DES MOINES – The power of positive thinking.

Not only did Ethen Lofthouse use it to put himself in the postseason as the University of Iowa’s 184-pound starter, but it also propelled him into the national quarterfinals.

Iowa's Mike Evans sends Phillip Joseph of Eastern Michigan in a 174 pound match. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

Lofthouse scored a takedown with 29 seconds remaining to defeat fifth-seeded Kevin Steinhaus, 3-1, Thursday night during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena. He was one of six quarterfinalists for Iowa, which was in fourth with 22 points, trailing third-place Minnesota by two. Penn State led the team race with 32 1/2 points and Oklahoma State was second with 29.

Lofthouse, seeded 12th at 184, overturned recent losses to Steinhaus, including a 6-3 decision in a regular season dual.

“I have a history with him,” Lofthouse said. “It’s on a big stage, right now. It feels good, but I have to get ready for the next match.”

Despite a 20-7 record, Lofthouse struggled in the middle of the season, losing five times in seven matches. He lacked offense and confidence. He split time with senior Grant Gambrall for part of the time, but turned it around by claiming the starting spot and placing third at the Big Ten Championships.

“First thing that comes to mind is urgency,” Iowa coach Tom Brands said. “His back was against the wall.”

Brands said Lofthouse has become more of a complete wrestler. He is competing tougher, according to Brands. Iowa assistant coach Ryan Morningstar has worked with Lofthouse as well.

“It’s a tribute to Ethen,” Brands said. “Give Morningstar a lot of credit.”

He heard from family, friends and the entire coaching staff, offering advice on how to turn reverse things. Lofthouse began to wrestle to win more than wrestling to not lose.

“Just mentally figured something out,” Positive thinking. That’s really just the biggest thing. I just relaxed and wrestled. I know I’m capable. I just got to do it.”

Lofthouse opened with an 8-2 over Iowa State’s Boaz Beard. The attitude came into play against Steinhaus, forcing a stalemate off a shot attempt and then scoring on his own after a restart. He avoided negative thoughts of being taken down when Steinhaus had his leg and kept his composure, trying to fight and rely on fundamentals with time elapsing.

“There was nothing to lose,” Lofthouse said. “I dove for the legs. My main focus was finish and finish quick.”

The Wells Fargo Arena crowd was dominated by Iowa fans, erupting with every moment that favors Iowa. The Hawkeyes have tapped into that energy boost, and Lofthouse has joined it with his approach.

“Before the match even starts in my head I’ve already won,” Lofthouse said. “The crowd gets behind you and makes you feel good.”

Iowa's Tony Ramos celebrates after defeating Joseph Ward of North Carolina in a 133 pound match. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

Lofthouse will face Cornell’s fourth-seeded Steve Bosak (22-2) in the quarterfinals. He has a chance to overturn another loss, dropping a 3-2 match to Bosak in February. Lofthouse, who placed seventh at 174 last year, is a win from a second straight All-American finish.

“I’ve been progressing the last couple weeks,” Lofthouse said. “Right now, I feel good.”

Iowa’s Matt McDonough (22-3) shared a positive outlook after the first day of the tournament. The two-time NCAA champion and three-time national finalist advanced to the quarterfinals with a 5-1 win over Kent State’s Steve Mitchell at 125.

He opened with a 10-2 major decision over Cleveland State’s Ben WIlleford.

“There are definitely things I can improve upon,” third-seeded McDonough said. “All in all, it was a solid day, having to wrestle where I am good.”

McDonough will wrestle Cornell’s Nahshon Garrett (40-4). A possible rematch against Illinois’ second-seeded Jesse Delgado looms as McDonough is attempting to become the fourth wrestler in Hawkeye history to be a four-time NCAA finalist. He could join a group that consists of Ed Banach, Duane Goldman and Lincoln McIlravy.

Some things are constant, but the intensity increases Friday. The setbacks to Delgado and the national finals as a sophomore push McDonough.

“You use every previous match, every previous experience, as something that helps you build toward the future, whether it is good or bad,” McDonough said. “This is my fourth tournament here. I know what it’s like on Day 2. Really there is no secret to it. It’s a matter of coming out with the will to win.”

