70% of the Wrestling World Crowns Iowa vs Iowa State As the Biggest NCAA Rivalry. But Why?

Sunday’s duel at the Hilton Coliseum saw wrestling fans thronging through the gates en masse. Was it simply to encounter if the Hawkeye veterans could stave off the fiery spin of the newcomers in the Cyclone squad? Or was it because they wanted to see if the unbelievable winning streak would continue for the Iowa Hawkeyes?

The answer lies in the long-standing history and intense competition between the two powerhouse programs. It is precisely the reason why around 14,000 individuals opted to sacrifice their Sunday morning for a collegiate wrestling meet. Iowa head coach Tom Brands had prepared a roster of former champions and rising talents to face their rivals head-on. However, for a brief stretch of nail-biting moments, Iowa’s undefeated Cy-Hawk streak seemed to be in jeopardy. It was for this exact thrill that the fans came to the arena on Sunday.

Iowa vs. Iowa State wrestling rivalry reaches culmination

NCAA Wrestling created major hype for their big tussle on Sunday with an Instagram poll contest. They listed four major rivalries in the wrestling world, namely, Iowa vs. Iowa State, Army vs. Navy, App State vs. Campbell, and, lastly, NC State vs. Virginia Tech. Over 70% of the total votes went to the Iowa vs. Iowa State rivalry, solidifying its status as one of the most highly anticipated matches in the sport. NCAA Wrestling posted the results of the poll on their Instagram story under the caption, “BIGGEST RIVALRY”. This rivalry played out before thousands of attendees at the Cy-Hawk Dual meet’s opening day.

The ten bouts saw amazing performances from the wrestling stars thrashing at each other’s sides on the mat. However, Tom Brands had already cemented the win for his squad in a calculated move from beyond the mat. His coaching creativity shone through in the last-minute shuffle of 2023 NCAA qualifier Patrick Kennedy and freshman star Gabe Arnold. The latter had proven his mettle last week by triumphing against Travis Wittlake.

He was favored for the 174lbs weight class, but Brands substituted him with Patrick Kennedy and bumped him to the 184lbs. This was a critical move as Arnold’s intended opponent, MJ Gaitan, was amped up to face him. However, when Kennedy stepped onto the mat, Gaitan lost heart and the match. Iowa carried this momentum till the end of the meet and brought their rivalry to fruition.

Hawks soar over the cyclone

After Patrick Kennedy and Gabe Arnold, Zach Glazier brought his squad another gritty win against Julien Broderson. The Hawks picked up three more wins with Drake Ayala, Real Woods, and Jared Franek. At one point, Woods looked to be in trouble against Anthony Echemendia, but his rival could not properly land the decisive takedown. This took the match into overtime, where Real Woods sealed the victory.

Franek showed a similar trajectory against former Hawks member Cody Chittum. Tom Brands and his Hawkeye team have won the Dan Gable Trophy in Ames. But, it would be an error to dismiss the Iowa State Cyclone this early. This is a strong team, and their recent experience in Ames might just fuel their fight for the trophy in March. As such, the Iowa – Iowa State rivalry checks all the boxes for an intense and thrilling matchup.

Unpacking the rivalry

According to InterMat.com, a true rivalry hinges on six criteria: geographic or conference ties, recruiting battle, competitive balance, national significance, fans’ excitement, and historical importance. Let us now study the Iowa and Iowa State rivalry closely along these six criteria.

Geographic or conference ties

The two schools are merely a two-hour car drive from each other. Therefore, although they are not in the same conference, the coaching staff keep each other in their purview.

Recruiting battle

This requires a more nuanced analysis as Iowa has resorted to recruiting more wrestling talents from outside the state. This attitude can be traced back to about five years. They won the national title in 2021 on the backs of five wrestlers from Pennsylvania. Even now, their newest weapon, Gabe Arnold, is a resident of Georgia. Nonetheless, Iowa State has also begun scouting for talents beyond state boundaries, making their rivalry acquire new dimensions.

Competitive balance

Iowa Hawkeyes have dominated the series with a set of 16-65-3. The last time Iowa State encountered a joyous victory over Iowa was during the 2004-2005 season. Since then, the Cyclones have been spinning out of control, driving their rivalry to new heights.

National significance

In the NCAA history, very few rivalries can match the heated relationship that these two schools share. These wrestling powerhouses have won thirty-two NCAA team titles. But Iowa has carried off with twenty-four wins, while Iowa State only has eight trophies to its name.

Fans’ excitement

The recent attendance at the Hilton Coliseum bears witness to the excitement of the fans for their showdown.

Historical significance

Iowa and Iowa State have been sparring partners since 1916, although the present-day dual meet was first organized in the 1970s.

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All these criteria combined make their rivalry the most unique. No wonder the fans are excited about their matchup and have voted them as the biggest rivals in the wrestling world.

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