Wrestling411

By Kyle Klingman

It is the college wrestling statistic that won’t go away: A team from Iowa or Oklahoma will place in the top two at the NCAA Division I wrestling tournament.

Okay, there was one year it didn’t quite work out. In 1967, Michigan State placed first and Michigan placed second at the NCAA tournament, marking the only time two schools were able to disrupt the balance.

Other than one stumble in 79 NCAA tournaments (including the years where there was unofficial team scoring), a college from Iowa or Oklahoma has show up in the top two.

After winning a second-straight NCAA team title Tom Brands joined Wrestling 411 to talk about Iowa’s performance and what needed to be done and what did get done in St. Louis. Also joining Wrestling 411 after winning a second title in a row was the well-spoken J Jaggers of Ohio State. Jaggers talked about his season, cutting weight, wrestling for Tom Ryan and a strange connection he has with an NBC sitcom.

After winning a second-straight NCAA team title Tom Brands joined Wrestling 411 to talk about Iowa’s performance and what needed to be done and what did get done in St. Louis.

Also joining Wrestling 411 after winning a second title in a row was the well-spoken J Jaggers of Ohio State. Jaggers talked about his season, cutting weight, wrestling for Tom Ryan and a strange connection he has with an NBC sitcom.

Listen to the show below.

 

 Tom Brands and J Jaggers: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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By Jason Bryant
Wrestling411

Iowa City — After winning seven out of 10 matches on Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands wasn’t all smiles despite the fact the 10,095 fans exiting the facility were.

Top-ranked Iowa improved to 22-0 with a 25-9 victory over rival Minnesota. The loss, the Gophers’ second in a row, drops J Robinson’s squad to 13-7.

“We won and didn’t look good,” said Brands. “(Minnesota) was ready to slug and we got slugged and stood there and took a lot of it. That’s why.”

Minnesota landed a hard right to the jaw as Zach Sanders upset Charlie Falck, scoring on a double leg in the final 10 seconds to pick up a 5-4 victory at 125 pounds.

By Kyle Klingman
Wrestling 411

There is nothing more exhilarating than a great wrestling dual meet. But there is nothing more disheartening than a bad one.

There is nothing more painful than watching two wrestlers stall their way to a 3-2 match (does it really matter who wins or loses) and there is nothing more excruciating than watching two heavyweights push their way into overtime.

It is college wrestling that needs a “push” in the right direction and we need to give it one. Here are 10 suggestions that would make wrestling a better product for the fans.

Create a shot clock or a play clock for wrestling
Basketball: popular. Football: popular.

The following ten coaches were asked the exact same question: If you could tell the officials one thing at the officials meeting, what would it be?

Tom Brands, University of Iowa Head Wrestling Coach
I think they do a heck of a lot better job than what it sounds like I’m telling them during the match.

Barry Davis, University of Wisconsin Head Wrestling Coach
Call stalling. Because what it does is it makes everyone more aggressive and the better man’s going to win that way. The guy’s stalling, just call it. It’ s more exciting for the fans and everybody else.

Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands is our final championship head coach interview in the wake of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. What does coach Brands think about his team’s performance heading into the dual with Oklahoma State?Listen in.

 

 Tom Brands - University of Iowa Head Coach: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The following 10 coaches were asked the exact same question: If you could change one thing about college wrestling what would it be?

Tom Brands, University of Iowa Head Wrestling Coach
It would be the weigh-in procedures and basically how they have done a disservice to nutrition in this sport.

Barry Davis, University of Wisconsin Head Coach
Stalling calls. Make the guys wrestle more. That’s all. It’s the best sport going right now. A lot of action. It’s such a good thing now. You don’t need to change much of it, just make guys wrestle.

2008 Northern Iowa Open Notes
The Northern Iowa Open took place in the UNI Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. There were 160 wrestlers entered in the tournament.

Among the schools with participants were host Northern Iowa, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota State-Mankato, Minnesota Missouri, Luther, South Dakota State, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Nebraska-Omaha.

The UNI Dome will host the NWCA National Duals on January 10-11.

Olympians in the house
Four Olympians were present at the Northern Iowa Open. Doug Schwab (145.5 pounds) and Ben Askren (163 pounds) both made the 2008 Olympic freestyle wrestling team.

Augsburg College has been one of the most successful wrestling programs on the Division III level. Now the school will be at the center of wrestling promotion as KAUG, the student-run campus radio station, will be the host studio for Wrestling 411’s twice weekly radio program beginning November 11.

Wrestling 411, the brand operating under the wrestling marketing and promotions company Media Sports Production, is launching its first full season of its made for television wrestling highlights show. The made for television show, Wrestling 411, will be complimented by a timely twice weekly show airing on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the season.