Zach Glazier didn’t want to get caught up in the atmosphere.

The Iowa 197-pounder watched the first two matches of Sunday’s dual at Iowa State, then headed back to the locker room to relax.

His time would come, and there was no sense, he said, in being distracted.

When it came time, Glazier delivered the clinching win for the Hawkeyes, a 7-3 victory over Julian Broderson that provided Iowa’s final points in the 18-14 dual triumph.

The impact of the win didn’t register right away with Glazier.

“It felt really good,” Glazier said during the Hawkeyes’ media availability on Wednesday. “Afterwards, when it kind of hit me that, oh, I did seal the deal, then I was like, ‘That’s cool. It feels pretty good.’”

It was the biggest moment in a season of early success for Glazier, who is 7-0 heading into the Hawkeyes’ dual on Friday at Penn.

“His wrestling IQ is showing up, and that’s a really good thing to see,” Iowa coach Tom Brands said. “I think he’s who he’s always been. The best of him is in the light now. His best wrestling is showing up.”

It’s been difficult for Glazier, a senior, to crack Iowa’s lineup. Jacob Warner, a five-time All-American for the Hawkeyes, was omnipresent in that weight class, but Glazier stayed with Iowa.

“It gets long,” said Glazier, who has a 19-5 overall record during his time at Iowa and a 4-3 mark in duals. “Seasons get long, for sure. But I’ve waited since I was a little boy, and I wanted to get into a Hawkeye singlet, win big matches like that. As far as staying motivated, I guess, I’ve been really motivated to do that for a long time.

“At the end of the day, this is what I’ve wanted to do.”

Sunday’s win was one of those Glazier thought about, but he didn’t want to get distracted in the heat of the rivalry.

Glazier watched the matches at 125 and 133 before heading into the Hawkeyes’ locker room. The atmosphere, he thought, could be draining.

“I was relaxed, laying down, eating, drinking. Not being out in that atmosphere, not getting tied into it,” he said. “Just being relaxed, and when it was my time to get ready, get warm, I was zoned into the match.”

Glazier said a consistent spot in the lineup has helped him.

“I’ve been waiting to have that opportunity for a handful of years now,” he said. “I’ve always felt that the more consistently I can get in the lineup, get those matches, I’m going to get better every single match, and I feel like that’s happening. I’m excited, grateful to have the opportunity.”

“We’ve got to keep him humming and hammering,” Brands said. “And he’s humming and hammering.”

Kennedy’s Versatility

Patrick Kennedy was an NCAA qualifier and a Big Ten runner-up at 165 pounds last season.

But his first match of the season for the Hawkeyes came at 174 on Sunday, and he delivered a 14-13 win over MJ Gaitan.

Brands told Kennedy, who had been out after arthroscopic surgery on his knee, to be ready to go in at several different weight classes.

“It was always a day-by-day thing with my knee,” Kennedy said. “Throughout the week, Tom was like, ‘You might go ‘65, ‘74, ‘84, ‘97. I might throw you out there at any of those weights, so be ready to wrestle.’

“I think we were less than 24 hours out, and we made the decision that my knee was good to go, I was good to go, so let’s go out there and compete.”

“Kennedy is the type of guy where he doesn’t get uptight if he’s at the right weight or not,” Brands said. “He is a soldier. He’s a loyal, loyal teammate, and he’s what anyone would crave to have on their team, no matter what kind of team you have. Unbelievable character, that guy.”

Kennedy, who wrestled three times at 174 as a freshman, said he was ready for the challenge.

“When you maybe embrace the challenge, you can always learn something new about yourself,” he said. “I’m trying to be the best version of myself, to put myself into position to win a national title.

“My thoughts were, ‘I’m going to put some points on the board and have fun.’ All of the unknowns, what weight, it doesn’t matter. It’s about getting better and getting ready to go for the end of the year.”

Kennedy appreciated Brands’ confidence that he could wrestle anywhere.

“That’s why I came to Iowa,” he said. “I believe in my coaching. We have a great relationship. There is so much love between me and the coaching staff. There’s undeniable love.

“When they say you’re ready, when you might not think you’re ready, when you’ve got that bond, you know you’re ready.” 

Brands likes what he has with Michael Caliendo at 165 and Kennedy one class up.

“When you’re putting two guys like that in our lineup, it doesn’t matter what weight they’re at,” Brands said. “Pretty good talent there, pretty good guys, pretty good firepower, pretty good assets. And we love it.”

Next Up

Iowa’s dual with Penn will be at the Palestra in Philadelphia, a legendary venue for college sports.

It’s the first time the Hawkeyes have wrestled there since 2001 — the men’s basketball team has played there in 1955, 1961 and 2020.

Brands said the arena will be “a frickin’ beehive.”

“They’re making a big deal about it, and they should,” Brands said. “And we’re excited to be a part of it.”