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73 double-overtime loss to fourth-ranked Mike McMullan. He is the only Hawkeye to occupy a top spot this season. But perhaps the biggest reason for the separation is the emergence at 149. Brandon Sorensen was unranked and in a three-way battle for a starting spot when the season opened Nov. 15. Today he is the only Division I wrestler in the country with wins over two reigning NCAA finalists. "I knew all along you can beat anyone you want to if you put your mind to it," Sorensen said aer knocking off defending champion Jason Tsirtsis. "We've been training hard, I've got the best coaches, and they're pushing me." Two weeks before his 3-2 overtime win over Tsirtsis, Sorensen defeated NCAA runner-up Josh Kindig, 6-1, on Oklahoma State's home mat. He has won four straight against ranked opponents. His 24 wins lead the team, and his only two losses have been to teammate Brody Grothus (3-2) at the Luther Open, and current No. 1 David Habat of Edinboro (3-2) at the Midlands Championships. It adds up to what you think would be considered an admirable resume. "I like it a lot," Sorensen said of his body of work, "but then again it could be better. ere could be wider scores and slam the door shut on them to give them no hope. at's what I want to happen." As of today the votes are unanimous, and so are Hawkeye fans. ey want to see Sorensen get what he wants. Ranked No. 1 with one of a kind. at is where the University of Iowa wrestling team finds itself heading into the final days of January. e Hawkeyes have held the top spot in the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll since the preseason poll debuted 12 weeks ago. Iowa was No. 1 on Nov. 11 with five first-place votes. Minnesota shared the same number of first- place votes, but the Gophers sat in the No. 2 spot, nine points behind the Hawkeyes. Fast forward 87 days and the Hawkeyes have created some separation. With nine wrestlers ranked in the top eight at their respective weights, Iowa enters a Jan. 30 meeting at Minnesota as the unanimous No. 1, with the Gophers riding close at No. 2. Both teams are 10-0 overall. e Hawkeyes are 5-0 in the Big Ten. e Gophers are 6-0. So why the separation? Minnesota has two top-ranked wrestlers — Chris Dardanes at 133 pounds and Dylan Ness at 157. Iowa doesn't have a No. 1, but the lineup shows balance. And it's a top-heavy balance. Seven wrestlers are ranked fih or better, including omas Gilman (125), Cory Clark (133), and Josh Dziewa (141) at No. 5; Nathan Burak (197) at No. 3; and Brandon Sorensen (149), Mike Evans (174) and Bobby Telford (285) at No. 2. Telford (18-1) spent three weeks at No. 1 before suffering his first loss of the season Jan. 23, a FEBRUARY SCHEDULE Jan. 30 at Minnesota Feb. 6 at Maryland Feb. 8 at Penn State Feb. 13 Michigan Feb. 15 Virginia Feb. 21 Cliff Keen National Duals Feb. 22 Cliff Keen National Duals