IOWA CITY, Iowa -- There have been a lot of W's for the University of Iowa wrestling program since Jan. 5, 2008. That's the last time the Hawkeyes lost a dual meet -- 19-14 -- at home, to Oklahoma State.
Since then, Iowa has gone 82-0-1. A win tonight at Indiana would equal the NCAA record of 84 consecutive dual meets without a loss. It is a record held by Oklahoma State from 1959-66. The Cowboys' streak began with an 18-9 win against Iowa on Feb. 20, 1959, and ended with a 17-12 loss at Oklahoma on Feb. 12, 1966. There were two ties in between: 18-18 at Northern Colorado on Jan. 24, 1963, and 12-12 at Iowa State on Jan. 24, 1964.
Coaching Oklahoma State at the time was Myron Roderick, who passed away at the age of 77 on Dec. 28.
There will be ample talk about "the streak", but most of it will occur outside the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex. UI head coach Tom Brands said the only time he has referenced it was in the offseason. "The last time I mentioned it was last summer, pointing out (to the wrestlers) there is a reason why you have a streak, and that's because you guys are doing a good job and you have to keep doing a good job," Brands said. "It's not important for me. What's important for me is we have 12 to 15,000 fans, and we have to put on a good show. We have to get our guys to realize the job is to wrestle in an entertaining, dominating way, and then good things will happen."
Since then, Iowa has gone 82-0-1. A win tonight at Indiana would equal the NCAA record of 84 consecutive dual meets without a loss. It is a record held by Oklahoma State from 1959-66. The Cowboys' streak began with an 18-9 win against Iowa on Feb. 20, 1959, and ended with a 17-12 loss at Oklahoma on Feb. 12, 1966. There were two ties in between: 18-18 at Northern Colorado on Jan. 24, 1963, and 12-12 at Iowa State on Jan. 24, 1964.
Coaching Oklahoma State at the time was Myron Roderick, who passed away at the age of 77 on Dec. 28.
There will be ample talk about "the streak", but most of it will occur outside the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex. UI head coach Tom Brands said the only time he has referenced it was in the offseason. "The last time I mentioned it was last summer, pointing out (to the wrestlers) there is a reason why you have a streak, and that's because you guys are doing a good job and you have to keep doing a good job," Brands said. "It's not important for me. What's important for me is we have 12 to 15,000 fans, and we have to put on a good show. We have to get our guys to realize the job is to wrestle in an entertaining, dominating way, and then good things will happen."
