By Andy Hamilton
Iowa City Press-Citizen
There were few things Friday night that surprised Tom Brands when the first-year Iowa wrestling coach got his first look at his team in a competition-like setting.
Several hundred fans crammed into the Iowa wrestling room to watch eight matches that went just about the way Brands expected, based on what he saw during his first six months in charge of the Hawkeyes.
“We’ve got a long way to go, but I think we’re on the right track, “Brands said. “It’s early, and there’s some things that are encouraging and there were some things we saw that we knew we’d see. It’s about guys learning about their bodies as well as seeing them in competition.
“It’s about us learning, but more than that it’s about both the coaching staff and the guys learning about what they need to do and how they’re going to have to adjust to get themselves in battle-ready mind frame when it counts.”
Senior Mario Galanakis, returning from a year away from the Hawkeyes after academic issues, handled highly touted freshman Billy Murphy 12-2 at 133. Galanakis will wrestle Joey Slaton in this morning’s final round of wrestle-offs. Slaton used three third-period takedowns to beat Daniel Dennis 8-6.
Dan LeClere (141), Alex Grunder (149), Travis Blasco (149) and All-American Mark Perry Jr. (165) also won by major decisions, and freshman 157-pounder Ryan Morningstar racked up 17 points in less than two minutes in a technical fall victory against Nick Kolegraff.
“My shape’s getting a lot better, and I feel like my technique’s getting sharper and sharper every day, “said Morningstar, who spent much of his redshirt season recovering from a hamstring tear. “It does set you back, but it motivates you more to get back to where you want to be.”
The Hawkeyes will have seven more bouts beginning at 8:30 a.m. today in the Iowa wrestling room.
“I don’t necessarily buy that it’s hard to get up for an intra-squad, “Brands said. “I don’t buy that. I buy that you’re a competitor and you thrive on competition and here’s your chance and take advantage of it.”
Iowa officially begins the Brands era Nov. 18 at the Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha.
133 — Mario Galanakis major dec. Billy Murphy 12-2.
133 — Joey Slaton dec. Daniel Dennis 8-6.
141 — Dan LeClere major dec. Derek Coorough 17-5.
149 — Alex Grunder major dec. Brooks Kopsa 15-6.
149 — Travis Blasco major dec. Brett Stedman 11-3.
157 — Ryan Morningstar tech. fall Nick Kolegraff 17-1 in 4:47.
165 — Mark Perry Jr. major dec. Jake Kerr 12-2.
165 — Ben Stedman dec. T.H. Leet 8-4.
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