Edinboro V. Iowa Breakdown

Christian Pyles

The Iowa Hawkeyes are traveling East to take on one of PA’s power programs, Edinboro University.

Both teams bring a host of talent to the table and tons of ranked guys.  Edinboro’s nucleus of Schopp, Port and Avery will look to defend their home turf against the 2nd ranked Hawkeyes.

125

Thomas Gilman-Iowa v. Korey Mines-Edinboro

It appears Iowa will be going with Thomas Gilman this time around.  There are a couple ways to look at this choice.  Is Coach Brands sending a message to Corey Clark for a narrow win over Earl Hall?  Is this just giving a hard working, blue chip recruit in Gilman some additional mat time?  Probably somewhere in between.  As an Iowa fan, I don’t see any reason, barring injury for Gilman to be the full time starter.  Clark has been a notch above Gilman in nearly every possible measurement, both last year and this year.  Clark and Gilman entered the Luther Open earlier this year where Clark won with little issue.

Let’s get down to the match.  Korey Mines is a solid guy who has been in and out of the rankings for the last year or so.  He’s currently unranked but did notch a win over Joey Dance this season.  Gilman entered the Joe Parisi open where he beated Barlow McGhee and Eddie Klimara.  Gilman doesn’t blow guys out, but he controls ties and maintains good position.  He doesn’t have the leg attacks or riding ability of Clark yet, but he is stingy defensively and opportunistic on offense.  If Gilman wants to start, he needs to separate a bit more and work for bonus (among other things).  I’m not sure Gilman gets bonus here but I feel confident about a win.  He beat Austin Miller 7-5, McGhee 3-1 and Klimara 5-2.  I’m looking for a controlled win for Gilman by 3-5 points over Mines.  If you're unfamiliar with Gilman, get the feel for his style in his match against Super-Frosh Nathan Tomasello of Ohio State.

Thomas Gilman WBD Korey Mines

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Iowa 3

Edinboro 0

133

#1 Tony Ramos-Iowa v. #6 AJ Schopp-Edinboro

This is probably the marquee matchup of this dual.  I’m having a hard time predicting anything apart from a blow out for Ramos here.  While tough top wrestlers used to give Tony some trouble, he seemingly solved many of his issues the last few years and showed last year he can separate against Schopp.  Last year it was a 9-0 win for Ramos, and there’s little to suggest Schopp will be able to solve Ramos here.  One thing we’ve learned about Ramos is that he’s great at widening the gap against opponents.  Ramos showed he can get to Schopps legs, and dominate on the mat.  Look for more of the same at Edinboro.  I like Ramos to cruise here.  Once again by major decision. Check out some vintage AJ Schopp below.

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Iowa 7

Edinboro 0

141

Josh Dziewa-Iowa v. #2 Mitchell Port-Edinboro

Two PA boys are set to tangle here.  This match could be a real litmus test for Josh Dziewa.  The Iowa Hawkeyes need production from this weight.  Dziewa is a change up from Ballweg a year ago.  Dziewa is scrambly, unorthodox and tough on top.  However, he lacks the strength defensive acuity that Ballweg brought, so there’s a real trade off.  Some may think this is a potential upset match, and maybe that’s the case, but I’m not seeing it.  Port has missed some time since medical forfeiting out of the MSU open.  He missed the Virginia Tech Dual a week after, so here’s hoping Port gets to go this week.  

For an NCAA finalist, Port is about as under-the-radar as they come.  He’s not a show stopping electric guy, but he’s solid in every position.  He’s good a variety of leg attacks and is tough to take down.  Timely turns, tough riding and solid bottom work coalesce into him being one of the nations elite 141’s.  He’s got wins over Hunter Stieber, Durso, Henderson, Neibert and Ballweg (5-0).  Though Dziewa is now a junior, he’s still yet to notch a marquee win that would make you think he’s on the precipice of a breakthrough.  Right now his wins over Jauch and Hucke of Missouri are probably his best wins.  

To the match itself.  I don’t smell an upset here.  I like Port to control positions and stay where he’s good (i.e. avoid going where Dziewa’s good).  Probably not flirting with bonus, but I really think Port cruises a bit more than Hawkeye fans would hope.  A win here for Dziewa would have huge ramifications for Iowa and the team race in general down the line.  

Mitchell Port wbd Josh Dziewa

Iowa 7

Edinboro 3

149

Mike Kelly-Iowa v. #6 Dave Habat-Edinboro

Speaking of weights Iowa has highlighted for production this year, here’s Mike Kelly and 149.  This weight has been a complete black hole for the Hawkeyes since the departure of Metcalf.   Kelly was the starter most of last year before getting injured.  He had some spots last year that suggested he could be on the cusp of getting ranked and making strides, but didn’t have the consistency to get it done.  He’s back here and will be against a familiar opponent.  The #6 ranking with Habat is a bit deceiving, at least from my perspective.  He hasn’t faced the best competition yet, and has more/less climbed because of the turmoil many other 149’s have been going through.  I view Habat as a 7-12 type of guy this year when NCAA’s rolls around.  

I think Habat wins here with little issue.  2 years ago Habat was a dominant 13-1 winner against Kelly.  While I don’t see the bonus point necessarily, Kelly doesn’t have the offense to keep Habat at bay.  Habat is solid in all positions but is really good with underhooks on his feet.  He uses the underhook to get to his knee pull single and high crotch.  Kelly likes to look for upper body stuff, but last year, we saw him not coming out on top in many of those situations.  If Kelly by some chance is able to get to legs, I think Habat is a gifted enough of a scrambler to turn Kellys attacks into his own points.  Kelly is tough enough positionally to keep Habat from running up the score.  I like a not-so-close decision for Habat. Watch Habat score and scramble in a Vegas bout against All American Tyler Nauman.

