From the corner chair

Sunday column will read ...

Here's the start of the column I'm writing for Sunday. Pick up your Gazette on Sunday or check back here to see the entire story.

The college wrestling season ended last weekend in St. Louis with the University of Iowa earning its second NCAA championship in Tom Brands’ three years as head coach.

But the news didn’t stop Saturday night inside the Scottrade Center.

This week, the University of Northern Iowa gave Coach Brad Penrith a three-year contract extension and the University of Iowa’s Brent Metcalf issued an apology for his late push on North Carolina State national champion Darrion Caldwell.

My question on both stories is why?

A final word(s) on Metcalf-Caldwell

A lot has been said, asked and written about Brent Metcalf's push after losing in the NCAA wrestling final to North Carolina State's Darrion Caldwell.

I went through my tape one last time yesterday and wanted to share a few things I left out of my story in The Gazette and at www.gazetteonline.com.

This is an excerpt from a story I've written for Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine (WIN) for it's upcoming NCAA issue:

Iowa Coach Tom Brands defended his wrestler, noting Metcalf would never quit during a match and that if he “shook someones hand with two seconds on the clock” his late brother Chase would come back and “kick him in the butt.”

Caldwell shouldered the blame and said he didn’t think Metcalf was trying to hurt him.

“He’s a great guy on the mat, his competitiveness,” he said. “He’s a go-getter. He wants to be the best, he thrives to be the best. I applaud him for that.

“That was a mistake that I made. It’s the happiest moment of my life ... I can’t blame him. He’s upset. He’s highly upset. Who knows I might have done the same thing.”

Still, he said he was a little worried while flying through the air.

“When it happened all I could see was the crowd,” he said with a smile. “I just thought ‘I hope I land somewhere on my back or my butt.’”

The push seen around the world

University of Iowa junior Brent Metcalf has been criticized for pushing Darrion Caldwell after Caldwell shocked the wrestling world with his 11-6 victory in the NCAA wreslting finals on Saturday.

Metcalf was booed loudly leaving the mat and was taunted leaving the floor. Many saw this as an unacceptable unsportsmanlike move.

It was, but it wasn't.

Metcalf should not have pushed Caldwell in mid-cartwheel, but Metcalf has always wrestled until the final buzzer and that's what he was doing. Sure, he was frustrated, upset, about the loss, but, with his wrestling blinders on, all he saw was time left on the clock.

Caldwell should not have celebrated while the clock was still ticking and apologized for it later Saturday night. Still, who could blame the kid for jumping for joy. He had just beaten the unbeatble.

The loss reminded me a lot of Lincoln McIlravy's championship loss 1995. There was stunned disbelief - from the crowd and McIlravy. Metcalf, like McIlravy, seemed to freeze, to tighten up when the chips were down. Nothing worked for either and their opponents simply beat them on this night.

It happens.

Don't be too hard on Metcalf, though. He's a great kid, he took questions after the loss and he will learn from it. He will come back next year and go for another NCAA title with the same determination.

You can boo him, but don't ever ask him to stop wrestling when there is time on the clock.

Ups and downs for Hawkeyes

ST. LOUIS — The question Friday night was, "What happened to Iowa?"

The answer came Saturday morning before 16,326 college wrestling fans in the Scottrade Center.

The University of Iowa built a college wrestling dynasty by being tougher than anyone else, by dominating foes, by being bullies.

The Hawkeyes took a back seat in too many matches Friday. Winning tight battles was a trademark of Dan Gable's programs for 21 seasons and in Jim Zalesky's early years.

Tom Brands brought that back when he returned to his alma mater, but Friday the Hawks looked tired, losing a series of one-point matches and getting beat late.

"If something goes bad, you have to turn it around, right away," Brands said last week during a news conference in Iowa City.

His team did just that Saturday morning. The Hawkeyes needed three wins and got three wins.

Gable never liked winning a national title on the "back side" — in the consolation bracket. But he always stressed the importance of fighting back when your back was against the wall.

Ryan Morningstar, Phil Keddy and Dan Erekson did that during the fifth of six sessions here — Morningstar winning in overtime, Keddy in dominating form and Erekson pinning the No. 1 seed.

That's what championship programs do and that's why Brands & Co. are celebrating their second NCAA title today, the 22nd in program history.

This will not go down as one of Iowa's great national tournaments. Too many close losses, too many lost opportunities, too many late collapses. When a pair of senior All-Americans — Charlie Falck and Alex Tsirtsis — don't place and a guy like Jay Borschel comes up short, something isn't right.

