By: J.R. Ogden – The Gazette
IOWA CITY, IA – Matt Fields is a likable guy. He’s polite and friendly and generally greets
you with a smile.
Close the doors at the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex in Carver-Hawkeye Arena,
however, and Fields turns ornery and boisterous. And University of Iowa
wrestling coach Tom Brands loves it.
“He is the most volatile, explosive guy in the room,” Brands said of the
junior heavyweight.
A two-time state champion at North Cedar High School from Lowden, Fields
improved to 4-1 Tuesday night with a dual-clinching, 5-0, victory over
Northern Iowa’s Tyler Rhodes. His only loss this year was in the Kaufman-Brand
Open final in Omaha last weekend, 3-2, to Nebraska-Kearney’s Tervel Dlagnev.
“I hate losing and the past couple of years we got accustomed to it,”
Fields said. “I don’t think it’s going to be like that anymore.”
Fields and the Hawkeyes return to the mat today, opening their home dual
season at 1:30 p.m. against No.23 Arizona State. The Sun Devils have three
heavyweights listed as Fields’ possible opponent.
Fields will be ready regardless. He’s approaching his third season with a
fire that puts a rare smile on Brands’ face.
“He says a lot of things (in the wrestling room) that he probably wishes
that he wouldn’t say when it’s all said and done,” Brands said. “But I like
that fire and I don’t have a problem with that … I like it.
“I like guys that are very competitive and want it to go their way every
single time.”
Both coach and wrestler say there are no hard feelings once practice is
over.
“When something doesn’t go my way, it gets a little upsetting,” Fields
said with a smile. “I’m not one to sit back and tolerate it. I kind of speak
what I think at the time. (But) anything that’s said in the room stays in the
room.”
Fields missed the second half of last season with a knee injury. He had hip
surgery during the summer of 2005.
“I’m 100 percent,” he said. “I feel 100 percent. My mind is 100 percent.
If my mind says I can do it, my body is going to do it.”
Brands likes that attitude.
“He’s got work to do, but at least he’s determined, at least he’s bought
in,” he said.
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