By Andy Hamilton
Iowa City Press-Citizen
The letter arrived about the same time the winning streak did for Charlie Falck.
In his mail one day last month, Iowa’s sophomore 125-pounder found an inspirational message that gave him a boost of confidence perhaps when he needed it most.
Falck was perhaps the most unpredictable wrestler on an unpredictable team last month. He would beat somebody in the top 10 one match and lose to an unranked opponent the next. He would show enough moments of potential to make Hawkeye followers wonder how high his ceiling stretched, but he also would go through spans where he looked like an ordinary wrestler at his weight.
About the time Falck was becoming consistently inconsistent, the letter arrived in the mail. It came from Dick Black, the grandfather of former Iowa wrestler Jeff Stewart, whose family opened its door for Falck to move to Minnesota and win four state titles at Apple Valley High School.
Black’s letter was straight to the point.
“He just said, “Falck said, “‘you’ve got to know you’re the toughest son of a (gun) out there, reinforce yourself, keep saying it to yourself, stand there in the mirror and look at yourself and keep saying it over and over.”
The wrestler standing in Falck’s mirror now owns the longest winning streak on his team. His seven straight victories vaulted him from outside the rankings up to No. 8, and a victory today against Michigan State’s fifth-ranked Franklin Gomez could lift Falck another notch closer to the top.
“He’s solid, he’s not all over the place, “Iowa coach Tom Brands said of the difference between his 125-pounder now versus early-January. “He’s wrestling smart, he’s in good positions. If you’re not taking it to the guy, he’s going to be taking it to you, and I think he understands that. I think Charlie’s been doing a pretty good job of taking it to the guy, but this match coming up is a big test for him.”
The No. 10 Hawkeyes (12-4) wrestle the 20th-ranked Spartans (3-7) at 2 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and the 125-pound bout could be pivotal in the outcome. Gomez is followed in the Spartan lineup by a pair of Big Ten champions — No. 2 133-pounder Nick Simmons and fourth-ranked Andy Simmons at 141.
“I think Michigan State is a lot like Penn State, Wisconsin and Northwestern, “Brands said. “We’ve got to come out and set the tone or we’re going to get the tone set on us. We’re in a battle and we need to take it to ’em.”
Brands could turn to his most recent recruiting target this afternoon to help the Hawkeyes solidify their 197-pound spot. Jordan McLaughlin, a reserve fullback on the Iowa football team and 189-pound state champion in 2004, joined the Hawkeye wrestling team after the Alamo Bowl and is listed in their starting lineup for today’s dual.
McLaughlin shed nearly 30 pounds to get down to 197, a weight that had been occupied by sophomore Dan Erekson until he sustained a dislocated shoulder Jan. 19 at Oklahoma State.
“He wants to be here and he hustles, “Brands said. “With that type of attitude, I think you’re going to see progress. It’s been awhile since he wrestled a competitive match.”
Based on rankings, both teams are favored at four weights — the Hawkeyes at 157, 165, 174 and heavyweight, and the Spartans at 125, 133, 141 and 184. But Falck isn’t taking an underdog approach, and he has a track record that shows his best performances have come against highly ranked opponents.
Falck’s current winning streak started with a major decision win against Hofstra’s Dave Tomasette, who was ranked fifth at the time. His last victory was a 7-3 win against Penn State’s Mark McKnight, who has been ranked as high as second this season.
“I think I decided in my mind just to put everything together, “Falck said. “It’s not really any one thing, it’s just happening, I guess. I’m real confident and that’s about it. I think I can beat anybody.”
“¢ BACKPOINTS: Iowa freshman Brent Metcalf went 5-2 Friday at the Dave Schultz Memorial International, tying for fifth at the 145.5-pound freestyle class. Metcalf — ineligible to compete this season for the Hawkeyes after transferring from Virginia Tech — posted victories against former NCAA champion Jesse Jantzen and NCAA runner-up Dylan Long and lost to former NCAA champion Eric Larkin and Korean Jin-kuk Baek, who is ranked 11th in the world. … Brands said Billy Murphy has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules. Murphy, a freshman from Hughson, Calif., is 15-0 in open competition this season at 133 pounds.
Reach Andy Hamilton at 339-7368 or ahamilton \@\ press-citizen.com.
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