Brands needs to take a hard look at the program and figure out what happened here from a training standpoint. But he'll gladly do that while placing another championship trophy in the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex trophy case.

This was a crazy NCAA tournament with top seeds falling and only one weight class getting the top four seeds in the semifinals. Only five No. 1 seeds made last night's finals.

To win an NCAA title when you are not at your best is quite an accomplishment.

But Brands wants to get this program back to the point where close losses turn into dominating wins, where his wrestlers score takedowns in the waning seconds instead giving them up.

They say you can learn a lot from a loss. You can also learn a lot from a win.

Brands, I'm sure, prefers the latter.

Zalesky trying to build Beavers

Former University of Iowa wrestling star and coach Jim Zalesky is wrapping up his third season at Oregon State, looking to a bright future.

He said in St. Louis today that moving to Corvallis has been a "good change."

"We like where we're going," he said. "we like the kids we have coming in.

"It's just changing expectations and that's the hardest thing to do."

Zalesky has three wrestlers here and only one won in the first round.

Clear the mats

Sitting inside Scottrade Center in St. Louis, getting ready for the 79th NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

This is one of my two favorite sporting events each year, a close second to the Drake Relays.

The top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes are heavily favored, but Iowa State will push its rival.

The team to keep an eye on is Cornell. Rob Koll, whose dad was a national champion wrestlers and coach at UNI, is doing a great job with the Ivy League program.

It was odd seeing no J Robinson or John Smith at the NCAA preview news conference on Wednesday. The sport remains dominated by the Iowas and Oklahomas, but programs like Cornell and Missouri are making noise.

Brands-ism, Part V

Here we are in St. Louis for the 79th NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

Iowa Coach Tom Brands was among a panel of coaches who met the media today. The top-ranked Hawkeyes are heavy favorites to win a second national title in a row.

"We have nine guys here that are motivated and fired up," Brands said. "The next three days can define where they are in the history of our program."

Brands-ism, Part IV

Is that right, IV? That's four, right?

Well here is the fourth installment from the mouth and mind of Tom Brands, the University of Iowa's wrestling coach.

Brands will be directing his top-ranked and defending champion Hawkeyes at the NCAA Championships, starting Thursday in St. Louis.

A master motivator, Brands will have his Hawkeyes ready for a shot at their second straight national title.

"We need to be more lopsided toward that championship end," he said, calling the Big Ten title performance "too balanced."

"We need to sharpen edges and continue what we've been doing all year. That's build."

Brands-ism, Part III

University of Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands isn't about to tell any of his wrestlers they can't win a national title this weekend in St. Louis.

Iowa has nine wrestlers competing and thinks all are capable.

The third installment from Brands:

"I like our guys. I do. Every one of them is capable. Individually, every one of them is capable."

The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championhships begin Thursday at the Scottrade Center. I will be providing updates at www.twitter.com under the name JROgden.

I also will be holding a 30-minute chat on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from St. Louis. Check back from times and details.

Brands-ism, Part II

Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands was talking about 165-pounder Ryan Morningstar when he made the following statement, but it's similar to one he used with many of his wrestlers this year.

Morningstar finished second at the Big Ten Championships, losing in overtime for the second time this season to Wisconsin freshmen Andrew Howe.

My second of Brands-ism:

"The formula is very simple. Score takedowns. I didn't say takedown. I said takedown," he said, stretching the final s for a couple of seconds.

Brands-ism, Part I

Starting today through the first day of the NCAA Division I wrestling championships, I'd like to share something I'll call Brands-sims, thoughts from University of Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes are favored to win their second consecutive title next weekend in St. Louis. Brands met with the media last week to talk about his team's chances.

Here's part of his wisdom:

"You've got to be ready to go every match. You've got to get tougher as the rounds go on. You've got to get tougher as the season goes on and you've got to get tougher when you're at the most important time of the year and that's where we're at."

Erekson's amazing season

University of Iowa heavyweight Dan Erekson has had am amazing season, going from a very average 197-pounder to a contender at heavyweight.

His off-season work and the work the Brands' brothers - Tom and Terry - have made Erekson a Big Ten champion.

Erekson joked he gets very little rest during workouts, even when he tries.

Look back here on Sunday. or pick up The Gazette, to read more about Erekson in my weekly column.

Zadick loses in Iran

Former University of Iowa wrestler and current assistant coach Mike Zadick lost at a tournament in Iran. We have photos posted from his match today here at gazetteonlne.com.

There are some good pictures.

Here is what USA Wrestling posted on www.themat.com:

The other U.S. wrestler competing on Thursday, 2008 U.S. Olympian Mike Zadick (Solon, Iowa/Gator WC) was defeated in his opening match at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. He lost to Mostafa Hosein Khani of Iran, 1-0, 0-2, 1-1.

