The wrestling scene just got more exciting, and the credit goes to one freshman from the Iowa Hawkeyes. This unique wunderkind made his NCAA debut last week opposite All-Amercian winner Travis Wittlake. After the heated scuffle, the crowds gathered at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena were chanting his name. The anticipation for Gabe Arnold’s second match was palpable, but no one could have predicted what he would do next.

Gabe Arnold was titled NCAA Wrestler of the Week after he fell Wittlake on the mat. Following this honor, Gabe Arnold pronounced his intention to stick with the 174lbs weight class. However, when the opportunity presented itself on a silver platter for him to denounce another heavy rival, he could not brook his ambition.

Wrestling prodigy Gabe Arnold’s ambitious leap

A day before his next match, coach Tom Brands gave him devastating news. Gabe Arnold would have to bump up ten weight classes overnight to trounce Iowa State’s #6 Will Feldkamp. Instead of stepping back, Arnold welcomed it with a gritty smile. Remarkably, his rival went down in a single takedown and advanced the Hawkeyes’ victory to 15-10. NCAA Wrestling applauded the rising star’s performance with an Instagram post and a caption that read, “Moved up a weight class over night! Gabe Arnold defeats Will Feldkamp, 3-2 at 184”.

Coach Tom Brands was convinced that only Arnold could have defeated Feldkamp. Therefore, in a last-minute shuffle, he substituted Gabe Arnold with Patrick Kennedy in the 174 lbs. His decision paid off and moved the team up a rank on the NCAA lists. The rival coach from Iowa State never saw it coming and praised the move.

Iowa Coach earns praises from rivals

Iowa State coach Kevin Dresser had helped Iowa City recruit Tom Brands. Now, he might be regretting his decision as Brands has outsmarted him in a significant NCAA wrestling match. Nevertheless, there was only mutual love and respect between them. The two coaches did not allow the results on the mat to reflect on their relationship.

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Tom Brands and his brother Terry Brands joined the Hawkeyes as coaches in the 1980s. Kevin Dresser praised their fighting zeal, saying, “They’re just wired to win. They like to win, and when they don’t win they’re not happy”. Gabe Arnold has imbibed this quality from his coaches and risen to the top of the collegiate wrestling scene in just two matches. The Georgia native is nurturing the bold ambition of being a four-time national champion and believes his coaches can get him there.

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