In the quarterfinals of the 2019 NCAA Championships, Alex Marinelli found himself on the heartbreak side of a 3-1 decision against Virginia Tech’s Mekhi Lewis. 

He was a 2018 Midlands champion, a 2019 Big Ten champion, and for the second year in a row he would be wrestling for third — at best. 

After finishing in seventh place in Pittsburgh, Marinelli came into the 2020 season itching for more. 

More dominance, more control, the Bull needed more of a bull mentality. 

“[I’m] working on not letting people figuring me out in a way that I can score with anything,” Marinelli said. “Score with any attack, no matter if they scout me or not . . . both physically and mentally.”

Join Ben Askren & Christian Pyles on the call for Iowa-Penn State (audio only)

He didn’t have that mindset at the beginning of what could not only be a staple season for Iowa as a team, but for him individually. His head coach is the first to admit that. No cause for alarm, but a flame needed to be lit. 

In a lineup full of bonus points, the No. 2 165-pounder in the country didn’t wrestle at his full potential against UT-Chattanooga, and he owned up to it. He wrestled down to his opponent, winning his first match of the 2019-20 season without bonus points to show for it. 

Head coach Tom Brands wanted more, and Marinelli had it in him. 

“We had some pretty good talks about,” Brands said. “Just, you know, why you’re here and between that three o’clock to six o’clock time period, what you’re putting into it. He’s always been a professional. He’s got the right attitude, the right lifestyle, and teammates love him. He’s a great leader. He’s what we need in our program.”

After two decisions against unranked opponents, Marinelli beat then-No. 3 Evan Wick of Wisconsin, an ongoing battle that the Bull has never lost. 

It kept coming. Marinelli got his first pin in 6:20 against Princeton and piled on four more in his following Midlands matches. 

“Just being more free and having fun,” Marinelli said. “Tom and Terry, they know that what I’ve got, just go out there and have fun. I’m just having a blast more. It’s just more fun with this team. I think that the drive is better and I’m loose.”

Now, if Marinelli has another gear to him that hasn’t been put on display yet, you can be sure he’ll kick into it on Friday when he faces off against No. 1 Vincenzo Joseph in a packed Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Being at home brings an edge to Iowa wrestling, and Marinelli — despite coming in from outside the state — knows just how important it is to win at home when you have those fans on your side. 

When asked about what his favorite memory wrestling in Carver has been, one single moment didn’t come to mind. Instead, Marinelli’s answer reflected exactly what he’s been working on all season. 

“Just staying gritty,” Marinelli said. “All those times, maybe Wick, having to get that takedown, maybe Isaiah White this year. Just finding a way to win when it gets tough. The score’s tied up, I have to go get another takedown.”

Anna attended the University of Iowa, where she covered multiple sports from volleyball to football to wrestling. She went to Pittsburgh in March 2019 for the NCAA DI Wrestling Championships and did live coverage of the entire event and Spencer Lee’s second-straight NCAA title. Follow her on Twitter.