The Hawkeyes have six quarterfinalists and none are as hot as second-seeded 133-pounder Tony Ramos. The Iowa junior pinned both opponents in the first period Thursday, including a 1:07 fall over North Carolina’s Joseph Ward in the second round.

Ramos is 29-1 with 14 pins.

“Dominate. Dominate everyone. Dominate every position,” Ramos said. “Hand fight, top, bottom, headlocks, in on the leg, in on defense…it doesn’t matter. Dominate every position.”

Ramos has one thing on his mind and that is standing on the top of the awards stand Saturday night.

“It means a lot to the name on the front of this,” Ramos said while tugging on a gray Iowa Hawkeye t-shirt. “It means a lot to my family. It’s not for Anthony Ramos, it’s for the Ramos family. I got texts all week long, my brother…my dad sent me a letter, my fiancé left me a letter on my bag, my brother calls me every night. It means more to my family than myself. I gotta go out there and get this done.”

Mike Evans opened up in his second match, beating Eastern Michigan’s Phillip Joseph, 11-3, to reach the 174-pound quarterfinals. It was more decisive than his 2-0 win over Central Michigan’s Craig Kelliher.

“You start getting dominant wins and people start doubting themselves when they come to wrestle you,” Evans said. “It meant a lot to come out and put points on the board and finish my takedowns, because that’s what I was lacking in my first match.”

The test gets tougher for Evans. Like Lofthouse, he will try to avenge a loss to a Minnesota foe. Evans (21-4) will face the Gophers’ Logan Storley (26-3). He has lost twice to Storley this season, but accepts the challenge.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Evans said.

Mark Ballweg (141) made his NCAA tournament debut and won his first two matches. The Iowa senior scored a takedown in the third period to beat Penn’s Charles Cobb, 3-2, to reach the quarterfinals.

“That’s two out of the way,” Ballweg said. “I have a big match tomorrow.”

He faces second-seeded Kendric Maple, of Oklahoma. Maple dominated him at the Midlands Championships in a previous season.

“The last time I wrestled him it wasn’t pretty,” Maple said. “I’ll try to turn things around in my favor.”

Iowa’s second-seeded Derek St. John reached the quarterfinals at 157, beating Air Force’s Josh Kreimier, 9-5.

Iowa’s team title hopes took a hit when Bobby Telford suffered a knee injury in the opening session. Telford, seeded sixth, hurt his right knee in an 8-1 win over Bucknell’s Joe Stolfi in the first round. He was assisted off the mat and spent time secluded with coaches and training staff before being helped from the arena.

Telford had his right leg taped before the evening’s second round and took the mat, defaulting to Boise State’s 11th-seeded J.T. Felix in two seconds. A default differs from a medical forfeit, because he is allowed to compete in later rounds instead of bowing out of the tournament.

“It’s not safe to assume anything,” Brands said about Telford trying to wrestle Friday. “We’re working it.”

The Hawkeyes had all nine wrestlers alive in the tournament. Nick Moore (165) lost a close match to Iowa State’s Mike Moreno, rebounding with a pin in the consolation round. Nathan Burak (197) lost to Kent State’s NCAA champ and top-seeded Dustin Kilgore. He won a 4-0 decision to eliminate Harvard’s James Fox.

The field was chasing two-time defending team champion Penn State. The Nittany Lions have six in the quarterfinals, including NCAA champions David Taylor (165), 184-pounder Ed Ruth and Quentin Wright at 197. They were powered by bonus points, getting consecutive second-round pins by Taylor, 174-pounder Matt Brown and Ruth.

“As a team, I feel like everybody’s doing what they have to do,” Ruth said.

Minnesota has six semifinalists, including Chris Dardanes (133), Cody Yohn (165), Scott Schiller (197) and second-seeded heavyweight Tony Nelson.

Oklahoma State’s Jordan Oliver leads the Cowboys’ charge, reaching the 149 quarterfinals. The Cowboys have seven in the quarterfinals.

