Happy Soldier Salute Week!

maxpain

All-American
Jul 6, 2006
1,641
5,250
113
Things change , in the major league starters used to pitch 40 games and it wasn't unheard of to hear something like 15 or 20 complete games.

Now everyone has a pitch count.

True. But there are more Tommy John surgeries than ever so is it working?
 
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Jcchawk

All-American
Iowa Swarm member
Oct 29, 2001
2,956
8,726
113
My understanding of the date change (by only a few days, mind you) was that it was done as a way to attract more teams who didn’t want to compete at a tournament nearly as close to Christmas.

Was that not the case?
Then doing that Iowa chose to send backups?
 
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Gopher4Life

Junior
Jun 30, 2025
94
218
33
This is who SDSU is sending to SS. They are not sending their starters to Coralville. Not sure if they ever have sent their full starters to SS either.

SOLDIER SALUTE LINEUP:
125: Carson Dupill, Logan Graf, Daniel Guanajuato
133: Kenton Cooke, Cale Seaton
141: Tyson Peach, Liam Neitzel, Logan Swensen
149: Colin Dupill, Conlan Carlson
157: Zach Ballante, Bas Diaz
165: Jacob Herm
174: Jacob Fistler, Ryan Dolezal
184: Burk Blasius, Connor Gaynor, Shane McConville, Jared Thiry, Jarrett Wadsen
They’re wrestling Arizona state tonight to be fair
 
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InTheCircle

All-Conference
Apr 3, 2018
350
1,033
93
For all of the whiners blasting Tom for this decision, how hard have you complained over their injuries going into NCAA's the past 4 years or so? If it doesn't work and they don't do well in March, then I would have to agree with you guys more. But, I am 100% encouraged to see they are basically trying to do everything possible to get everyone to March as healthy as they can possibly control.

I actually like that tOSU seemed "peeked" way more than Iowa. Hell, even ISU seemed that way. In the past, Iowa seemed to put too much energy into being near peek to win those early duals and look a bit spent in March. If they get to March and most of the guys look their best, it will actually be adapting as coaches that got them there...

One of the biggest knocks you guys use is that the Brands don't adapt and then when it appears they have, you still blast them for it...
2025 Teemer was hurt before NCAA’s, no others. In 2024 we were healthy, outside of Woods who “tweaked” his knee. As the three seed, he finished fourth. Not really any different than any other team.
Even 2023 wasn’t horrible. Spencer came back from double ACL surgery, really amazing he even competed. COBE was banged up some.
From an injury standpoint we’ve improved markedly. In all those years we’ve had full lineups at SS.
 

DuckUnder

Sophomore
Jul 12, 2025
36
100
33
Things change , in the major league starters used to pitch 40 games and it wasn't unheard of to hear something like 15 or 20 complete games.

Now everyone has a pitch count.
Not a really good comparison unless youre going way back... in the 80s the innings pitched weren't much more then they are now... and your pitchers werent just skipping games to avoid injuries, or avoiding seeing hitters in early games cause they dont matter... pitching also changed alot cause relievers weren't as relevant back in the day, now teams load up on RPs... plus injuries are happening more to pitchers cause everyone's throwing 100 mph and pitching junk, your 15-20 CGs is cause they had 5 total pitchers and 60 mph fastball was their peak... regardless growing the sport doesnt work giving guys time off... thats whats currently killing the NBA , wrestling is just starting to grow, this type of chit will set it back
 

JoeBagobagels

Senior
Jun 24, 2025
740
856
92
True. But there are more Tommy John surgeries than ever so is it working?
I was around when they did the surgery on Tommy John, it was cutting edge back then. So I guess it's going to be pretty common
than before it even existed.

Remember his surgery happened prior to the widespread use of MRIs which started in the late 70s thoroughly 80s. John's surgery was in 1974.
 
