Pound for pound
Grapplers prepare for Big Ten tournament with Iowa looking strong but not definite

By JONATHAN BOMBULIE
Collegian Sports Writer

In the dual-meet season, there wasn't a wrestling team in America on the same level as Iowa. The Hawkeyes were all but untested en route to an undefeated record.

But the Big Ten tournament, which begins Saturday in Bloomington, Ind., is like a whole new season. And while the Hawkeyes are the favorite to take their 22nd consecutive conference crown, their dominance is not assured.

"They only have two shoo-ins right now, with (Lincoln) McIlravy and (Joel) Sharratt," Wisconsin Coach Barry Davis said. "They're definitely the favorite, but there aren't any other locks."

Here is a weight-by-weight look at the 1995 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, with analysis from Lions Coach John Fritz:

-- 118 pounds -- No. 1 Mike Mena (Iowa) will be challenged by No. 2 Kelvin Jackson (Michigan State). The pair wrestled three times this season with Mena taking two. Matt Hanutke (Wisconsin) is the defending champion and three-time All-American.

"Hanutke had an injury this year," Fritz said. "But with experience like he has, you can't count him out."

-- 126 pounds -- No. 1 Jeff McGinness (Iowa) and No. 2 Sanshiro Abe (Penn State) are the clear favorites. McGinness handled Abe, 8-7, in a dual meet at Rec Hall on Dec. 2.

"On paper, you'd have to favor McGinness," Fritz said. "But I don't really think that way."

-- 134 pounds -- Slight favorites are No. 4 Mark Ironside (Iowa) and No. 8 Tony Pariano (Northwestern), who finished second to former Lion Cary Kolat last season. Clint Musser (Penn State) could make some noise as well.

"This is the kind of weight where anything could happen," Fritz said.

-- 142 pounds -- This weight is Lion John Hughes' to win. He will be challenged primarily by No. 4 Bill Zadick (Iowa). Fritz said Hughes has had some good practices lately, but needs to work on his skills from the down position.

"He needs to be able to get out," Fritz said. "A lot of these matches might be decided in an overtime situation."

-- 150 pounds -- McIlravy, a junior, is undefeated on the year and looking for his third straight NCAA title. Steve Marianetti (Illinois) is his closest competitor.

"Everybody's beatable," Fritz said. "But he's real tough and heavily favored."

-- 158 pounds -- Seven wrestlers could take this title. Fritz favors Daryl Weber (Iowa) and Jeff Catrabone (Michigan). Lion freshman Glenn Pritzlaff could also have an impact.

"It's amazing how tough the Big Ten Conference is, especially at this weight," Fritz said.

-- 167 pounds -- Like 126, this weight appears to be down to two. No. 4 Matt Nerem (Iowa) and No. 1 Zac Taylor (Minnesota) are favored.

"It's a close call," Fritz said. "But Nerem is more experienced. He makes fewer mistakes."

-- 177 pounds -- Brett Colombini (Minnesota) is the favorite, but Ray Brinzer (Iowa) -- when wrestling well -- can beat almost any wrestler in the nation.

"He's as extreme as they get," Fritz said. "When he's on, he's on -- but I'd favor Colombini."

-- 190 pounds -- No. 2 Emilio Collins (Michigan State) needs an excellent performance to unseat No. 1 Sharratt. Collins finished second and Sharratt third last year, but the Hawkeyes' 190-pounder has been dominant this season.

"They've had some good matches," Fritz said. "I like Sharratt though. He's a real hard-nosed kid."

-- Heavyweight -- It would be a major surprise if McCoy does not take his second straight crown. McCoy said he expects to peak at the right time. If that's the case, conference heavyweights are in for a long, tough battle. He will be challenged by Billy Pierce (Minnesota) and Tony Vaughn (Purdue).

"I'd rank him somewhere in the top five in the conference," Fritz said facetiously. "He could finish in the top six and be able to go to nationals."