The new dates for the Soldier Salute provide a challenge for the Iowa wrestling team.

Still, it’s an event that coach Tom Brands thinks is important for his team heading into the Big Ten portion of its schedule.

“The biggest thing for us is to make sure that we are gearing up for the end run,” Brands said on Tuesday. “The end run, it’s a long run. And when I say end run, I'm talking about the Big Ten dual season, right into the Big Ten Championships, right into the NCAAs. So we’ve got to be at our best, and getting better for a long period of time.”

The Soldier Salute, which will be Saturday and Sunday at Xtream Arena in Coralville, is being held a few days later than past tournaments. It will be five days between the end of the event and the January 9 Big Ten opener against Wisconsin at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“We'd be competing yesterday and today normally, but we're going the third and fourth,” Brands said. “But here’s the thing — it’s been on the calendar for a long time.”

Iowa hasn’t wrestled since wins over Chattanooga and Utah Valley in the December 12 “Uncivil War” in Hannibal, Mo.

Brands said he knows the importance of the event — the Hawkeyes have won all three team titles and 23 individual titles in the short history of the tournament — and he knows how much it can affect his team heading into the meat of its schedule, especially when it comes to setting his lineup.

“We’ve seen a lot already, but we're looking for the good things to continue,” said Brands, whose team is ranked fourth nationally. “We're looking for the elimination of the bad things. And sometimes, habits change, good or bad. You want the bad habits to change. You don't want the good habits to change. But generally, by this time, you pretty much know what you got.”

Brands said his lineup for this weekend’s tournament still hasn’t been decided. Entries must be finalized by Friday.

“I think you're making individual decisions there,” he said. “Who's wrestling, who's not? We have Wisconsin on Friday night, five days later. That's important as well. You don't look too far ahead, but you definitely have to make sure you're doing the right things for each individual. That's how you coach wrestling. This isn't about a team thing first. This is about an individual thing first, and the team will take care of itself.”

Dealing With Depth

Brands knows he has choices at different weight classes, and he appreciates the depth.

“It’s always a blessing, because if there's drama caused by it, then you handle that,” he said. “And if someone feels like they got a bad deal, you handle that.

“Everybody wants to be on the mat when it's close. We want guys that believe in themselves. We want a guy that's going to fight for his spot and advocate for himself. But there's no better way to advocate than to go out there and put points on the board, wrestle in a way that you know gives you the best chance to be as bulletproof as possible. And so the drama … whatever I mean, hey, I'll take two great guys at every weight, and I'll take the drama that goes with it. I love depth.”

Arnold's Improvement

Gabe Arnold is 6-0 this season, a record that includes three dual appearances — at 184 pounds against Pittsburgh and 197 pounds against Chattanooga and Utah State.

“Very enthusiastic to compete,” Brands said when asked about Arnold. “When it's a question of whether or not you want to go, we have other options, he's always saying, ‘I'm going.’ That is invaluable. That's what every program wants in an athlete. And plus, he's a fighter, we just have to keep making progress there, and we'll see where we end up with him.”

Honoring The Military

Brands said he appreciates how the Soldier Salute honors members of the United States military.

“We are saluting our past soldiers,” he said. “We are saluting those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. We're saluting those that are currently in uniform. We're saluting our veterans, and that's important to the security and freedom in this country, and that's not propaganda. I've always been wired that way. I'm not a soldier. I've never been a soldier, and I would probably poop my pants if I was on the (front) line, holding the line, because I don’t know what they go through.

“This is a salute to the soldiers, and it's a good tribute, and it's a great event for Iowa, Hawkeye wrestling, and our community.”