Iowa’s Winter Sports Teams Flying High, Making It a Great Time to Be a Hawk

If you're a Hawkeye fan like me, you probably read that headline and thought, 'Anytime is a great time to be a Hawkeye.' Ok, you're right about that but now is an especially great time. The winter sports season in Iowa City is roaring with success.

Last night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Iowa women's basketball team won their seventh straight game and their 31st straight home game. After scoring and being fouled on a play in the fourth quarter last night, senior guard Kathleen Doyle showed her teammates her muscles (photo below). She led the Hawks with 26 points.

The Iowa women are now 16-3 and tied for first in the Big Ten with just one loss. They're ranked 19th in the nation and host Michigan State Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. It will be televised by Big Ten Network.

I'm pretty sure Doyle took that flex pose from Iowa men's basketball player Luka Garza (photo below). It's been a common sight for Luka to strike that pose in recent games and why not? Garza, a junior, is the nation's 4th-leading scorer at 23.2 points per game. He also averages 10.3 rebounds per game, in the top 20 nationally.

Garza is leading the way for the Hawkeye men's team that is now 14-5 and has won four-in-a-row. Like the Iowa women, they're 19th in this week's AP college basketball poll. Their next game is Monday, January 27 at 7:30 p.m at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game versus the Wisconsin Badgers will be televised by Big Ten Network.

The Iowa wrestling team is having nothing short of a phenomenal season so far. Undefeated in seven dual meets and ranked #1 in the nation, the Iowa grapplers have won 37 of 40 matches in Big Ten dual meets and 62 of 70 overall, according to the Iowa Sports Information Department.

Last weekend, in a 26-6 win over #7 Nebraska, Iowa freshman Abe Assad (photo at bottom) made his debut at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Ranked 10th, he upset #5 Taylor Venz 6-4, bringing a roar from the faithful in Iowa City.

Tonight, the Hawkeyes defend the home mat against #4 Ohio State. The dual meet begins at 8:07 p.m. and will be televised by the Big Ten Network.

Just how special is what's happening with these three winter sports at the University of Iowa? There are only eight other universities that have both their men's and women's basketball teams in this week's national rankings (Baylor, Oregon, Louisville, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Florida State, Arizona, and Maryland). Of those eight, only Maryland has a wrestling program. They're 2-9 this season.

Yes Iowa fans, live in the moment. Times like these are to be savored.