Tourney Weekend

[Fryowa]

Take a deep breath, everybody. Yes, Nebraska had a nice tourney and overperformed their seeds. Will they do that again in 2 weeks? No one knows -- they're the same guys that got thumped by UNI earlier this season in Cedar Falls.
This was a disappointing tourney for the Hawks, but it doesn't mean much or change a lot in my opinion. Ayala goes to the NCAAs as the #2 seed instead of #1. Big deal. Buchanan drops to a #2 seed instead of #1. Big deal. Caliendo goes in as #2, same as before. Kennedy entered the BTen tourney as a #4, finished 5th. Arnold, the same. The only concerning thing to me is Teemer -- I don't know what he did after losing in the quarters...did he medical forfeit out the rest of the tourney?
Everybody has known all season that the Nits will win the NCAAs, and everybody else is fighting for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Nebraska has a good tourney team and will be in that hunt. And Okie State. And Iowa, UNI, Ohio St & Minny (simply because they have a guaranteed national champ).
Game on, man!

Lolz.

Big deal? The B1G tourney is nationals lite. It’s going to be the same result only with other better teams in there. Sorry, but Iowa’s current guys have proven over and over they can’t win big matches when they need to plain and simple. Losing to PSU is one thing, but getting blown out by Nebraska, not having a single conference champ…that’s not Iowa’s wrestling. It’s a big deal.

 

[Grady]

Lolz.

Big deal? The B1G tourney is nationals lite. It’s going to be the same result only with other better teams in there. Sorry, but Iowa’s current guys have proven over and over they can’t win big matches when they need to plain and simple. Losing to PSU is one thing, but getting blown out by Nebraska, not having a single conference champ…that’s not Iowa’s wrestling. It’s a big deal.

I'm just saying the sky isn't falling. Iowa actually scored more points at this year's BTen tourney and finished one spot higher this year than an last year's tourney. Iowa's best guys got beat by guys they've beaten before. Are they capable of turning the tables and beating them again? Yep. Will they? Nobody knows. If the Hawks collapse at the NCAAs, that's one thing, but I didn't see anything at the BTens that indicated they will. Like I said: prior to last weekend, the Hawks were expected to finish 2nd-5th at the NCAAs. I saw nothing this past weekend to alter that prediction.

 

[Fryowa]

I'm just saying the sky isn't falling. Iowa actually scored more points at this year's BTen tourney and finished one spot higher this year than an last year's tourney. Iowa's best guys got beat by guys they've beaten before. Are they capable of turning the tables and beating them again? Yep. Will they? Nobody knows. If the Hawks collapse at the NCAAs, that's one thing, but I didn't see anything at the BTens that indicated they will. Like I said: prior to last weekend, the Hawks were expected to finish 2nd-5th at the NCAAs. I saw nothing this past weekend to alter that prediction.

It's just the downwards trend happening. Iowa should not be behind any school not named PSU. With the resources Iowa has, there shouldn't be anyone near Iowa for 2nd place. The problem is winning big matches when it counts and Iowa has not done that all year. Teemer, Ayala, Buchanan, Arnold, the list goes on.

The highlight of Iowa's 24/25 season was Angelo Ferrari almost beating Starocci, and that's a big, big problem for a program like Iowa's. Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota...and others all had wrestlers who nutted up when it was go-time. Spencer Lee's interview after natty #3 contained a quote he said got drilled into him from Terry everyday since he got recruited..."big-time wrestlers win big-time matches." When a place like Iowa gets to the end of a conference tourney with no individual champs, it's a big problem on a national stage, so in a sense, yes...the sky is falling. All we can hope for now is that the Bassetts, Ferarri, and Miller all stay with the program, and that TnT can find someone else in the portal to take Arnold and Kueter's spots soon.

I mean if anyone is happy with 3rd-5th it's fine, but if you want to be where Iowa should (somewhat competitive with PSU and a clear #2), the sky has already started to fall.

 

[Grady]

It's just the downwards trend happening. Iowa should not be behind any school not named PSU. With the resources Iowa has, there shouldn't be anyone near Iowa for 2nd place. The problem is winning big matches when it counts and Iowa has not done that all year. Teemer, Ayala, Buchanan, Arnold, the list goes on.

