Go Iowa Awesome – Preview: No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 6 Oklahoma State

WHO: #6 Oklahoma State (14-2)
WHEN: 3:30 PM CT (Sunday, February 19)
WHERE: Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment (Iowa Metropolis, IA)
TV: BTN (Shane Sparks and Jim Gibbons)
RADIO: Hawkeye Radio Community (Steven Grace and Mark Ironside) | AM 800 KXIC | YouTube
MOBILE: www.foxsports.com/cell
ONLINE: www.foxsports.com/dwell
FOLLOW: @IowaAwesome | @Hawks_Wrestling | @IowaonBTN

125: #1 Spencer Lee (RS SR, 13-0) vs #28 Reece Witcraft (RS JR, 15-8)

This match is just not listed right here as a result of it must be a detailed match that might swing the twin or have seeding ramifications. This match is listed on this part as a result of it is Spencer Lee‘s last match in an Iowa twin meet — and his last match in an Iowa singlet at Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment. Regardless that Lee’s Iowa profession has ended up spanning six seasons, it nonetheless feels prefer it’s passed by within the blink of an eye fixed. It has been the best of pleasures to look at him wrestle in CHA since his Hawkeye profession started; this match might be a fantastic alternative for Iowa followers to thank him for a very exceptional profession.

157: #13 Cobe Siebrecht (JR, 10-3) vs #9 Kaden Gfeller (RS SR, 17-5)

We might see 20 ranked wrestlers in motion on Sunday; each Iowa and Oklahoma State have a wrestler ranked at every weight, so if every groups wrestles their greatest lineup, each match would function two ranked wrestlers. However there is a large vary between these rankings at a number of weights; six weights function a spot of not less than 13 rating spots. Iowa has 5 wrestlers ranked within the High 10 at their respective weights; none of them is slated to wrestle anybody ranked increased than fifteenth. Oklahoma State has three wrestlers ranked within the High 10, however solely one in every of them is ready to tackle an Iowa wrestler ranked in the identical vary — on this match.

This weight might be probably the most attention-grabbing of the twin; Cobe Siebrecht‘s inventory has been rising all season, particularly with just a few very stable current wins over ranked opponents. Kaden Gfeller presents one other alternative for Siebrecht to get a win over a ranked foe. It is also a match the place a win might enhance Siebrecht’s seed on the NCAA Event subsequent month. This appears like a really nervy match that may possible come all the way down to a takedown within the third interval or sudden victory.

174: #14 Nelson Manufacturers (SR, 5-4) vs #11 Dustin Plott (JR, 18-3)

That is one other one of many uncommon weights on this twin that seems to pit to 2 fairly evenly-matched wrestlers; Dustin Plott is a returning All-American at this weight, whereas Nelson Manufacturers is seeking to break via to that degree. Manufacturers has performed an professional job of preserving issues shut in opposition to a number of the high guys at this weight — see: his one-point losses to #1 Carter Starocci and #2 Mikey Labriola earlier this season — however the trick now could be discovering a approach to flip these slim defeats into precise upset victories. Doing that right here might give him numerous confidence heading into the Large Ten and NCAA Tournaments.

184: #12 Abe Assad (JR, 14-2) vs #10 Travis Wittlake (RS SR, 16-3)

It is unclear if Abe Assad will compete right here — he and freshman Drake Rhodes are each listed as choices at this weight on the match notes and Assad hasn’t competed since a shock loss on the Iowa-Wisconsin twin final month; he is missed Iowa’s final three twin meets. However that is additionally Iowa’s final scheduled competitors earlier than the Large Ten Event (March 4-5 in Ann Arbor, MI). If he does compete, this match will function two wrestlers at present slotted for the Spherical of 12 on the NCAA Event; each these guys wish to earn All-America standing this season (Wittlake desires to regain that standing, as he completed 4th at 165 in 2021) and doing so might require going via each other.

That is Iowa’s last twin meet of the 2022-23 common season — which signifies that it is also Senior Day for some departing Hawkeye seniors. This has been a particular group of seniors; they performed an instrumental half in serving to Iowa win a twenty fourth nationwide championship in 2021 (and had Iowa in pole place to take action in 2020, earlier than COVID canceled the NCAA Event). They are going to be properly and really missed.

There are 5 seniors taking their last bows at Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment on Sunday: Spencer Lee, Max Murin, Jacob Warner, Joe Kelly, and Drew Bennett. (Three different Iowa starters — Actual Woods, Nelson Manufacturers, and Tony Cassioppi — are listed as seniors within the match notes, however all three have eligibility remaining for 2023-24 and are at present anticipated to be again within the Iowa lineup subsequent yr.)

Lee, Murin, and Warner have been starters and fixtures within the Iowa lineup since they had been freshmen. Lee’s accomplishments — three nationwide championships (plus a 2021 Large Ten championship) — are very well-known, and we’ll have loads of time over the subsequent few weeks (and months) to mirror on his unbelievable Iowa profession.

Murin started his profession at 141 and moved as much as 149 just a few years in the past; he is had numerous battles and robust wins over the course of his Iowa profession, however he is nonetheless seeking to end a season on the All-America podium. (He did earn All-America honors in 2020 because the #8 seeded wrestler; all wrestlers seeded 1-8 had been acknowledged as All-People when that match was canceled.)

Warner has been a irritating determine to look at at instances throughout his Iowa profession, given his low-scoring matches and closely defensive model, however he is had numerous success when the lights have been at their brightest; he is a four-time All-American, ending seventh in 2019, 4th in 2021, and runner-up a season in the past. (Like Murin, he was additionally acknowledged as an All-American in 2020 because the #4 seed coming into the NCAA Event.) Hopefully he has yet one more nice March run in him.

Neither Kelly nor Bennett have been common starters for Iowa throughout their Hawkeye careers, however they have been welcome contributors to the lineup over time. Bennett transferred to Iowa from UNI after the 2021 season and has wrestled in eight twin meets over the previous two seasons. Kelly has been at Iowa since 2018-19 and wrestled in 4 twin meets over these 5 seasons. Even whereas they have not wrestled loads in twin meets or Large Ten Tournaments or NCAA Tournaments, they have been helpful teammates and opponents within the Iowa coaching room.

Congratulations to all of Iowa’s seniors and thanks for all of the recollections over the past 4, 5, and even six seasons.

On paper, this twin seems to arrange properly for Iowa. The Hawkeyes must be fairly heavy favorites at 5 matches (125, 141, 149, 165, 285) and will have alternatives to earn bonus factors at a number of of these weights. Iowa also needs to be a slight favourite at 197, too. Against this, Oklahoma State is just a heavy favourite at 133 and doubtless barely favored at 157, 174, and 184. That stated, just a few upsets or surprising bonus factors can change the complexion of a twin meet in a rush, so Iowa might want to keep sharp and centered all through to get a fifteenth twin meet victory this season.