Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands said on Wednesday that he is “a real patient guy” when it comes to the allegations of misconduct by Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agents in the investigation of online sports gambling by athletes at Iowa and Iowa State University.

“I know one thing — we’ve got a lot of guys upstairs who are ready to go because of what happened, and we’ve got guys who were impacted, and still being impacted by that, who are still ready to go because of the way we’ve talked to them,” Brands said during his weekly media availability. “You never know what will happen.”

Court filings into the case of Iowa State wrestler Paniro Johnson allege that DCI officials lied to their own agents involved in the investigation, and also allege one DCI agent conducted a “warrantless” investigation by using software to check for online betting at a dorm and an athletics building on the Iowa campus.

“In the way it was described, basic liberties were infringed upon,” Brands said. “Shouldn’t happen in this country, shouldn’t happen in the state of Iowa.”

Brands, as he had earlier in the season, challenged the media at Wednesday’s availability.

“You want a big story now?” Brands said. “Where was the urgency to find the truth? When this thing went down, it didn’t make any sense. That’s what I would say to everybody in this room. Where was the urgency? Now it comes out, now you want reaction. I’ll just be a real patient guy, and see what comes of it.”

At least seven Iowa wrestlers, including All-Americans Tony Cassioppi and Nelson Brands, NCAA qualifiers Abe Assad and Cobe Siebrecht and 133-pounder Cullan Schriever were among the athletes who were suspended by the NCAA because of the investigation. Schriever has returned, posting a 6-1 record. Brands, Cassioppi and Siebrecht are still working out in the wrestling room, despite losing appeals to the NCAA.

“Be ready,” Tom Brands said. “Cassioppi, be ready. Nelson Brands, be ready. Cobe Siebrecht, be ready.

“We’ll see where this goes. All along we have said, ‘Stay ready, guys. You never know.’

(Dan) Gable philosophy — “Work hard on what’s important in your life. And work hard on it every day.’ And that’s what we’ve done on this thing. And we’re still working. We’re still working.”

Schriever’s Thoughts

Schriever is 6-1 at 133 pounds since his return from his suspension. His focus, he said, has been about improvement, not what has been going on with the recent news about the gambling investigation.

“I don’t really know if it’s frustration or what,” Schriever said. “All I know is I served what I had to do, I did what I had to do. I have a match Friday (at Illinois), a match Sunday (at Northwestern) and everything else is kind of on the back burner. I’m focused on that, I don’t really care about the other stuff. I dealt with it, and now I’m getting ready for Illinois.

“Obviously, I’ve seen (the reports), but I’m not really paying attention to it. Like I said, I served my time, I did whatever. Now I’m getting ready to wrestle.”

Schriever has won his last three matches, with his only loss this season coming in the Soldier Salute tournament in late December.

“Obviously, I love being back out on the mat, I love competing,” Schriever said. “That’s what I do. Each time out, I’m thankful to be out there. Each time out, it’s another opportunity. I really look forward to that each time.”

“We had a plan,” Brands said. “He is doing his job. We love it. He’s going to have the next two matches, and we love what’s happening. We’ve got to keep a good thing going there.”

Versatile Riggins

Aiden Riggins started the season at 174 pounds but moved up to 184.

Now, Riggins said, he would like some success to go with that. Riggins, 9-9 this season, has lost his last five matches at 184.

“I know I’m getting better,” Riggins said. “I see myself getting better each time out. It’s just not seeing the Ws, seeing the wins. I do see myself improving each time out. That’s what I can focus on. As long as I’m doing that, I’m going to be in a good state of mind.”

The move to a higher class was a joint decision between Riggins and the coaching staff, the redshirt freshman said.

“Obviously, we needed someone there (at 184),” Riggins said. “I can be the man there as long as I’m doing my job, controlling what I can control. I’m trying to fix some areas where I can be better.”

Riggins said the key to wrestling up a class is just using his speed.

“It’s not that they’re bigger guys,” he said. “I know what I’m capable of, it’s just a matter of me doing it, and me fixing what I have to do to get to the situation where I know I can score. It’s just focusing on the little details.”

Riggins had a 170-4 record in his prep career at Waverly-Shell Rock High School.

“It is a different level once you get here,” Riggins said. “You’ve just got to keep your nose down, keep working hard. That’s all it really is.”