will compete at the tougher events at 157, not sure on Kelly. Both have had injury issues so it will be interesting to see how their careers develop. Evans is going to be a solid wrestler at Iowa, but boy does he need to get better on his feet. The staff knew this coming in, but watching him against college level competition it really becomes apparent. I know his family has stated that he is going to go 174 this year, but he has a huge frame and the coaches have a plan for him going into the future. Can't say much about Telford as I haven't seen him in person, but he will need a year or two to get ready to go physically and technique wise.
As of now Iowa will not be at National Duals.
I often get asked where McD is going next year weight wise, McD has told me several times he wants to be back @ 125. I think Andy Hamilton has stated this after talking to him also.
Tony Ramos is another hot topic. I have had several people tell me that they have heard he is close with McD and Moore, that's not the case. Ramos is a very good wrestler, but he is not at that level yet. Does he occasionally score on those guys, yes, but he is still playing catchup with those guys yet. He has also had some issues this summer, so it will be interesting to see where he is come the start of the season. I'm also not sure he could be a career 125.
Tyler Clark is also a hot topic. Clark could challenge Moore at 133, but right now Moore is the frontrunner for that weight. Tyler has been gearing up now knowing that this year actually "counts" for him and there is an opportunity for him. In hindsight if he didn't transfer he would be ISU's 125 or 133, but it sure is nice having him in the room.
People want to know who is going to fill 141 this year. Right now it looks like it's going to be Mark Ballweg. Mark is somewhat limited athletically, but he will have a little more success than Matt did at 157 a couple of years ago. Mark is a competitor and is chomping at the bit so to speak .
The 157/165 debate sparks a lot of debate and it's really not settled yet. DSJ is the main item of conversation when talking about these two weights. It still is up in the air where DSJ is going to go, but he has stated in the past he would like to go 165. He has been trying to bulk up, but that has gone a little slower than both sides would have liked. If he does go 165, it is not certain that Janssen and Kerr will make the cut again. Both have added quite a bit of weight during the offseason. If they don't make the cut then that will leave Matt Ballweg at 157. If DSJ goes 157 then that would leave Janssen and Kerr to do battle at 165.
I will echo many of the comments that have already been made about Ethan Lofthouse, the kid is a stud and will be a great wrestler. One of the hardest working kids on the team and DSJ has benefitted greatly from having him to work out with and vice versa.
Grant Gambrall has had a up and down summer and looks to be on the right track. He needs to be more consistent for this team to be a legitimate title contender.
There are a couple of contenders at 197 with Ambrose and Lofthouse. We know what we will get with Lofthouse and that is 110% effort. He is the most gifted athlete, but he has shown quite a bit of improvement over the summer. I know the coaches really like the potential of Ambrose, but he needs to get more mat time. He also needs to be more disciplined with his weight to be effective at 197.
At HWT Johnson and Rasing will battle here and I think Rasing will be the guy even though I think we could see Johnson win the head to head match up. Both guys would be solid choices, but Rasing's size will be a tough match up for a lot of HWT's.
As for the Freshman I have personally seen all but Telford. There are a lot of people hopeful that Dwieza can come in at 141, and I'm going to tell you that will not happen. First off Dwieza has a ways to go to be able to hold up physically at 141, he is SMALL right now. Second, even if he did beat Ballweg out he wouldn't be a vast improvement that would be a difference maker. Baldy is a impressive looking freshman, I have heard comparisons to Metcalf and I just don't see it and that would be being overly generous. No doubt he is very good he still has work to do and he has grown quite a bit since his junior year and will be looking to go 157. 149 is not out of the question according to someone I talked to recently, But it may be a stretch for him. Moore and Kelly will both be in the 157/165 range. Moore is not a big HS 160 so I think he will compete at the tougher events at 157, not sure on Kelly. Both have had injury issues so it will be interesting to see how their careers develop. Evans is going to be a solid wrestler at Iowa, but boy does he need to get better on his feet. The staff knew this coming in, but watching him against college level competition it really becomes apparent. I know his family has stated that he is going to go 174 this year, but he has a huge frame and the coaches have a plan for him going into the future. Can't say much about Telford as I haven't seen him in person, but he will need a year or two to get ready to go physically and technique wise.
As of now Iowa will not be at National Duals.
