The Brent Metcalf era for Iowa State men’s wrestling is officially here, and the Cyclones are ready to prove everyone wrong. Media day went down on October 21, and the message from the coaching staff and wrestlers was crystal clear: get ready for a team with a serious chip on its shoulder.
Metcalf’s Challenge: Punching Above Their Weight
Last season, Iowa State grabbed an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, but the roster looks different now. Key guys like Yonger Bastida and Rocky Elam are gone, which means a ton of production needs to be replaced. But Metcalf isn’t shying away from it, in fact, he’s using it as fuel. He challenged his squad to go out there and punch above whatever outside voices are expecting.
Seriously, you gotta love this from the head coach: “We’re the sort of team that needs to have a chip on our shoulder. I don’t know what we’re ranked. I don’t really care what we’re ranked. But as far as I’m concerned, we’re not ranked where we belong and we need to go out and we need to earn it.” That’s the kind of talk that gets you hyped, right? It’s all about proving it on the mat, not on a preseason poll.
Wrestlers like 285-pound Coby Merrill, 165-pound Connor Euton, 141-pound Evan Frost, and 149-pound Jacob Frost were all there at media day, ready to roll.
November 1: The New Season Kicks Off
The first dual for Iowa State is set for November 1. They’ll be at home, facing off against Bucknell. You know they’re looking to start hot and make a statement right from the jump, especially with Metcalf’s challenge ringing in their ears. Improving on that eighth-place finish from last season at the NCAA Championships is the big goal, and it all starts now.
So, get ready to see this team earn every single bit of what they’re going for. That first dual against Bucknell is going to be a must-watch to see if they bring that chip-on-the-shoulder energy to the mat.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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