Iowa’s Real Woods embraces 6-year college wrestling journey as his final NCAA meet approaches

IOWA CITY — Real Woods has been forged in the fires of his experiences.

The successful and smooth stints have been much more prevalent than the rough and bumpy stretches, but both have built him into the wrestler — and person — he is today.

Woods has embraced it all.

“I’ve had quite a journey this season that wasn’t particularly as expected, but it’s not something I run from in my life, or something I’m scared of happening,” Woods said. “These losses and these shortcomings are something that defines my life and how my life has gone, previously. It’s something that has catapulted triumphs in my life.

“I think this is another one of those scenarios where those losses and shortcomings have changed me, whether it’s mentally, spiritually, physically (or) technically.”

Iowa’s senior 141-pounder will attempt to merge all the exploits to be his best version when he competes in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., beginning Thursday at 11 a.m. He is one of nine Hawkeyes in the field.

Woods (18-3) enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed and opens against South Dakota State’s No. 30 Clay Carlson (17-7).

“I’m ready to go,” Woods said. “The feelings are good.”

From Stanford to Iowa, Real Woods has ranked among top wrestlers

Woods has been a standout since his freshman season at Stanford, going 19-1 and winning a Pac-12 title. He earned National Wrestling Coaches Association All-America honors that season when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the national tournament. He reached the NCAA tournament again as a sophomore and placed sixth in his third appearance.

Woods transferred for his final two seasons, posting a 20-1 record and claiming NCAA runner-up honors at 141 last season. He was ranked No. 1 for most of this season. Consecutive losses to Michigan’s Sergio Lemley and Penn State’s Beau Bartlett bumped him from the top spot in the polls.

His only other loss was to Ohio State’s top-seeded Jesse Mendez.

“The things that I’ve focused on I know that need changing and putting the effort and energy into changing those,” said Woods, a 2023 Big Ten champion. “I think I’ve done that and that is why I say I am ready.”

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Woods demonstrates a knack for takedowns and turns when he is at his best. He also permeated a calm, poised demeanor as he jogged smoothly from the Carver-Hawkeye Arena tunnel to center mat during home duals or remained in control in matches.

“He’s a cool customer,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “That’s how he operates. He’s a handful.

“We just have to keep him wrestling for the full seven minutes. Sometimes it’s not like a gas tank or energy issue. It’s just like you’re up, 7-0, with four minutes to go the match isn’t over. You have to keep your foot on that gas. We don’t want him too calm. You want him in that balance.”

Even though minds can wander, especially in front of electric crowds and loud fans, Woods said his outward behavior is indicative of what is going on inward.

“I’m certain whenever you see me calm and collected that’s what is going through my mind,” Woods said. “I think I do a good job of staying that way because I remind myself that life is about what you can control. The things you can’t control shouldn’t worry you. I know what I can control. I know I have those things under control and because of that I can be calm and of sound mind.”

Woods wasn’t always that way. He admitted he would feed off the energy surrounding a tournament, like his trips to Tulsa Nationals. It was hard not to get amped up in that atmosphere.

“Most times it would be a good thing,” he said. “Sometimes it would be a little bit of a disadvantage when you run yourself down being so excited before the match.

“It’s something I’ve developed more and more. Also, it’s something that’s important even during the match. Not just before in your preparation, but while the match is happening. If something wrong happens, you get taken down or scored on or maybe you didn’t score on an attack that you thought you were going to score you’ve got to remain calm and clear-minded.”

Woods, who started wrestling at the age of 6 in Albuquerque, N.M., before moving to wrestle for Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, Ill., owns an appreciation for the chances he has received. The ones his parents, Raymond and Jennifer Woods, sacrificed for and provided.

They also helped foster gratitude the little things each day.

“There have been a lot of people to help instill that into me,” Woods said. “My parents, I’ve seen firsthand throughout my life, even themselves, have been extremely grateful for any opportunities in front of them.

“I think it rubbed off very easily. They wanted me to be the kind of person to be grateful to be where I’m at, because where we come from isn’t expected to get to a place where I am now.”

‘Every day I wake up and try to notice and point out the things that I’m grateful for

Woods has qualified for five NCAA tournaments. He said his experience will diminish the nerves since he knows what to expect. Kind of a been-there, done-that vibe.

Brands said the key is to keep building, do the things he does well to score points and stockpile as many as possible during the entire bout.

“There’s conversations every day with these guys,” Brands said. “He knows you have to put your foot on the gas.”

Woods’ college career will conclude this weekend. He said he will take time to review the last six years after the tournament is complete. All the wins and losses, good and bad and peaks and valleys that have formed him.

“I think there’s always time for reflection. I don’t think right now is the best time,” Woods said. “Of course, I always feel like every day I wake up and try to notice and point out the things that I’m grateful for. Some days it’s just general. Some days it’s specific. A lot of those things have to do with my wrestling career and my journey as a competitor.”

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