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24 Hawkeyes to Watch: Bobby Telford By Darren Miller T here aren't many situations when University of Iowa heavyweight wrestler Bobby Telford feels comfortable indoors. and hip-explosion movement. It will help me on getting out on bottom, and help me on driving through guys, especially on my leg attacks." Being on a wrestling mat is one of them. UI head coach Tom Brands sees a "let's get it on" attitude from Telford. Telford, a native of Hockessin, Del., is an avid hunter and deep-sea fisherman. He would rather be outdoors, not in. "I don't like to be cooped up too much," Telford said. When he is inside, Telford prefers the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex or center mat in CarverHawkeye Arena. A redshirt sophomore, he is used to having company when he heads for a home dual. "He's ready to show how far he has come," Brands said. "He's ready to make it real." In the offseason Telford spent time in the Hayden Fry Football Complex, improving under the tutelage of strength and conditioning guru Chris Doyle. "I call it world-renowned expertise in the strength department," Brands said of Doyle. "We needed to strengthen some things." "When I'm walking in two hours early and there are already people there, that's a great atmosphere," Telford said. "They are the best fans in the world; they let you know through their actions how they feel, and it helps motivate you as a person and a wrestler." Early returns have been favorable for Telford, who is ranked fifth and looking up with a keen eye at top-seeded Tony Nelson of Minnesota, the defending Big Ten Conference and NCAA champion. Telford and Nelson, a junior, met twice last season with Nelson claiming two, 2-0 victories. Telford has opened the 2012-13 season with 10 consecutive victories, including a 3-2 decision against No. 15 Matt Gibson of Iowa State on Dec. 1. The first five bouts were devoid of drama: Telford won three by fall and another by 19-2 technical fall. He has won four of the 10 matches by pin. Telford rattled off 14 straight wins as a freshman, then lost four in a row, before splitting varsity time with Blake Rasing, the 2011 Big Ten champion. That speaks to the progress Telford has made since his first season in the UI varsity lineup. As a freshman he went 29-9 with nine falls and reached All-America status by placing fifth at the NCAA Championships. But only one of his last 17 matches was decided by pin. "I have improved a lot of top-bottom stuff, a lot of explosion," Telford said. "I got a lot of lower body "I was doing things to get ready for other people, and I wasn't sticking to what I was good at and what had gotten me to that point," Telford said. "I was worrying too much about other people and what they were good at instead of worrying about what I was good at and getting to positions that I can score and win." Once the postseason rolled around, Telford was the one on a roll. He had split his six matches leading up to the conference tournament, but when 55