By DAN McCOOL
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
University of Iowa freshman 133-pound wrestler Dan Dennis wowed some of the crowd of 6,782 at the Iowa-Iowa State meet Friday night with his forward-only style.
Dennis expects to impress some more fans tonight when he makes his Carver-Hawkeye Arena debut. Fifth-ranked Iowa (2-0) opens its home schedule against No. 21 Northern Iowa (0-1) in a 7 p.m. meet.
“I hear it’s really exciting, “said Dennis, who faces Chris Helgeson. “I can’t wait.”
Those who missed the live telecast of the Iowa State meet might have heard second-hand information about Dennis seemingly being a throwback to the days when Iowa wrestlers attacked and asked questions later. They want to see more of the scrambles such as the effort out of a duck-under takedown that Dennis used to get the first takedown against Iowa State’s Jesse Sundell, or the way he got a takedown late in the second period by countering Sundell’s neck wrench.
The anticipation of seeing Dennis in action is similar to the buzz generated by freshman Mark Perry last season. Perry, who is Iowa’s 174-pounder this season, was withheld from competition one season before he finished second nationally at 165 pounds last winter. Dennis did not have a season to groom because Iowa had a hole at 133 when 2005 NCAA qualifier Mario Galanakis did not return to the squad and backup Trent Goodale dropped to 125.
Dennis said he learned his attacking style at Grant High School in Fox Lake, Ill. It is in the same vein as what Iowa used to rule college wrestling for about three decades.
“You can’t just be a counter wrestler; I was never very good at it, “Dennis said. “My coaches (Ryan Geist and Jeff Walls) taught me to keep on attacking. I couldn’t pick out a better high school coach. That mentality kind of carries over and fits really well with Iowa’s style.”
The Panthers’ loss was 31-6 to Minnesota on Friday. Iowa has a 29-meet winning streak against the Panthers. Helgeson, who was at 125 last season, and ninth-ranked Nick Baima at 165 were two of Northern Iowa’s four winners against Iowa last season. Baima’s 9-2 record this season includes a 3-0 decision against No. 7 Matt Nagel of Minnesota.
Tonight’s meet is expected to be the third career meeting between Iowa’s Alex Tsirtsis and Northern Iowa’s C.J. Ettelson at 141 and between Iowa’s Joe Johnston and Northern Iowa’s Chris Bitetto at 157. Tsirtsis and Johnston are 2-0 in those series.
Dennis does not seem to be fazed by large crowds such as last Friday’s.
“I think the more excited I can get, the better I’m going to do, “Dennis said. “I don’t think there can be too much of a loud crowd. I think what will win matches is being prepared and being excited to be out there, be grateful for the opportunity to be out there.”
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