Iowa signs Bobby Telford

Wiltz · 10-15-2009, 08:09 AM

Hawks gain heavyweight
Andy Hamilton • Iowa City Press-Citizen • October 15, 2009

http://hawkcentral.press-citizen.com...910150335/1053

This time a year ago, Bobby Telford was a wrestler with a big frame, a set of lightweight skills and a 35-39 career record.

He knew all about Iowa from its storied wrestling history, but competing for the Hawkeyes seemed further away in his mind than the 950-mile drive to Iowa City from his home in Wilmington, Del.

"Every kid who gets into wrestling figures out real quick what Iowa is all about," said Telford, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound heavyweight. "It's the greatest wrestling school in America, and it's every kid's dream to wrestle for Iowa. At the beginning of last year, I wouldn't have even dreamed of having this opportunity in front of me."

Telford's meteoric rise during his junior season launched him to the top of the national heavyweight rankings this summer and attracted the interest of the Hawkeyes and nearly a dozen other programs. He eventually trimmed that list to Iowa and Illinois before verbally committing Wednesday night to the Hawkeyes.

"My decision came down to history, the coaches, the people I'm going to be surrounding myself with, and my workout partners," Telford said. "I don't think anybody could beat Iowa. They had the best history, the best coaches, the best workout partners, everything. It's a privilege to wrestle for the Hawkeyes, and I can't wait to get out there."

Telford is rated the No. 43 prospect nationally in the Class of 2010 by InterMat. He's the third high school senior to verbally commit to Iowa's class, joining West High's Nick Moore (No. 14 on InterMat's list) and Waverly-Shell Rock's Jake Ballweg (No. 41).

Telford has been perhaps the fastest-rising prospect in the country during the last 12 months. He compiled a 13-23 record at 135 pounds as a freshman, fitting into a hole in his St. Mark's High School team's lineup that didn't necessarily fit his growing frame.

"A couple good guys moved up, they couldn't make the weight anymore, so the only way I could make the team was to cut down and wrestle 135," he said.

Telford moved up to 189 as a sophomore and went 22-16. He spent the following summer working out with former Penn State heavyweight Joel Edwards. Wrestling at heavyweight and weighing 230 as a junior, Telford went 38-0 and won the prestigious Beast of the East tournament.

"He's got such a great style for a heavyweight because he learned how to wrestle as a lightweight, kind of similar to (Ohio State's former two-time NCAA champion) Tommy Rowlands," St. Mark's coach Jay Basetianelli said. "He's not as quick or as explosive as Tommy Rowlands is, but Tommy Rowlands isn't 6-5, 270 and still growing. He might not be as strong as (former Minnesota two-time NCAA champion) Cole Konrad, but I bet you by the time he's 21 years old he's going to be that big."

vaisforlovers · 10-15-2009, 09:43 AM

Great choice big bobby

grapplefan · 10-15-2009, 10:31 AM

Awesome! Can't wait to have him in the wrestling room.

ISU2008 · 10-15-2009, 11:39 AM

He gained 65 pounds between freshman and sophomore years? I've heard of big jumps before, but nothing like this.

Wiltz · 10-15-2009, 11:43 AM

I'm sure he grew a little. He is 6' 5".

grapplefan · 10-15-2009, 11:50 AM

Is Telford going to be one of those guys who have to struggle to get DOWN to 285?

vaisforlovers · 10-15-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grapplefan

Is Telford going to be one of those guys who have struggle to get DOWN to 285?

6'5 is a good size, holy smokes. Change of pace from danimal and good competition for raising.

Wiltz · 10-15-2009, 11:58 AM

Probably he is 6'5" 270 pounds

Wiltz · 10-15-2009, 03:08 PM

Does this mean Jensen is going to have to root for a Hawkeye?

JensenS · 10-15-2009, 05:10 PM

Much in the same vein as Meade out at OK State, Gopher rival or no Gopher rival I've got to rep DE.

So as to whether or not this means I'll be rooting for a Hawkeye, that it does, unfortunately.

Like the article points out, Telford is a guy who has gotten really big, really fast so it'll be really interesting to see how he progresses.

Once he stops growing and starts getting used to being as big as he is (and spends some quality time with Doyle) he is going to be nasty.

