The third time’s a appeal in relation to the connection between Actual Woods and the College of Iowa wrestling program.
Woods, a Hawkeye 141-pounder who’s undefeated in 11 matches this season, was on Iowa’s recruiting radar way back to his highschool days at Montini Catholic Excessive Faculty in Lombard, Illinois. However getting Woods into the Dan Gable Wrestling Complicated took some time.
Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Woods dedicated to Stanford, the place he went 42-8 in three seasons and received two Pac-12 championships. Throughout his third season at Stanford, the varsity introduced it was eliminating its wrestling program. Because the Hawkeyes had returning NCAA finalist Jaydin Eierman on their roster, they weren’t out there for an additional 141-pounder. So, when Stanford reinstated its program, Woods stayed put and superior to the 2022 NCAA Championships, the place he reached the semifinals and positioned sixth. After the season, Woods was as soon as once more able to relocate.
Iowa coach Tom Manufacturers stated the dialog with Woods was “very pure” after Woods started looking for graduate faculties.
“[We said] Iowa Metropolis, Iowa has the very best followers on the planet and so they bathe guys such as you with affection and reward as a result of you know the way to get it completed on the mat,” Manufacturers stated.
Certainly one of two undefeated wrestlers for second-ranked Iowa, Woods has been getting it completed as a Hawkeye, with six of his 11 victories coming with bonus factors.
“I wish to win on the wrestling mat. It’s so simple as that,” Woods stated.
Manufacturers says Woods is quiet, assured, and humorous. On the mat, Manufacturers refers to Woods as a phenom together with his skill, athleticism, and mindset.
“(It’s how) he walked and talked,” Manufacturers stated. “He would again it up, and when he didn’t again it up (with) outcomes, he would again it up together with his effort. When he bought beat, he would bruise and batter you.”
For Woods, his transient time at Iowa has already made a constructive affect on his wrestling from a technical and psychological standpoint.
“I might say pushing me to open myself up and perhaps even to be extra open-minded to completely different concepts in my wrestling,” Woods stated.
Kennedy Surging In First Full Season As Starter
Like Woods, it took Patrick Kennedy time to embrace the Hawkeyes. Additionally like Woods, he now thrives in a black and gold singlet.
A local Minnesotan, Kennedy grew up rooting for his home-state Gophers. In the course of the 2014 Huge Ten Championships — and primarily to agitate a household good friend and Hawkeye fan — he cheered for Ohio State’s Nathan Tomasello towards Iowa’s Thomas Gilman.
“My first reminiscence was, I don’t like Tigerhawks,” Kennedy stated. “As I bought older and matured perhaps, I fricking love Tigerhawks.”
Kennedy is rated #8 nationally at 165 kilos and improved to 14-2 on the season when he returned to his house state Feb. 3 and defeated Minnesota’s Cael Carlson, 13-8.
How did Kennedy grow to be hooked up to the Hawkeyes? First, his highschool coach was Iowa All-American Jamie Heidt. Second, whereas in highschool he might use Iowa’s Dan Gable Wrestling Complicated as a Regional Coaching Heart.
“I didn’t come (to Iowa Metropolis) for a pair days, a pair occasions, a pair weekends,” Kennedy stated. “I used to be right here rather a lot. For the period of time I used to be right here, an individual couldn’t be faux for that lengthy. You possibly can go on a weekend go to and folks can put a persona on, however I used to be down right here for days, weeks at a time. What I noticed out of (head coach Tom) Manufacturers and what I noticed out of (assistant coach Ryan) Morningstar, folks across the program, is how I used to be raised. It was a straightforward transition for me.
“I used to be raised that method by my mother and father, my highschool coach was a Hawk, and that’s how we educated and the philosophy wasn’t actually completely different. The philosophy of out-train the world and have enjoyable when you’re doing it was principally the identical factor, and it was straightforward and it was most likely probably the greatest choices I’ve made in my life up to now.”
In return, Hawkeye followers are having fun with Kennedy. After ready within the wings behind four-time Huge Ten champion Alex Marinelli, that is Kennedy’s first season as a full-time starter. His solely losses are to #2 David Carr of Iowa State (10-4) and # 6 Dean Hamiti of Wisconsin (4-3).
Kennedy laughs about his preliminary considered the Hawkeyes, which looks like eons in the past. The College of Iowa is the place he was meant to be.
“I jumped on board and I’m not getting off board,” he stated.