Cornell’s Kyle Dake moved closer to becoming the third four-time national champion in NCAA Division I history. He majored Indiana’s Ryan Leblanc to reach the 165 quarterfinals. Last year, Dake become the first D-I wrestler to win three titles at three different weight classes, capturing the 141, 149 and 157-pound crowns.

DES MOINES — To Northern Iowa coach Doug Schwab, it’s all about moving forward.

The Panthers took a big step in that direction Thursday during the first day of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, winning seven of nine bouts inside Wells Fargo Arena.

“But we’re only as good as our last round,” Schwab said after the Panthers won two of four second-round bouts.

Northern Iowa Levi Wolfensperger (left) wrestles Cody Brewer of Oklahoma in a 133 pound match. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

David Bonin at 157 pounds and Ryan Loder at 184 earned berths in Friday’s quarterfinals after Levi Wolfensperger at 133 and Joey Lazor at 141 lost.

Bonin (28-6) toppled Missouri’s Kyle Bradley, 4-0, earning his 99th career win. Loder (32-4) beat Mike Larson of Missouri, 2-0.

“(Today) is the day you really move,” Schwab said. “We want guys wrestling Saturday.”

Bonin worked hard for his win over Bradley Thursday night, but said, “the whole sport is tough.

“You gotta grind through it,” he said. “I’m stoked. I’m excited. One win (today), All-American. That’s what I’m here for.”

Lazor (34-8) scored major decisions in the pigtails and first round before losing Thursday. In his 12-4 win over Bryan Pearsall of Penn State he went from almost being pinned to almost getting a pin.

“I like being there, but not really,” he said. “I’m a funky kind of guy.”

Iowa State will have just one wrestler in Friday’s quarterfinals — Tanner Weatherman at 174. The red-shirt freshman from Huxley (20-7) won a wild, 16-14, decision over seventh-seeded Jordan Blanton of Illinois.

Iowa State's Kyven Gadson escapes from Blake Rosholt of Oklahoma State in a 197 pound match. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

“We’ve been training for stuff like this all year,” he said. “It’s just a seven-minute brawl.

“I just went out and had a lot of fun. It’s all just a game.”

ISU’s Michael Moreno at 165, Kyven Gadson at 197 and Matt Gibson at heavyweight all lost in the second round. Gadson (26-3), seeded sixth, fell to Oklahoma State’s Blake Rosholt, 8-7, after battling back from a big deficit.

Gibson lost, 4-2, to top-seeded Dominque Bradley of Missouri.

Two ISU’s three first-round losers lost Thursday night and were eliminated. Boaz Beard remains alive at 184.

“You gotta win the closes matches,” said ISU coach Kevin Jackson, who lost his team a point for three warnings Mayfield’s loss. “We made some mistakes.”

CEDAR RAPIDS – You wonder why they didn’t get the big one.

That’s said in jocular tones, of course. The Cedar Rapids Kernels unveiled “the big one” Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium, a monster new scoreboard/video board that fans are certain to love this season.

The board, made by Daktronics, has a price tag of about $500,000 and stands 30 feet by 48 feet. That’s opposed to the old board, which was 16 by 24.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels unveiled their new 30-by-48-foot LED video board on Thursday, March 21, 2013, at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids. In addition to the scoreboard and video board set up that fans are used to, the board can go to fullscreen video. (Liz Martin/The Gazette-KCRG)

For comparison, the new one is taller and wider than the video boards at the University of Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena and taller than the video board at Kinnick Stadium.

Then there’s the immaculate clarity. A home run all around.

“We think it’s one of the top five scoreboards in the Midwest League,” said Andy Pantini, IT and Communications Manager for the Kernels. “It’s like someone said earlier today. This is the biggest HD TV in Cedar Rapids.”

The Kernels’ previous board – part of which was scrapped and part of which was sold to Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School – was the original at the newer Vets Stadium, with a warranty that had expired and parts that weren’t made anymore. Thus the need for a new one.

The club hopes to get 10 years of use, at least, out of what Kernels President Gary Keoppel called “our newest toy.” It took three days of training for Pantini and Amber Schmidt of Metro Studios in Cedar Rapids to learn how to use it.

