Iowa and Iowa State take rivalry to ESPN

The Iowa and Iowa State dual checks all the boxes for potential good television.

Two top-10 teams, individual NCAA title contenders and a historic college wrestling rivalry that has produced its share of dramatics and theatrics.

The Cy-Hawk series will be the first regular-season dual broadcast live on ESPN in more than 40 years of the marquee sports network. The eighth-ranked Cyclones will host No. 4 Iowa at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, starting at 2 p.m.

“I think it shows you the magnitude of the series, of the match, of the rivalry,” Iowa associate head coach Terry Brands said during the program’s weekly media availability Wednesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “ESPN isn’t stupid either. They’re going to put something on that they can sell and that they can have a product on there that’s going to have people tune in on a Sunday that goes head-to-head with the NFL.

“The wrestling purists, or your casual sports fan, would not be disappointed to tune into ESPN.”

The exposure could be a boost for college wrestling, which has produced high TV ratings on other channels, including BTN. ESPN provides the opportunity to expand its reach to viewers that don’t regularly follow the sport. The fish are in the pond but the two teams have to hook and reel new fans in with the show.

“It’s not really us being on ESPN that’s going to bring awareness to us,” Brands said. “It’s going to be the product on the mat and how that action, attitude and fight shines through up and down the lineup on both sides.”

“If both sides do what they’re capable of, then it’s going to be a lot of fireworks and it could be great for the sport of wrestling.”

The talent includes Iowa’s top-ranked national finalist Real Woods at 141 and NCAA champion and No. 2 165-pounder David Carr. Nineteen of 20 starters are ranked nationally.

Iowa and Iowa State seem like a perfect fit for ESPN to start live regular season duals, according to Iowa State Coach Kevin Dresser.

“I think that’s a testament to the history of Iowa and Iowa State and how important wrestling is in Iowa,” said Dresser, a former Iowa NCAA champion. “I think it’s very fitting where they start.”

The Iowa-Iowa State dual has been the source of excitement over the years. The annual battle has generated memorable moments, including Dave Osenbaugh’s pin over NCAA champion Lou Banach to seal the 1981 dual at Hilton, Brooks Simpson’s pin of NCAA champion Eric Voelker to help Iowa beat No.1 Iowa State at CHA in 1988 and even the last trip to Ames that closed with a very mild post-match kerfuffle.

The Hawkeyes (2-0) will take on an Iowa State (3-0) that has ascended the rankings, posting a 42-0 win over then-No. 18 Wisconsin. Hilton will be energetic and maybe even hostile for Iowa.

“We hold our own with the fans,” Brands said. “We bring our fair share there and it’s going to be a great environment. We’re looking forward to it and I’m sure they are, too. This is going to be awesome.

“It’s the next event on our calendar. We’re going to be ready to go. We expect that they will be, too.”

ARNOLD EARNS NCAA HONOR

Iowa freshman Gabe Arnold, a 2023 state champion for Iowa City High, made his starting debut Sunday against Oregon State. Arnold defeated No. 11 Travis Wittlake, 4-2, at 174 pounds.

Arnold was named NCAA Wrestler of the Week on Tuesday. He improved to 6-0 with three technical falls and a major decision, winning a title at the Luther Open.

The Hawkeyes have had a true freshman wrestle in a dual for five straight seasons.

UNI’S KECKEISEN, IOWA’S DEEDE WIN AT NWCA CLASSIC

University of Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen and Iowa’s Marlynne Deede posted victories Tuesday at the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic at State College, Pa.

Top-ranked and returning NCAA finalist Keckeisen scored a late takedown to beat Penn State’s No. 2 Bernie Truax, 7-5, at 184. Previously, Keckeisen and Truax had split two matches. Both coming in the 2022 NCAA Championships in Detroit.

Deede, No. 1 in the NCAA rankings, posted an 8-3 decision over Life University’s Latifah McBryde, who is ranked No. 1 in NAIA. Deede was a 2023 national champion for Augsburg (Minn.) University before transferring to Iowa.

William Penn’s Adaugo Nwachukwu, who used to wrestle of Iowa Wesleyan, defeated North Central’s Yele Aycock, 11-7, at 136. It waws the second straight NWCA All-Star Classic win for Nwachukwu.

Former Alburnett two-time state champion and South Dakota State’s NCAA runner-up Tanner Sloan competed in the all-star dual. Second-ranked Sloan faced Penn State national champion and No. 1 Aaron Brooks, who has bumped up to 197. Brooks recorded an 11-2 major decision.