Iowa Hawkeye All-Americans (from left) Phil Keddy, Daniel Dennis, Dan Erekson, Brent Metcalf, Jay Borschel, Joey Slaton, Ryan Morningstar. University of Iowa photo.

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The edge of the mat meant nothing to Daniel Dennis and Montell Marion.

It was nearing the end of Tuesday afternoon's practice in the Carver-Hawkeye Arena wrestling room and the two Hawkeye teammates were battling each other like the national title was on the line.

Drenched with perspiration as they scrapped for a takedown, Dennis and Marion tumbled off the edge of the practice mat. Their momentum carried them into the first row of the bleachers where they continued to fight for an edge.

Finally, Iowa coach Tom Brands stepped in and hollered "Break," sending the wrestlers back onto the mat.

That intense attitude is what has pushed the Iowa Hawkeyes back to the top of the college wrestling world. The nation's most dominant team in the 1980s and 1990s under legendary coach Dan Gable, Iowa struggled earlier this decade before Brands returned to restore order.

Iowa has won the last two NCAA team titles and is favored to make it a three-peat this season. The Hawkeyes open this season ranked No. 1.

"This team is very hungry and very motivated," Dennis said. "I don't think anyone committed to our program was really happy with how it transpired and how we won last year. It was impressive how we were still able to walk away with the title - but I don't think anyone was really excited about it. We didn't have any individual champions last year, so that means a lot of guys obviously fell short of their goals."

The Hawkeyes won every dual meet and every tournament during a strong 2008-09 season, but the very end of the season did not sit well with Iowa.

The Hawkeyes held off Ohio State for the team title. Iowa's only individual finalist, 2008 Hodge Trophy winner Brent Metcalf, was upset in the 2009 finals by North Carolina State's Darrion Caldwell.

Metcalf (149 pounds) is the leader on a senior-laden Iowa team that could have as many as seven All-Americans in its lineup. Iowa's Daniel Dennis (133), Joey Slaton (141), Ryan Morningstar (165), Jay Borschel (174), Phil Keddy (184) and Dan Erekson (heavyweight) have all reached the All-American podium at the national tournament.

Starters Chad Beatty (197) and Matt Ballweg (157) also return for Iowa, which has won its last 38 dual meets.

"There is some unfinished business - that's a good phrase to describe the way we felt about last season," Brands said. "We have a lot of guys who are fired up for this season. We are a little bit thin in the national championship department in this room from an individual standpoint. We had one champion in 2007, two in 08 and we didn't have any in 09. The team championship doesn't quite carry the weight of individual championships. If you take care of business in your weight class, you are going to have what you want and you are going to help your team the most. That's the approach."

Promising freshman Matt McDonough also could make a big splash at 125. Marion, another talented wrestler, will battle for the starting spot at 141.

"McDonough is separating himself," Brands said. "He's one of these guys who is not going to look back. He's going to move forward and continue to get better."

Metcalf won an NCAA title during his first Hawkeye season in 2008 and was heavily favored to add title No. 2 last March in St. Louis. But he was upset by Caldwell. That snapped Metcalf's 69-match winning streak.

"Metcalf is a man on a mission, he really is," Brands said. "He got dealt a heart-wrenching loss and he is fired up to come back from that. He's made some adjustments, and that will make him better this year. He works very hard and he competes very hard. He's a great role model for our guys, on and off the mat." 

The high-energy Metcalf also is a top international prospect in freestyle. He placed second at the 2009 U.S. Nationals.

For now, his focus is on his final college season.

"We've got a pretty talented group of guys here who can go out and put a whole lot of points on the board," Metcalf said. "Being a senior maybe means they've been through it before and they should understand and grasp the idea of how to go and do it. Does that mean it is automatic? Does it mean that because they're a senior and because it matters more this year that it's going to happen? No way."

Iowa's top challenger entering the season appears to be second-ranked Iowa State. The Hawkeyes wrestle at Iowa State on Dec. 6 at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.

The Hawkeyes, judging by the intensity of Tuesday's practice, will hit the ground running when they open the season Friday by hosting the Iowa City Duals.

"Our guys are ready to go," Brands said. "They're ready to get out there and get after it. We have some unfinished business to take care of."