Ranked foes await Hawkeyes at Carver
While Iowa hopes to build momentum, ISU wants to avoid upset.
By DAN McCOOL
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
February 11, 2005
Mario Galanakis said he and his Iowa wrestling teammates have a big weekend to gain momentum.
Iowa, 8-4 and ranked No. 10 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, hosts No. 8 Minnesota (8-6) in a 7 p.m. match today and No. 5 Michigan (11-3-1) at 6 p.m. Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes are 3-2, Michigan is 3-0-1 and Minnesota is 2-2 in the Big Ten Conference.
Iowa Public Television will televise tonight’s meet.
While Iowa hosts a conference meet Sunday, No. 2-ranked Iowa State is at No. 17 Missouri for a 1 p.m. Big 12 Conference meet.
Galanakis, a ninth-ranked 133-pounder from Greenfield, faces No. 3 Mack Reiter of Minnesota and No. 14 Mark Moos of Michigan this weekend.
Two victories can give Galanakis valuable footing in the seeding picture for the conference tournament March 5-6 in Iowa City. Reiter was a four-time state champion at Don Bosco of Gilbertville. He leads the Golden Gophers with a 30-3 record and 12 pins.
“He beat (fourth-ranked Mark) Jayne, and if I beat him, that lets everybody know I can contend at my weight, “Galanakis said. “It seems I wrestle a lot better (at home). I’m just more relaxed with a home crowd.”
That makes this weekend a good time to make some hay.
“I’m gonna do it, too, “Galanakis said.
The Hawkeyes have split four conference road duals since their last home meet, a 19-14 victory over Wisconsin on Jan. 23.
Three of their upperclassmen – Ty Eustice at 149, Joe Johnston at 157 and all-American Paul Bradley at 184 – were a combined 7-5 on the trip. Bradley snapped a four-match losing streak against Ohio State on Feb. 5.
“We’ve been on the road it seems like forever, “Bradley said.
Bradley has dropped from No. 2 nationally earlier in the season to No. 9.
“I don’t think it was so much about being away from home as it was just not having fun, “Bradley said. “I think I was letting my nerves get to me a lot.”
Iowa and Michigan have each won 23 times in the series, with one tie. Michigan is one of three teams that is unbeaten in the conference. Michigan’s lineup includes fifth-ranked Josh Churella at 141, seventh-ranked Eric Tannenbaum at 149, top-ranked Ryan Bertin at 157, second-ranked Ryan Churella at 165 and third-ranked Greg Wagner at heavyweight.
Iowa heavyweight Matt Fields will have No. 2 Cole Konrad of Minnesota before he meets Wagner.
“He’s got to come out harder and wrestle better than what he’s been wrestling, “Iowa coach Jim Zalesky said.
Iowa State (15-1) faces a Missouri squad that is 13-5 but has lost league meets to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Nebraska.
The Tigers are led by second-ranked Ben Askren at 174, who was the NCAA runner-up last season.
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