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TherealGrip220

All-Conference
Oct 14, 2025
423
1,289
93
Take a look at the southern scuffle, Penn State, Oklahoma State, Cornell among others and none of the starters are wrestling in the tournament. Teams need their top guys healthy and ready for march so I know it's disappointing not seeing all of our guys wrestle in this particular tournament but TNT are doing what's best for the end results.
We have always complained and been upset about injuries on the Hawkeye roster, I feel this is a step towards keeping our guys as healthy as possible and peeking at the right time.
 

TheREALSpooner

All-Conference
Dec 16, 2022
591
1,830
93
So maybe this tournament just becomes something that is good for some young or backup wrestlers and their families,

This has always been the case. The backups always wrestled. It will die if Iowa essentially punts it going forward.


This is not an Iowa event — this is a Luke Eustice event.

😂 This event exists purely because of the Iowa wrestling program. De facto Iowa event.


I get people are disappointed but a lot seem to be making this a much bigger deal than it is, at least to me

It isn’t a big deal on its own. But it is yet another weird Brands/Iowa thing. Not great.
 

MR.Lewis

Redshirt
Mar 15, 2012
10
28
13
True. But there are more Tommy John surgeries than ever so is it working?
Its the same thing in baseball as it is in wrestling. Kids are starting younger and getting more and more matches before they hit college. Same reason why a hammer like Tom could come to Iowa and not get a takedown until year 2 in the room. Now high schoolers are so good. So those 40+ matches they got in college are done in elementary/junior high/high school. The body can only take so much.
 

Hawkfan1986

Senior
Mar 26, 2019
111
467
63
Honestly people, how exciting was this tournament when Iowa was the only team sending all their starters? I live 5 miles from Xtreme arena and have not ventured over for the SS. March is what matters. Les's revisit this topic in 2 months.
I went every year and honestly it was worth every penny (which no longer exists). With the side by side championship wrestling mats the finals offered a lot of compelling wrestling. The female side was very competitive. This event also gave us fans a chance to see the new version of a “wrestle off” since those are hidden now for some reason.

I’m disappointed at the lack of starters and the disappearance of the women. For those reasons I’ve stayed home. Hell I’m not even watching it on btn+ or whatever back alley broadcast is showing it this year.
 

AurtherS

Freshman
Nov 27, 2025
28
58
13
I went every year and honestly it was worth every penny (which no longer exists). With the side by side championship wrestling mats the finals offered a lot of compelling wrestling. The female side was very competitive. This event also gave us fans a chance to see the new version of a “wrestle off” since those are hidden now for some reason.

I’m disappointed at the lack of starters and the disappearance of the women. For those reasons I’ve stayed home. Hell I’m not even watching it on btn+ or whatever back alley broadcast is showing it this year.
From the looks of attendance, there are a lot of people who are skipping this event.
 

Tiltman

Senior
Sep 14, 2012
127
706
93
Honestly people, how exciting was this tournament when Iowa was the only team sending all their starters? I live 5 miles from Xtreme arena and have not ventured over for the SS. March is what matters. Les's revisit this topic in 2 months.
I didn’t mind making the hr drive to take my son. It WAS a good event to take him to.

To the people that keep saying “March is what matters” are you ok watching guys duck each other more and more each season? Wrestling less and less matches each season? Could you imagine if a football coach sat a stud qb because he didn’t want to get him injured against a good defense? lol. Each year lately I care less and less about college wrestling because of how freaking boring it’s become. It’s sad the direction it’s going.
 

sdvike

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2016
792
1,693
93
Either wrestling with serious injury or no focus on the sport. Its hard to watch him.
 

HawkTalk3

Junior
Jun 7, 2025
64
245
32
They’re wrestling Arizona state tonight to be fair
True - but 1) the post I replied to said Iowa would lose to SDSU and 2) still doesn’t change that SDSU hasn’t sent their full squad in previous years even when they didn’t have a dual scheduled the same day.
 
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