Metro does all the video production work for the Kernels.

“We can do a lot of stuff,” Schmidt said.

“This is the same type of board they have at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Target Field in Minneapolis,” Pantini said. “The same technology. Just not quite the same size.”

The Kernels are scheduled to open the 2013 Midwest League season Thursday, April 4 at home against Beloit. Kernels General Manager Doug Nelson said the new major league affiliation with the Minnesota Twins has produced a significant increase in preaseason tickets sold.

Iowa’s Ethen Lofthouse took down Minnesota’s Kevin Steinhaus and upset the fifth-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds on Thursday night. Here’s how it happened, and above is Lofthouse’s thoughts after the match.

Iowa's Lofthouse upsets Minnesota's No. 5 Steinhaus

Hawkeye wrestler Ethan Lofthouse advanced to the 184 quarterfinals with a flurry of a finish

Storified by CR Gazette Sports· Thu, Mar 21 2013 18:45:46

Iowa’s Mark Ballweg – wrestling with a “tweaked” knee – advanced to the 141-pound quarterfinals with his second win of Thursday’s wrestling action in Des Moines. Here’s how it happened:

Iowa's Ballweg wrestles to 141 quarters

Hawkeye wrestler Mark Ballweg tweaked his knee at Big Tens but still advanced in Des Moines

Storified by CR Gazette Sports· Thu, Mar 21 2013 18:28:51

Iowa’s Matt McDonough didn’t give up any offensive points and beat Steve Micheff of Kent State. Here’s how it happened:

McDonough gets to 125 quarterfinals

Iowa's Matt McDonough didn't give up any offensive points and won 5-1 to advance

Storified by CR Gazette Sports· Thu, Mar 21 2013 18:22:26

DAYTON, Ohio — Thursday was the third anniversary. Korie Lucious got tweets and texts about it during the day.

As a Michigan State sophomore, Lucious shot into the national sporting spotlight on March 21, 2010. He caught a pass from Draymond Green, gave a slight head-fake to a much-taller Maryland defender, took one dribble to his left, and fired an open 3-pointer. It left his fingers with four-tenths of a second left in Michigan State’s second-round NCAA tournament game against the Terrapins and was all net.

The Spartans won, 85-83. A week later, they were on their way back to the Final Four.

Korie Lucious (Mike Hlas photo)

“Everybody talks about it a lot,” Lucious said Thursday. “But it’s old. I’m just trying to do something productive now.”

Lucious is now a 23-year-old, fifth-year senior trying to get Iowa State some future warm memories. The Cyclones face Notre Dame Friday night in second-round NCAA play at the University of Dayton Arena.

“As long as we play our game, I think we’ll be all right,” Lucious said. “If I bring the intensity early, the guys will follow.”

Hearing Lucious called a leader might invite sarcasm from Michigan State fans, but the player was good more often than not in helping ISU to an 11-7 Big 12 record.

Lucious averaged 10.2 points and 5.7 assists and about a 2-to-1 assists-to-turnovers ratio after a slow start before New Year’s.

Cyclones loosen before Thursday's practice at UD Arena (Mike Hlas photo)

What they remember in East Lansing — besides the shot against Maryland — is MSU Coach Tom Izzo kicking Lucious off the squad midway through his junior season for what the coach called “conduct detrimental to the program.”

This was a player who participated in 11 NCAA tourney games in two seasons for Michigan State, who played 61 minutes and scored 37 points over three Final Four games.

But it also was someone who had a 2011 DUI charge that was knocked down to misdemeanor reckless driving. Izzo suspended him for two games. It also was someone suspended one game by Izzo the season before for missing a class.

Fred Hoiberg added Lucious to his Iowa State program. Another former Spartan, Chris Allen, had already signed on with ISU. He had a fine senior season in Ames last year.

Lucious never claimed he was wronged. “I didn’t live up to the standards of the program,” he said at the time. “Unfortunately, I let my teammates, my coaches, and myself down.”