Dave Habat WBD Mike Kelly

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Iowa-7

Edinboro-6

157

#1 Derek St. John-Iowa v. John Greisheimer-Edinboro

There’s not a whole lot to say about this.  It’s a mis-match for Greish here, who is actually a pretty solid guy.  It is possible we see Kasey Davis here as they’ve traded off a bit this year.  Regardless of who the guy is I like DSJ to win in DSJ-fashion.  Probably no turns, a few takedowns and riding time.  DSJ has not been a bonus point guy throughout his career, and I don’t expect to see much of a change his senior year.  I suppose it’s notable that DSJ majored Casey Fuller of Edinboro last year, but I believe Greisheimer to be superior in quality to Fuller.  

Derek St. John WBD John Greisheimer  

Iowa-10

Edinboro-6

165

#5 Nick Moore-Iowa v. Kasey Davis-Edinboro

Moore will get either Davis or Greisheimer here I would guess as they’ve traded off this year.  Moore is coming off his win over Mike Moreno of Iowa State.  He’s beaten Moreno before, so it wasn’t a revolutionary win, but Moreno had beaten him at NCAA’s previously.  When Moore is on he can get to his high crotch and single consistently and is a skilled scrambler to boot.  He’s tough with a figure 4 turk as well.  Moore has had prone to let down matches before but I don’t see Davis or Greisheimer able to pull the big time upset.  It was a 5-3 win last year for Moore against Greisheimer, so look for maybe a slight improvement for Moore in that area, but not by too much.

Bonus is a possibility, but I’m not predicting it.

Nick Moore WBD Kasey Davis

Iowa-13

Edinboro-6

174

#6 Mike Evans-Iowa v. Patrick Jennings-Edinboro

The stache is back in PA.  Evans will enter this match as a huge favorite against Patrick Jennings.  I’ve been critical of Evan’s evolution, or lack thereof, as a rider.  He’s been able to turn lesser competition, but against top 10 type of guys not only does he struggle to ride, he is getting reversed.  However, in this spot look for Evans to get rolling right away.  I think he get’s the takedown, get’s the boots in and works for the fall. Maybe he cant put the final nail in Jennings coffin, but I feel pretty confident bonus points are coming.  

Mike Evans WBF Patrick Jennings

Iowa-19

Edinboro-6

184

#4 Ethen Lofthouse-Iowa v. Vic Avery-Edinboro

There may be a sizable ranking disparity here, but don’t be surprised if we get a close match here.  Avery is a monster physically, has good positional discipline and is solid on the mat.  While I think Lofthouse will probably get the deciding takedown here, don’t look for too much separation.  Lofthouse’s re-shots are excellent, but it may be tough for him to get too many opportunities as Avery isn’t especially wide open.  Avery was someone I thought had some real upside coming into this year and felt he may find himself in the top 12 eventually.  It’s been a rough start for Avery, the Fila Jr National Champ, as he lost his first two matches by injury default and medical forfeit.  

Hopefully he’s back and healthy for this match, as it is among the most anticipated for both fan bases.  I think Lofthouse will be too stingy defensively to give up many points to Avery, and think he’ll just out-fox him in a few positions.  I don’t see either guy having much success on the mat in regards to riding.  Expect a lot of hand fighting and battling for positions.  

Ethen Lofthouse WBD Vic Avery

Iowa-22

Edinboro-6

197

#12 Nathan Burak-Iowa v. Vince Pickett-Edinboro

Nathan sat out the last dual, but it would seem he would be back for this one.  If not, expect to see the very capable Sammy Brooks take the mat for Iowa.  I view either Hawkeye as a substantial favorite in this match.  Pickett had a few solid wins last year, but nothing to suggest he’s going to turn a new leaf this season.  He’s already been majored by Virginia Tech’s Chris Penny (who is sneaky solid this year).  Burak really impressed me last year with his ability to get to legs.  Was finishing an issue?  Sure, but I expect improvement in this spot as Iowa is often very good at finishing once they get to your leg.  He’s got a great inside reach single that is more/less his go-to shot.  

Burak’s upper body prowess in general is notable.  Last year in the early goings, Burak worked almost exclusively from a Russian tie on his feet.  As the year progressed, he got way better at diversifying his offense.  He’s got a sick headlock he will throw from time to time and when guys get on his leg’s he’s a great scrambler and had elite flexibility.  He’s an under the radar guy this year with AA potential.  I don’t see Pickett able to keep Burak from scoring and think it will be a borderline bonus point win for Burak.

We haven’t seen him this year, so I’ll say he doesn’t come out and bonus right away, but believe me it’s a possibility.

Nathan Burak WBD Vince Pickett

Iowa-25

Edinboro-6

285

#3 Bobby Telford, Iowa v. Ernest James

Coach Brands said Bobby could have wrestled last week against Iowa State, so here’s hoping we see a full strength team for both squads.  The two met last year in the dual and it was Telford by a 13-2 margin.  Bonus is not always Telford’s M.O. but he began this year with 6 falls in 6 matches.  If Telford can keep pace up and get his turns rolling, I expect him to wear out James, who has had issues with conditioning and pace previously.  I think Bobby puts an exclamation point on the dual with another blowout win for the Hawkeyes, but since he’s missed some time and may not be as sharp, I see him just missing the bonus point.  Telford shows off his pinning side in his match against Illinois.

Bobby Telford WBD Ernest James

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Iowa-28

Edinboro-6