“Mike Zadick lost his first match in three periods,” said Mitch Hull, National Team Director. “Mike scored on an ankle pick in the first period and lost the second period when he failed on a front headlock roll atempt. In the third period, Mike was up 1-0 but lost when he was taken out of bounds with only a second left in the period. A video review confirmed the point was scored prior to the end of the period."

Good start for Hawkeyes on Sunday

The top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team got off to a good start in State College, Pa., on Sunday at the Big Ten wrestling tournament.

Iowa went 4-1 in the consolation semifinals, capped by Chad Beatty's exciting 6-3 win over Minnesota's Gordon Bierschank at 197 pounds.

Beatty scored a takedown and two-point nearfal in the final two seconds, putting him in the third-place bout and assuring an NCAA berth.

Charlie Falck at 125, Alex Tsirtsis at 141 and Jay Borschel at 174 also won and will wrestle for third this afternoon.

Only Daniel Dennis lost. He'll wrestle for fifth at 133.

Iowa will take nine wrestlers to the NCAA meet in a little less than two weeks.

Hawks have 81 points at Big Tens

Iowa is leading the Big Ten wrestling tournament by 28 points over Illinois heading into tonight's semifinals.

The Hawks have nine in the semis - Charlie Falck at 125, Daniel Dennis at 133, Alex Tsirtsis at 141, Brent Metcalf at 149, Ryan Morningstar at 165, Jay Borschel at 174, Phil Keddy at 184, Chad Beatty at 197, and Dan Erekson at heavyweight.

Iowa has 81 points with its 13-1 record here in State College, Pa. Illinois is second at 53.5, Wisconsin third at 47.

Tonight's semis begin at 5 p.m. (central time). I will updating throughout the round.

Hawks go 4-1 in first round

Iowa's charge to defending it's Big Ten wrestling title started this morning with a 4-1 first-round in Happy Valley.

Brent Metcalf won by pin at 149, Jay Borschel by decision at 174, Phil Keddy came up a point short of a tech fall at 184 and Dan Erekson won by pin at heavyweight.

Only Matt Ballweg, the only unseeded Hawk, lost.

The other five wrestlers all received first-round byes.

Bye, bye, bye at Big Tens

Five of Iowa's wrestlers have first-round byes at the Big Ten Championships in State College, Pa. - Charlie Falck at 125 pounds, Daniel Dennis at 133, Alex Tsirtsis at 141, Ryan Morningstar at 165 and Chad Beatty at 197.

Brent Metcalf opens against David Cheza of Michigan State at 149, Matt Ballweg drew No. 8 seed Ben Jordan of Wisconsin at 157, Jay Borschel wrestles Travis Rutt of Wisconsin at 174, Phil Keddy gets Penn State's Jack Decker at 184 and Dan Erekson will meet Alan O'Donnell of Michigan State at heavyweight.

Ballweg, the only unseeded Hawk, lost to Jordan, 8-4, in a dual earlier this season.

Big Ten updates

I will be providing updates from the Big Ten wrestling championships this weekend in State College, Pa., on a number of platforms.

I will be writing stories for the newspaper, of course, but also posting updates here at gazetteonline after each session.

I also will be posting blogs right here from time to time.

For quicker updates, however, follow me on Twitter. I can give quick updates after Iowa matches and any other big news in a more timely fashion.

If you're not on Twitter and want to follow me, it's easy and FREE. Go to twitter.com and simply sign up. My sign on is JROgden. Just push the button to follow me and you'll get quick and timely updates.

Now I have to pack.

Wow! Iowa has 9 seeded wrestlers

The top-ranked defending champion Iowa wrestling team will enter this weekend’s Big Ten Championships with three top seeds and nine wrestlers among the top three.

That's impressive, even by Hawkeye standards.

The pre-seeds were released Monday afternoon by the Big Ten.

Daniel Dennis at 133 pounds, Brent Metcalf at 149 and Dan Erekson at heavyweight all are seeded No. 1 for the Hawkeyes. All are legit.

Charlie Falck at 125 and Jay Borschel at 174 are seeded second, and Alex Tsirtsis at 141, Ryan Morningstar at 165, Phil Keddy at 184 and Chad Beatty at 197 are seeded third. Look for Tsirtsis to make the finals, Falck, too, if he can keep his offense on track.

Only Matt Ballweg at 157 is unseeded. That's also legit.

The Big Ten meet is Saturday and Sunday at Penn State. I will give updates here and on Twitter.