Three years after that 2010 Final Four, Lucious is back in the NCAA tourney. He’s running the offense. He must do better than he did at last week’s Big 12 tourney, when he went a combined 2-for-18 from the field in a win over Oklahoma and a loss to Kansas.

A hip problem bothered Lucious in Kansas City. “My side-to-side movement is not what I want it to be,” he said. “But I’m not really hurting like I was last week.”

Notre Dame will sport these shoes Friday (Mike Hlas photo)

Notre Dame starts three guards, two of them 6-foot-5. One, Jerian Grant, is a player Lucious will probably have to defend. Lucious is 5-11.

So he is banged-up player with a decided height disadvantage who is in a shooting slump. But he’s also someone who has gotten it done on postseason stages bigger than any of his teammates or Fighting Irish foes have known.

This week, Hoiberg called Lucious to his office for a chat.

“He brought me in and told me he still had confidence in me,” Lucious said. “He’s been through it himself. He told me he was 2-for-20-something at the Big 12 tournament. He bounced back at the NCAA tournament.”

Iowa State beat Missouri and Kansas at the 1995 Big 8 tourney before losing to Oklahoma State in the final.

“I was 1-for-16 against Missouri and 3-for-16 against Kansas,” Hoiberg said. “I couldn’t play much worse.”

But then he scored 15 points in ISU’s 64-61 first-round NCAA win over Florida.

The Cyclones needed Hoiberg in those NCAAs. They need Lucious now.

Irish at work Thursday (Mike Hlas photo)

Minnesota head wrestling coach J Robinson shouts to Kevin Steinhaus as he wrestles Iowa's Ethen Lofthouse in a 184 pound match during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Thursday, March 21, 2013. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

DES MOINES – It was painful to watch J Robinson get around Wells Fargo Arena.

Robinson hobbled about on crutches with an immobilizer wrapped about the knee of his left leg during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena.

The 66-year-old University of Minnesota head wrestling coach is recovering from a serious bout with a strep infection that nearly cost him his leg, and even his life, in January. Considering the alternative, his current situation isn’t terrible.

“The thing you find out is it is very easy to feel sorry for yourself, but the thing you gain is a perspective that as bad as it was there are people who have it worse than me,” Robinson said. “If all I have to do is walk around on crutches for 13 weeks, that ain’t a bad deal.”

Robinson, in his 27th year as Gophers head coach, suffered an abscess tooth during last year. He put off having it treated and the infection spread, settling in his left knee. He dismissed the pain, because he had experienced it before with the artificial joints.

Things became unbearable when Minnesota competed at the Southern Scuffle tournament in January.

“I couldn’t walk the second day of the tournament,” Robinson said. “I went back home and our team doctor drained it and sent me to the Mayo (Clinic).”

He underwent surgery to have his artificial knee removed and remained in the hospital for 12 days. Robinson had to rely on the nurses to help him move around and was restricted mainly to his bed. He received antibiotics treatment through a Picc IV line for six weeks after he was released.

“They said if I would have waited a day I would have either lost my leg or would have died,” Robinson said. “It was pretty serious. We didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.”

Robinson owns a 405-131-4 career dual mark, including a 154-60-3 record in the Big Ten. He has led the Gophers to three NCAA titles and a national runner-up finish last year. He was an assistant coach at the University of Iowa from 1976-84, serving as interim head coach for Dan Gable in 1983-84 season and guiding the Hawkeyes to Big Ten and NCAA titles.

Minnesota, two-time defending National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals champion, didn’t lose ground while Robinson was out. He was somewhat proud of the fact assistant coaches Brandon Eggum, Luke Becker and Jayson Ness kept the team headed in the right direction, during his ordeal.

“They carried on great,” Robinson said. “They just picked up the reins. What you want to do as a leader is develop a staff that when you’re gone it’s not noticeable. Everyone brings something. They did a great job.”

Minnesota went 8-2 in the opening session Thursday and was among the leaders in the team standings.

The Gazette’s J.R. Ogden and Sven Leff from the Cedar Rapids Recreation Department talk about upcoming events.