By Kyle Klingman, W.I.N. Staff Writer
Iowa State senior Kurt Backes feels good these days about his current situation in Ames. With Cael Sanderson taking over as the new head wrestling coach and Cody Sanderson and Tim Hartung coming in as assistants, Backes feels relaxed knowing that he can put his faith in the people surrounding him.
Backes is also proud to call Iowa his home. Hailing from Neshanic, N.J., Backes purchased a house this past summer, making a commitment to post-collegiate wrestling and to the state.
“I’m not from New Jersey any more, I’m an Iowan now,” said Backes. “It’s definitely a different place than New Jersey. It’s not where you are; it’s the people you meet. I’ve had a blast here. I’ve met a lot of great people and I’ve surrounded myself with a lot of great people in this state. New Jersey is just where I came from, that’s all.”
Despite his current fondness for Iowa, Backes came to the Hawkeye state (or Cyclone state as Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard would say) with some reservations. Known as the agricultural capital of the world, Iowa has a tendency to get misunderstood by those who have never visited.
“When you think of Iowa, you think of flat cornfields and corn-fed women,” said Backes. “I met a really nice girl here and she’s not corn-fed at all and not what I expected. Her family is a farming family but she’s anything but corn-fed. It’s definitely more loose and slower paced than what I’m used to with all the horn honking out East. There’s less stress too.”
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