Following true freshman Abe Assad’s runner-up performance at the Midlands Championships, Iowa’s battle for the starting 184-pound spot has expanded from two wrestlers to three. 

This weekend, Iowa travels to Indiana and Purdue for a Big Ten set, with Assad, Nelson Brands, and Cash Wilcke all listed as options at 184. 

Besides potentially pulling Assad’s redshirt and a chance for more than one 184-pounder to see action yet again this weekend, it’s not a big test for the Hawkeyes at that weight. Indiana’s Jake Hinz is unranked and lost to Assad by technical fall at Midlands. Neither of Purdue’s options is ranked, either. 

“You’ve got to make sure that you’re doing the right thing for the team, you’re doing the right thing for the individual, you’re doing the right thing for the future,” Tom Brands said. “We might have a direction we’re going in our head, but it really doesn’t matter. It’s just continue to perform.”

#1 Iowa (4-0) vs Indiana (0-1)

Date: Jan. 10 | Time: 7 PM ET | Where: Bloomington, IN

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

So despite that being the only remaining battle for a weight class in Iowa’s starting lineup, the focus this weekend shouldn’t be on 184. 

Iowa set a tournament record at Midlands with 196.5 points, even with Spencer Lee not wrestling past the quarterfinals and Michael Kemerer not seeing the mat at all. This weekend, however, they both return to the lineup. 

Purdue poses the biggest threat to each of them. No. 7 Devin Schroder has lost two matches this year for a 17-2 record at 125 pounds, but Lee took home the title at Senior Nationals – so it’s not like he hasn’t faced tough action before. 

Kemerer is another story. He is set to face off against No. 4 Dylan Lydy, who won the 174-pound bracket at Midlands. 

The Iowa two-time All-American, who was sidelined all of last season with an injury, is 4-0 in Iowa’s dual meets this season, winning every match with bonus points. He dominated in his season debut with a 20-0 technical fall against UT-Chattanooga, and has tacked on another tech fall, a major decision and a 5:47 fall so far.

Lydy, the No. 1 seed at Midlands, took down two ranked opponents on his way to the title. Most notably, he took down No. 5 Bryce Steiert of UNI in the finals, 3-2.

Another big matchup for the Hawkeyes this weekend – again against Purdue – comes at 197. No. 4 Jacob Warner will get a shot at No. 2 Christian Brunner. 

#1 Iowa (4-0) vs #6 Purdue (7-1)

Date: Jan. 12 | Time: 4 PM ET | Where: West Lafayette, IN

Broadcast Info: WATCH LIVE HERE

In last season’s meet against the Boilermakers, Mitch Bowman was Iowa’s go-to wrestler at the weight. He took down Brunner by a 7-5 decision to open up the dual.

The double dose of wrestling in Indiana this weekend for the Hawkeyes could have big rankings implications for Warner, and poses a chance for Kemerer to really prove where he’s at right now. 

But 184 can’t be forgotten. A concrete decision on the weight probably won’t come after this weekend, but next week Iowa hosts No. 7 Nebraska, which will pose a huge challenge for that weight. 

From a team perspective, Penn State has been circled on the calendar. But for 184 specifically, the Cornhuskers’ No. 6 Taylor Ventz is the one to look out for. Neither Penn State or Ohio State has major options at that weight.

“It’s about who has the best chance and shows us that they’re going to put forth their best effort every time out, so that when we get to national tournament time, Big Ten tournament time, we’ve got the best guy in the lineup,” Tom Brands said.

Anna attended the University of Iowa, where she covered multiple sports from volleyball to football to wrestling. She went to Pittsburgh in March 2019 for the NCAA DI Wrestling Championships and did live coverage of the entire event and Spencer Lee’s second-straight NCAA title. Follow here on Twitter.