Iowa men's wrestling - 2024 Media Day observations

The Iowa men’s wrestling season is officially upon us.

That’s the general feeling each year when Media Day rolls around, but it’s especially the case in 2024 – with the #2 Hawkeyes set to open their dual schedule in 48 hours at #23 Oregon State.

But before trekking to Corvallis (OR) it was time for head coach Tom Brands and his latest team to introduce themselves to the media on a Thursday Halloween afternoon in Iowa City.

Here are a few takeaways from the festivities for a team brimming with both newness and expectations:

“The more that want to be here, the merrier. We love it.”

Those were the words of Tom Brands regarding Iowa’s use of the transfer portal this offseason.

The Hawkeyes added a trio of high-profile transfers from the likes of Arizona State (x2) and Oklahoma.

The group includes four-time All-American Kyle Parco (149 pounds), his former ASU Sun Devil teammate and 2024 NCAA finalist – Jacori Teemer (157) – and three-time All-American Stephen Buchanan (a 197-pounder by way of the Sooner program).

Hear from top-ranked Teemer below as the 157-pounder discusses his decision to transfer to Iowa:

The three additions have a combined 19 years of collegiate wrestling experience between them including 2024-25. So, aside from being projected near the top of their preseason weight class rankings (#4 Parco, #1 Teemer and #1 Buchanan) they also bring plenty of veteran know-how to an Iowa lineup that could have upwards of 4-5 freshmen in it this season.

But don’t get the impression that these ‘old dogs’ can’t still be taught new tricks.

Down on the floor of the Goschke Family Wrestling Training Center the sixth-year senior Buchanan had this to say about his experience since arriving at Iowa:

“I (came here) thinking I was a completed wrestler, but I’ve come here and turned back into the student.”

As for Tom Brands’ opinion on utilizing the current transfer landscape to improve his team, he shows no signs of pulling back on the reins.

“There’s a lot of ways to skin a cat. I’ll tell you that if certain personnel fit our roster needs, we’re open to it. I don’t have an opinion on whether that’s good or not, good for athletics or not. We love it. The more that want to be here, the merrier. We love it,” says the four-time NCAA Championship winning coach.

“There’s nothing wrong with sorting things out among friends.”

Another major storyline for the Iowa men’s wrestling program this offseason has been the state of 174/184 pounds.

Iowa has no shortage of high-powered options with the return of 2023 All-American Nelson Brands from NCAA gambling-related suspension, two-year starter (and recent U23 World Team member) Patrick Kennedy, promising redshirt freshman Gabe Arnold and top-ranked recruit Angelo Ferrari.

When asked how things sit entering Saturday’s season opener the Iowa head coach sounded like a man who’s happier to have the ‘problem’ than he is worried about its ultimate outcome.

“We love all four of those guys, and there’s nothing wrong with sorting things out amongst friends. How’s that? We love the competition,” declared (Tom) Brands.

As of now, (Nelson) Brands is slated to go 174 against Oregon State followed by Arnold at 184.

“It’s going to work itself out. Whether it’s between the coaches, the guys – us. I think the man upstairs works in weird, weird ways and I think things are going to fall in line the way they’re supposed to,” says Arnold of the logjam.

“I can tell you that nobody’s wrestled off. There’s been no animosity between the guys. It’s been pretty cool. And at the end of the day, we’re still a family.”

For fellow probable starter Nelson Brands, the mindset is much the same.

“It always works out. That’s what I said in the summer when I said I was going 74. It always works out no matter what happens,” says the son of associate head coach Terry Brands. “There’s no bad blood ever. And whoever is the best guy for the situation we’ll figure out who the best guy is for the situation.”

It appears to be a two-horse race for the prized ‘leadoff’ spot in the Iowa lineup

The Iowa men’s wrestling program has a long and storied history at most weight classes, but arguably none more so (at least in recent memory) than 125 pounds.

Drake Ayala, Spencer Lee, Thomas Gilman, Cory Clark and Matt McDonough are the last five wrestlers to man 125 in postseason competition for the Hawkeyes.

Each member of that quintet went on to amass at least one NCAA finals appearance in their respective careers – Ayala (x1), Lee (three titles in three appearances), Gilman (x1), Clark (one title in three appearances at 133), and McDonough (two titles in three appearances).

Who will that guy be for the 2024-25 season? We may have to wait a while to find out.

Per Brands, the top two options are redshirt sophomore Joey Cruz (a former Oklahoma transfer) and redshirt freshman Kale Petersen.

The latter may not factor into the battle right from the jump though, as Petersen is still regaining his form now 10-months removed from an injury suffered in early 2024.

Says Brands of the Rockwell (IA) native, “We love his fire. We love his drive. We love his approach. I don’t know if he’s quite ready right now, but 10 minutes from now he could be ready.”

That may very well give Cruz – the former #33 overall recruit in the Class of 2022 – the first bite at the apple.

In the end, whomever ultimately grabs hold of the spot will certainly have some big shoes to fill.

Time to perform

The sense among every wrestler that spoke during Media Day was as one might expect – they’re raring to go.

To borrow a tired Midwestern cliché, ‘the hay is in the barn.’ It’s time to get out on the mat and showcase the best version of themselves – both for the sake of their own success and for Hawkeye fans whom it was announced today have sold out their allotment of season tickets for the fourth-consecutive season.

𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙈 💥 💥

No place like it. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/armo1pK6lf

— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) October 31, 2024

In response to the news Brands is hoping to see the performance of his athletes match the enthusiasm of their fans.

“We have to do a better job performing. I think if you put an exciting team on the mat, they will be heralded and showered with affection by the fan base.”

“We tell our guys in kind of a funny way, when you’re wrestling and it’s your turn to step on the mat, don’t have that be the time that everybody gets out of their seat and goes and gets an ice cream cone. Have that be the one where they nail themselves to the seat because they don’t want to miss one second of your performance.”

“If we can get 10 weight classes with those types of competitors, we’re going to be where we need to be,” said Brands to conclude Thursday’s press conference.

In just two days Iowa will get the chance to do exactly that – albeit in a hostile road environment out at Oregon State.

We’ll see if these Hawkeyes are up to the task from the opening whistle of their 2024-25 season.