A tale of two Hawk wrestling seniors
Eric Mandel - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Sports
One stands outside the mat wearing street clothes and a satisfied smile, done for the day after an abridged workout. The other remains, fervently pedaling a stationary bike as if competing in the Tour de France.
Both set of eyes are focused on the Carver-Hawkeye practice room's center circle, where Jake Kerr and Aaron Janssen battle in a midseason wrestle-off to determine this weekend's starting 165-pounder.
But the ensuing battle loomed larger than just for the coming weekend; it offered an insight into the battle for the front-runner at one of the two weights that will be vacated by seniors next season.
Those onlookers were 165-pounder Mark Perry and heavyweight Matt Fields, and despite being separated by only seven career wins - Perry at 94 and Fields with 87 - the two have traveled divergent paths.
"We're just total opposites," said defending NCAA champion Perry.
And while referring to their varying backgrounds and wrestling styles, the same goes for their success in the wrestling program.
"It was a program that was down a little bit, and it needed a boost, and [Perry] gave it a boost by winning the title," coach Tom Brands said. "That's what you want; you want guys who are after those championships.
"… I think Perry will be remembered as a enthusiastic team player who, probably if you got inside his head, wants to win a team title worse than he wants to win an individual title."
While team player certainly applies to Fields, as well, the Lowden, Iowa native often found himself a lightning rod for criticism during his tenure thanks to a cautious wrestling-style wrapped in an imposing figure.
Despite making a splash during his freshman year with a 24-12 record and finishing fifth at the Big Ten's, his best showing since came last season with a fourth-place finish in the conference.
"There's been some frustration; there's been some knocking heads a little bit with the coaching staff, but [Fields] has come a long way," Brands said. "Last year wasn't a great year for him, and all the other years as well. He's underachieved in his mind. So what's he mean to the program? We'll see what he's meant."
Both set of eyes are focused on the Carver-Hawkeye practice room's center circle, where Jake Kerr and Aaron Janssen battle in a midseason wrestle-off to determine this weekend's starting 165-pounder.
But the ensuing battle loomed larger than just for the coming weekend; it offered an insight into the battle for the front-runner at one of the two weights that will be vacated by seniors next season.
Those onlookers were 165-pounder Mark Perry and heavyweight Matt Fields, and despite being separated by only seven career wins - Perry at 94 and Fields with 87 - the two have traveled divergent paths.
"We're just total opposites," said defending NCAA champion Perry.
And while referring to their varying backgrounds and wrestling styles, the same goes for their success in the wrestling program.
"It was a program that was down a little bit, and it needed a boost, and [Perry] gave it a boost by winning the title," coach Tom Brands said. "That's what you want; you want guys who are after those championships.
"… I think Perry will be remembered as a enthusiastic team player who, probably if you got inside his head, wants to win a team title worse than he wants to win an individual title."
While team player certainly applies to Fields, as well, the Lowden, Iowa native often found himself a lightning rod for criticism during his tenure thanks to a cautious wrestling-style wrapped in an imposing figure.
Despite making a splash during his freshman year with a 24-12 record and finishing fifth at the Big Ten's, his best showing since came last season with a fourth-place finish in the conference.
"There's been some frustration; there's been some knocking heads a little bit with the coaching staff, but [Fields] has come a long way," Brands said. "Last year wasn't a great year for him, and all the other years as well. He's underachieved in his mind. So what's he mean to the program? We'll see what he's meant."
Be the first to comment on this story