10-15-2009, 08:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Wiltz Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 6,942	Iowa signs Bobby Telford Hawks gain heavyweight Andy Hamilton • Iowa City Press-Citizen • October 15, 2009 http://hawkcentral.press-citizen.com...910150335/1053 This time a year ago, Bobby Telford was a wrestler with a big frame, a set of lightweight skills and a 35-39 career record. He knew all about Iowa from its storied wrestling history, but competing for the Hawkeyes seemed further away in his mind than the 950-mile drive to Iowa City from his home in Wilmington, Del. "Every kid who gets into wrestling figures out real quick what Iowa is all about," said Telford, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound heavyweight. "It's the greatest wrestling school in America, and it's every kid's dream to wrestle for Iowa. At the beginning of last year, I wouldn't have even dreamed of having this opportunity in front of me." Telford's meteoric rise during his junior season launched him to the top of the national heavyweight rankings this summer and attracted the interest of the Hawkeyes and nearly a dozen other programs. He eventually trimmed that list to Iowa and Illinois before verbally committing Wednesday night to the Hawkeyes. "My decision came down to history, the coaches, the people I'm going to be surrounding myself with, and my workout partners," Telford said. "I don't think anybody could beat Iowa. They had the best history, the best coaches, the best workout partners, everything. It's a privilege to wrestle for the Hawkeyes, and I can't wait to get out there." Telford is rated the No. 43 prospect nationally in the Class of 2010 by InterMat. He's the third high school senior to verbally commit to Iowa's class, joining West High's Nick Moore (No. 14 on InterMat's list) and Waverly-Shell Rock's Jake Ballweg (No. 41). Telford has been perhaps the fastest-rising prospect in the country during the last 12 months. He compiled a 13-23 record at 135 pounds as a freshman, fitting into a hole in his St. Mark's High School team's lineup that didn't necessarily fit his growing frame. "A couple good guys moved up, they couldn't make the weight anymore, so the only way I could make the team was to cut down and wrestle 135," he said. Telford moved up to 189 as a sophomore and went 22-16. He spent the following summer working out with former Penn State heavyweight Joel Edwards. Wrestling at heavyweight and weighing 230 as a junior, Telford went 38-0 and won the prestigious Beast of the East tournament. "He's got such a great style for a heavyweight because he learned how to wrestle as a lightweight, kind of similar to (Ohio State's former two-time NCAA champion) Tommy Rowlands," St. Mark's coach Jay Basetianelli said. "He's not as quick or as explosive as Tommy Rowlands is, but Tommy Rowlands isn't 6-5, 270 and still growing. He might not be as strong as (former Minnesota two-time NCAA champion) Cole Konrad, but I bet you by the time he's 21 years old he's going to be that big." __________________ "He quits, not because he wants to, but because he has to. He has no choice. " -Tom Brands 01/20/08

10-15-2009, 09:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
vaisforlovers Olympic Champ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Staunton, VA Posts: 2,933	Re: Iowa signs Bobby Telford Great choice big bobby __________________ "Go the other way ding-dong!" -Tom Brands

10-15-2009, 10:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
grapplefan NCAA Champ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,400	Re: Iowa signs Bobby Telford Awesome! Can't wait to have him in the wrestling room.

10-15-2009, 11:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
ISU2008 Olympic Champ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cedar Rapids Posts: 3,269	Re: Iowa signs Bobby Telford He gained 65 pounds between freshman and sophomore years? I've heard of big jumps before, but nothing like this. __________________ You do the math..... I'll do the alfredo!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

10-15-2009, 11:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Wiltz Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 6,942	Re: Iowa signs Bobby Telford I'm sure he grew a little. He is 6' 5". __________________ "He quits, not because he wants to, but because he has to. He has no choice. " -Tom Brands 01/20/08

10-15-2009, 11:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
grapplefan NCAA Champ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,400	Re: Iowa signs Bobby Telford Is Telford going to be one of those guys who have to struggle to get DOWN to 285? Last edited by grapplefan; 10-15-2009 at 12:57 PM.

10-15-2009, 11:58 AM	#8 (permalink)
Wiltz Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 6,942	Re: Iowa signs Bobby Telford Probably he is 6'5" 270 pounds __________________ "He quits, not because he wants to, but because he has to. He has no choice. " -Tom Brands 01/20/08

10-15-2009, 03:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
Wiltz Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 6,942	Re: Iowa signs Bobby Telford Does this mean Jensen is going to have to root for a Hawkeye? __________________ "He quits, not because he wants to, but because he has to. He has no choice. " -Tom Brands 01/20/08

10-15-2009, 05:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
JensenS Administrator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delaware Posts: 13,650	Re: Iowa signs Bobby Telford Much in the same vein as Meade out at OK State, Gopher rival or no Gopher rival I've got to rep DE. So as to whether or not this means I'll be rooting for a Hawkeye, that it does, unfortunately. Like the article points out, Telford is a guy who has gotten really big, really fast so it'll be really interesting to see how he progresses. Once he stops growing and starts getting used to being as big as he is (and spends some quality time with Doyle) he is going to be nasty. Last edited by JensenS; 10-15-2009 at 05:20 PM.

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