Friday night actually featured two Iowa-Iowa State showdowns: one in basketball and one in swimming. How do you gin up interest in a swimming dual at Iowa? You bring in two guys who know a lot about drawing crowds to dual meets at Iowa: Tom and Terry Brands. The Brands brothers participated in a 50-meter freestyle swimming race at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center ahead of the Iowa-Iowa State swimming dual on Friday night. Iowa Corn agreed to donate $250 to a charity chosen by the winner.
THE OUTFITS for the Big Swim-off tomorrow... Terry's outfit on the left; Tom's outfit on the right! @IowaHawkeyeSwim pic.twitter.com/prIreb4HCE
— Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) December 11, 2014
SPOILER ALERT: That's not what they wore. Although it would have been much funnier if they had.
.@Hawks_Wrestling Terry Brands adjusts goggles before Brands vs Brands 50 freestyle #Hawkeyes @gazettedotcom @KCRG pic.twitter.com/fQx0rZfRAi
— Stephen Mally (@stephenmally) December 13, 2014
"Ze goggles, zey do nothing... to help me swim faster!"
So who won? Tom Brands bested his brother, 35.52 seconds to 37.72 seconds. You can find the full race below (with bonus Dan Gable appearance):
Warner Bros. already tabbed Jason Momoa to play Aquaman in an upcoming movie, but maybe they want to reconsider:
Your Brands vs Brands 50 freestyle winner with a time of 35.52 @Hawks_Wrestling Tom Brands #Hawkeyes @gazettedotcom pic.twitter.com/YyEZa53ptN
— Stephen Mally (@stephenmally) December 13, 2014
Evil's got no chance when Tom Brands puts it in an underwater headlock.
Ed. Note: I've been slacking on real wrestling coverage, I realize. Mea culpa. More coming soon!