Defending champs, record crowd await Hawkeyes [ncaa wrestling today]

With a chance to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season championship on the line, the top-ranked Iowa wrestling team steps onto the big stage today.

The Hawkeyes are expected to compete in front of the largest crowd to ever watch a collegiate dual meet in their noon matchup with defending NCAA champ Penn State.

A sellout crowd of at least 16,000 is anticipated at the Bryce Jordan Center, where the Nittany Lions established the existing record of 15,996 a year ago for a dual against Pittsburgh.

That doesn’t impress the Hawkeyes’ fifth-ranked 125-pounder Thomas Gilman, one of seven Iowa wrestlers who will face rated opponents.

“So what if there are 16,000 fans there, it’s a chance for us to go out in front of 16,000 people and kick their butts,’’ Gilman said. “Some people don’t like that environment. We do. That’s a fun opportunity for us.’’

It’s an opportunity coach Tom Brands said his team must be prepared for following Friday’s 33-3 rout at Maryland.

“It’s going to be fun, but we’ve got to be ready,’’ Brands said. “They’re Penn State and we know they’ll be ready, so let’s go there and be ready for them.’’

The Hawkeyes (12-0, 7-0 Big Ten) have won five of their last seven meetings against the four-time defending NCAA champions.

The Nittany Lions are a different team this year, with 2014 NCAA champions Ed Ruth and David Taylor exhausting their collegiate eligibility and returning all-Americans Nico Megaludis and Zain Retherford opting to redshirt this season.

Building confidence in a team that has only one consensus top-five wrestler in its lineup has been a challenge for fifth-ranked Penn State (10-2, 6-2).

“Confidence is being bold and being willing to go out there and do what you know is right before you put it to work for you 100 percent,’’ Nittany Lions coach Cael Sanderson said. “We’re working to get our belief level to that point.’’

Iowa’s Mike Evans, who joins 141-pounder Josh Dziewa as the only Pennsylvania natives in the Iowa lineup, faces another significant test.

One of four Big Ten wrestlers who top national rankings at 174 pounds, the second-ranked Evans faces third-ranked Matt Brown.

Brands said the Hawkeyes must maintain the same approach they used to earn road victories this season over three top-10 opponents, Minnesota, Ohio State and Oklahoma State.

“We have a road philosophy and we stick with it,’’ Brands said. “… Wherever the battle is, you go.’

25: No. 8 Jordan Conaway (19-3) vs. No. 5 Thomas Gilman (21-1)

Head-to-head: First meeting

Outlook: The dual’s two smallest wrestlers might have the two biggest gas tanks. Conaway has made a career out of coming on strong late in matches and Gilman has drawn consistent praise from coach Tom Brands for pushing the pace in his bouts. Gilman enters riding a seven-match winning streak and has earned bonus points in 17 of his 22 bouts this season. Conaway and Gilman have fared well against common opponents. Conaway beat Virginia Tech’s Joey Dance who beat Gilman 10 days later. But Gilman edged Ohio State’s Nathan Tomasello who majored Conaway seven days later last month. Gilman’s offense is more explosive but Conaway’s counter abilities have always been good. He’s gotten much better with his offense from the top and could have a strength edge as he’s wrestled up at 133 for most of his career. Advantage: Toss up.

133: No. 7 Jimmy Gulibon (17-4) vs. No. 3 Cory Clark (17-3)

Head-to-head: First meeting

Outlook: While Gulibon and Clark haven’t met in college, they battled in a dandy of a match back at the 2012 Dapper Dan Classic where Gulibon converted almost immediately on a high single and won 10-3. Their styles are similar and each can get in on legs — and finish shots — quickly. In addition, both sophomores have had strong surges and each experienced hiccups so far. Gulibon seems to have turned the corner while Clark has hit a bit of a wall and has alternated wins and losses over his last six bouts. All three of Clark’s losses have come to Top 10 wrestlers and he’s given up 18 points in those bouts. Advantage: Gulibon

141: Kade Moss (17-11) vs. No. 6 Josh Dziewa (19-5)

Head-to-head: First meeting

Outlook: Like Clark, Dziewa has been mired in a late season funk. He’s just 4-4 in his last eight bouts and his inability to mount effective offense has dogged him. In his four losses — three to Top 15 grapples and one to unranked Joe McKenna of Lehigh — Dziewa’s managed just five points. The former PIAA champion is just one of two Pennsylvania products in the Iowa lineup and will draw Moss — a grappler who seems to be rounding into form having beaten No. 17 George Fisher last weekend. While Moss has taken time to get his conditioning and timing back after taking most of three years off, he shouldn’t be underestimated. He’s extremely dangerous on his feet in upper body locks due to his Greco prowess. Advantage: Dziewa

149: No. 18 Zack Beitz (13-6) vs. No. 2 Brandon Sorensen (26-2)