The highlight of Iowa's 24/25 season was Angelo Ferrari almost beating Starocci, and that's a big, big problem for a program like Iowa's. Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota...and others all had wrestlers who nutted up when it was go-time. Spencer Lee's interview after natty #3 contained a quote he said got drilled into him from Terry everyday since he got recruited..."big-time wrestlers win big-time matches." When a place like Iowa gets to the end of a conference tourney with no individual champs, it's a big problem on a national stage, so in a sense, yes...the sky is falling. All we can hope for now is that the Bassetts, Ferarri, and Miller all stay with the program, and that TnT can find someone else in the portal to take Arnold and Kueter's spots soon.

I mean if anyone is happy with 3rd-5th it's fine, but if you want to be where Iowa should (somewhat competitive with PSU and a clear #2), the sky has already started to fall.

The suggestion that Iowa "should be a clear #2" now and into the future, considering the resources that Okie St. has along with new coach David Taylor, is not realistic, IMO.

 

[Sighhawk]

1. You ever notice when we wrestle BOYS we man handle them and when we wrestle MEN ???

2. Parco is like a deer in the head lights right now.

3.Teemer is hurt or confused.

4.10 cylinders? We need a tune up bad.

5.Is it me or do the Hawks look hurt and tired around this time, and everyone else looks fresh?
I know everyone went an got a tune up BEFORE the Tourny.

6.The Finals- STINK! STANK! and STUNK!

7.Pleastly happy with BIG BEN.

8. Big shout out to UNI!!!!

 

[Fryowa]

The suggestion that Iowa "should be a clear #2" now and into the future, considering the resources that Okie St. has along with new coach David Taylor, is not realistic, IMO.

If and when Ferrari, the Bassetts, and Miller get here and actually stay, and they find a replacement for Arnold and Kueter, Iowa should be the clear #2. Taylor isn't at that point yet.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

...

5.Is it me or do the Hawks look hurt and tired around this time, and everyone else looks fresh?
I know everyone went an got a tune up BEFORE the Tourny.

6.The Finals- STINK! STANK! and STUNK!

7.Pleastly happy with BIG BEN.

8. Big shout out to UNI!!!!

As much as I love Tom and Terry, I've expressed my concerns before that their coaching styles make me wonder if wrestlers become somewhat emotionally burned out as seasons and careers go on.

Both Tom and Terry are intense dudes at their cores, and preach aggressiveness and intensity as the keys to winning. I'm sure that their wresters "feel" that constant pressure. At times, it pays off, but over the long haul, that approach can have diminishing returns.

Cael has the best talent on his roster year after year, yes, but he's also mastered the proper balance between intensity and preparation, and keeping minds fresh and focused. His wrestlers always appear calm but intensely focused.

We can point out that our wrestlers are struggling to show up in the big matches, but a better question is why? I'm certainly not advocating for a coaching change, but I hope that our staff can look in the mirror and objectively evaluate the program and figure out what's working and what's not, and make some positive adjustments.

 

[Fryowa]

As much as I love Tom and Terry, I've expressed my concerns before that their coaching styles make me wonder if wrestlers become somewhat emotionally burned out as seasons and careers go on.

Both Tom and Terry are intense dudes at their cores, and preach aggressiveness and intensity as the keys to winning. I'm sure that their wresters "feel" that constant pressure. At times, it pays off, but over the long haul, that approach can have diminishing returns.

Cael has the best talent on his roster year after year, yes, but he's also mastered the proper balance between intensity and preparation, and keeping minds fresh and focused. His wrestlers always appear calm but intensely focused.

We can point out that our wrestlers are struggling to show up in the big matches, but a better question is why? I'm certainly not advocating for a coaching change, but I hope that our staff can look in the mirror and objectively evaluate the program and figure out what's working and what's not, and make some positive adjustments.

Chael Sonnen has a great youtube channel where he's put a lot of very recent videos out inside the Iowa program. Lots of what I'd call behind the curtains footage with TNT and wrestlers.

He's got a connection to Tom that I think is both great for his channel and Iowa wrestling because it's intimate exposure that no one sees. I'd check it out and watch if I were you as a Hawk wrestling fan. Very good stuff.

Watching those vids, it's starting to be apparent that myself knowing Tom, Terry, and Bonnie growing up, Tom is softening in a sense. Not saying his coaching is softening up or that he's softening up his expectations, but how he deals with people. Part of that might be age (we all change as we get older), and part of that might be wisdom.