Cyclones in search of first win over Hawkeyes since 2004

Iowa State’s David Carr. prepares to wrestle throughout the Cy-Hawk twin final season in Ames, is pumped for Sunday’s twin in Iowa Metropolis. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

AMES — It’s a top-10 matchup. It’s a sizzling ticket. And it’s as intense an setting one can face earlier than the month of March.

Welcome to the 2022 version of the Cy-Hawk Collection twin between No. 7 Iowa State and No. 2 Iowa, which can function as many cuts, bumps and bruises as twists and turns starting at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment in Iowa Metropolis.

“Each fan bases are very passionate,” stated the Cyclones’ third-ranked 165-pounder and 2021 NCAA champ David Carr. “(There’s) plenty of yelling. It’s superior.

“As a wrestler you need that sort of setting the place it’s loud and each groups need to win dangerous. I believe that’s when wrestling’s essentially the most enjoyable.”

ISU (5-0) hasn’t overwhelmed the Hawkeyes (5-0) since 2004, however carries the second-longest twin meet win streak (18) within the nation into what’s prone to be a highly-competitive match.

“This bunch ain’t afraid of something,” ISU head coach Kevin Dresser stated of his staff. “They’re not afraid of something.”

Eight of the Cyclones’ 10 possible starters are ranked among the many Prime 25 in accordance with InterMat. The identical goes for Iowa, which has had a fluid lineup all season due to accidents.

“I’m certain there’s some gaming occurring proper there,” stated Dresser, who gained a nationwide championship as a Hawkeye wrestler in 1986. “It’s onerous to say who’s gonna present up and that is simply sort of how they roll. … Anyone that is studying the probables and is staying up at evening, attempting to determine it out, go to mattress as a result of it isn’t going to come back true.”

Two of the various intriguing potential matchups are at 141 and 149 kilos.

At 141, the Cyclones’ Twelfth-ranked freshman Casey Swiderski might tackle No. 2 Actual Woods or Drew Bennett.

At 149, ISU freshman Paniro Johnson is poised to grapple with Max Murin in a top-eight matchup.

Swiderski and Johnson are 4-0 — and bristling with confidence that belies their youth.

“They’re prepared,” Carr stated with a smile. “They practice onerous. They’re savages. So I’m excited to let that savage out at Carver-Hawkeye. I believe they’re very mature for the way younger they’re and so they’re prepared for the battle, for certain.”

So is former Ames Excessive wrestler Marcus Coleman, who will compete on this twin for the final time. Coleman — a senior and 2022 All-American — is ranked fifth at 184 kilos and can probably tackle No. 8 Abe Assad.

“In case you have a look at our roster, I believe it’s simply gotten progressively higher,” Coleman stated. “We’ve obtained some actual professionals on the staff, so I believe we’re in a very great spot to get the win this weekend.”

The Cyclones felt equally final season, however misplaced, 22-11, as tempers flared on the finish.

So it’s all aboard the emotional curler coaster, as a result of it’s probably hotter heads, not cooler ones, will prevail when the in-state rivals conflict on the mat.

“We’ll see what occurs,” Dresser stated. “We all know what we’re moving into. It’s not our first rodeo there.”

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