Head-to-head: First meeting

Outlook: Sorensen, a redshirt freshman, has been on fire for the Hawkeyes. Not only has he won two opens and turned in a third-place finish at Midlands, he’s beaten three Top 5 foes including last season’s NCAA runner-up Oklahoma State’s No. 2 Josh Kindig and defending NCAA champion No. 1 Jason Tsirtsis of Northwestern. Beitz has settled in nicely for Penn State and has been much more varied and creative with his setups as of late. He’s learned to use his tall frame to his advantage but it might not be much of an edge against the 5-foot-8 Sorensen. Advantage: Sorensen

157: No. 8 Dylan Alton (8-3) or Cody Law (13-7) vs. No. 14 Michael Kelly (17-5)

Head-to-head (Alton vs. Kelly): First meeting

Outlook: Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said Alton is close and one thing is for certain — time is running out for the Nittany Lion fifth-year senior. There might not a better welcome-back opponent for Alton than Kelly who has struggled lately. The Hawkeye senior started out 12-0 but is just 5-5 since including losses by major decision and technical fall to Illinois’ No. 5 Isaiah Martinez. Brands praised Kelly’s conditioning earlier this week and if Alton does make his return, that will be the key aspect — what is Alton’s conditioning level having only wrestled 11 bouts this season? Advantage: Toss up.

165: Garett Hammond (19-8) vs. No. 7 Nick Moore (16-4)

Head-to-head: First meeting

Outlook: Hammond has shown flashes here and there but hasn’t been able to put it all together against ranked opponents. A two-time NCAA qualifier, Moore finished second to David Taylor last season in the Big Ten tournament. But Moore usually doesn’t pull away from his opponents. Instead, he tends to win tight bouts. He should be well-rested after a short bout Friday night that ended with a medical forfeit from Maryland’s Tyler Manion. Advantage: Moore

174: No. 3 Matt Brown (19-2) vs. No. 2 Mike Evans (20-2)

Head-to-head: Series tied 3-3

Outlook: Brown and Evans will meet for the seventh time and the first time since their destinies collided at the NCAA tournament last March. Then, Evans beat Brown in sudden victory to bounce the Penn State wrestler from the championship bracket. But Brown got revenge when he beat Evans for fifth place later in the tournament. Although they’re tied head-to-head, Brown’s offense has always been better and it’s no coincidence he’s outclassed Evans when he gets his offense going. In their six bouts, Brown has outscored Evans 26-19. But Evans — who’s from Enola — has a knack for winning the close bouts as his wins against Brown have come via 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4 decisions. Being that they’re so familiar with one another, Evans could have the edge in another close bout. But Brown can be relentless and is Penn State’s unquestioned leader. Advantage: Toss up.

184: No. 17 Matt McCutcheon (20-9) vs. No. 8 Sammy Brooks (20-2)

Head-to-head: First meeting

Outlook: Brooks has earned bonus points in 14 of his 20 bouts and will try to do so again against McCutcheon who’s been solid at times in his redshirt freshman season. McCutcheon has only given up bonus points twice this season. Most recently he was pinned by Michigan’s Domenic Abounader. So far, McCutcheon has scored 23 dual-meet points and allowed 22. A win over Brooks would be the biggest of his young career. Advantage: Brooks

197: No. 4 Morgan McIntosh (20-2) vs. No. 6 Nathan Burak (13-1)

Head-to-head: McIntosh leads 2-0

Outlook: McIntosh beat Burak at both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments last season with a 3-2 tiebreaker win in the conference finals and a 3-1 win in the seventh place match at NCAAs. Burak hasn’t been able to use his height — he’s 6-foot-1 — to his advantage against the stocky McIntosh who is also quite rangy in his own right. McIntosh is a much more accomplished offensive wrestler and is tricky to predict and prepare for as he has plenty of moves in his arsenal and no real glaring weaknesses. There’s a chance Kris Klapprodt could wrestle here for Iowa as Burak sat out the Maryland dual. If that’s the case, McIntosh will be an even bigger favorite. Advantage: McIntosh

285: No. 6 Jimmy Lawson (11-0) or Jon Gingrich (13-2) vs. No. 2 Bobby Telford (20-1)

Head-to-head (Lawson vs. Telford): Telford leads 1-0

Head-to-head (Gingrich vs. Telford): Telford leads 1-0

Outlook: Telford’s beaten Gingrich 9-2 and Lawson 3-2 and it’s getting tough to tell who will represent Penn State at heavyweight although it will most likely be Lawson. But Sanderson has changed his mind based on matchups before. But you have to figure Lawson gives Penn State a better shot here as Gingrich just hasn’t been able to open up his offense against some of the top heavyweights. Lawson has been explosive at times this season but Telford is among the best. He’s impossibly strong, quick on his feet for a big man and infinitely experienced as a three-time All-American. Advantage: Telford

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