Brennan Swafford enjoys the process of improvement in the University of Iowa wrestling program

IOWA CITY — Brennan Swafford faced perhaps the biggest decision of his life.

After winning back-to-back NAIA national wrestling championships for Graceland University, Swafford wanted to challenge himself to be the best wrestler he can be.

With aspirations of competing internationally after college, Swafford knew he needed to train at the highest level.

So rather than return to Graceland and pursue a third national title, the Mediapolis High School graduate decided to pull up stakes and join the defending NCAA Division I national champion University of Iowa wrestling team.

Swafford is redshirting this season as a 174 pounder, training with some of the best wrestlers and coaches in the world.

There is no guarantee that Swafford will ever see the mat in a black and gold singlet for Iowa. But by just being in the Iowa room and training at a high level, Swafford will have the opportunity to be the best wrestler he can be.

"It's one of those things where I want to try to do the international scene if I can improve a lot," Swafford said. "If I am considering doing the international stuff, I have to be the best wrestler I can be. Coming to Iowa was the obvious choice. This is the top place in the nation and the best in the world. This is where I need to be to get to where I want to be."

More: Meet Clarissa Chun, Iowa’s women’s wrestling coach and a longtime women’s wrestling trailblazer

Swafford, a state runner-up as a senior at Mediapolis, posted a 72-13 record in three seasons at Graceland, earning All-America status three times. He placed seventh at nationals as a freshman, then won national championships the next two years.

Already since transferring to Iowa, Swafford has gone against better competition in the Iowa practice room than he would in a whole season at Graceland. With national champions Alex Marinelli and Michael Kemerer available to spar with on occasion, Swafford has no choice but get better or get whipped up on.

"It was pretty surreal at first," Swafford said. "You watch these guys on Youtube and you're like, 'Wow. These guys are seriously good.' Now I am on the same team with them. These guys are like celebrities and now they are my teammates. It was a little nerve-wracking at first.

"When I first came into the room I was like, 'Holy crap. There are so many legends associated with this room. It's crazy to think I am training in the same room. But now it's like my sanctuary. This is where I come to get better."

Swafford is 4-2 this season competing unattached in open tournaments. He finished second at both the Luther Open and the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open.

For Swafford, it's all part of the process of getting better, striving to reach the level he want to be at. It's all about being the best wrestler he can be.

"There are a lot of details that go into every single move.," Swafford said. "I have a lot of things to clean up. My gas tank is pretty much unstoppable. We practice hand fighting, constant movement. We do a lot of two and three-mile runs in the mornings and in the evenings. We have a lot of live goes in practice. It's hard not to be in the best shape when you are going against this caliber of athletes every day."

More: What’s in a walk-out song? A look at the pre-match music choices for Iowa wrestlers

After a year of practicing in the room, Swafford will compete for a spot in the starting lineup next year. But for now he is soaking in the knowledge like a sponge, adding to his repertoire on a daily basis.

For Swafford, it is all part of the process of becoming the absolute best wrestler he can possibly be.

"I learn something new at practice every single day. I can't wait to get up and get in the room and learn. There is always something I need to work on," Swafford said. "It's a growing process for a lot of guys, including myself. It's hard to get the style down, but once you do, it's hard to beat. The starters are hard to score on. They are at the top level and that's where I want to be, It's all part of the process."

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Brennan Swafford is a 174-pound redshirt on Iowa's wrestling team