Feb. 1, 2004
IOWA CITY, IA – The University of Iowa wrestling team improved to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten with its 31-6 win over Michigan State Sunday afternoon in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes plowed through the first nine matches, scoring team bonus points in four, before Michigan State recorded a pin in the final match. The Spartans fall to 1-8 overall, 0-4 in the Big Ten.
Iowa got major decisions from sophomore Joe Johnston (157), redshirt freshman Mark Mueller (165), senior Tyler Nixt (174) and senior Luke Eustice (125). Johnston recorded five takedowns, four nearfall points and a reversal in his 19-5 win over Matt McCarty. Mueller held a 9-0 lead with riding time in the third period of his match against Mike Escobedo, but suffered a knee injury that temporarily stopped competition. Mueller continued the match, but received two stall warnings in the last minute that resulted in a 10-1 final score. Michigan State’s Anton Hall took Nixt down in the first 30 seconds, but that was the last of his offensive scoring as Nixt recorded seven takedowns in the match, including four in the third period, to win the match 17-7. It was Nixt’s 25th season win and the 105th win of his career. Eustice’s match started off the same with Craig Trombly recording a takedown in the first 10 seconds, but Eustice quickly regained control and led 18-6 with one minute left in the match. Trombly didn’t give up, taking the Hawkeye senior to his back, but neither would Eustice who got the escape, another takedown and two more nearfall points as time expired. Eustice won the match 24-10, improving to 18-1 overall and 10-0 in dual competition.
The Hawkeyes got decisions from senior Cliff Moore (141), sophomore Ty Eustice (149), sophomore Paul Bradley (184), senior Ryan Fulsaas (197) and redshirt freshman Ryan Fuller (Hwt.). Moore opened the dual with a 3-0 win over Andy Simmons. Moore, who rode Simmons the entire second period and accumulated a riding time total of 2:53, scored on a reversal in the third period. He improves to 21-2 overall and 11-1 in dual competition. Eustice scored four points in the third period, including two nearfall points, to defeat Ryan L’Amoreaux. Bradley scored a takedown with one second remaining in sudden victory to defeat Nick Mesyn, 6-4. Fulsaas scored the last six points of the match to defeat Jeff Clemens, 8-4. Fuller picked up his second win in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and his 13th overall with his 3-1 win over Mike Keenan.
Hawkeye Luke Eustice will compete in the 38th annual NWCA All-Star dual Monday night in Cedar Falls. He will face Michigan’s Mark Moos in the 125-pound match. Eustice is 1-0 vs. Moos, winning a 13-3 major decision in Ann Arbor on Jan. 23. Competition is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. in the UNI-Dome. The team will not compete next week, and will resume competition with a Big Ten road trip to Wisconsin (Feb. 13) and Minnesota (Feb. 15).
MEET RESULTS
Iowa 31, Michigan State 6
141 Cliff Moore (I) dec. Andy Simmons (MSU), 3-0
149 Ty Eustice (I) dec. Ryan L’Amoreaux (MSU), 5-2
157 Joe Johnston (I) maj. dec. Matt McCarty (MSU), 19-5
165 Mark Mueller (I) maj. dec. Mike Escobedo (MSU), 10-1
174 Tyler Nixt (I) maj. dec. Anton Hall (MSU), 17-7
184 Paul Bradley (I) dec. Nate Mesyn (MSU), 6-4 sv
197 Ryan Fulsaas (I) dec. Jeff Clemens (MSU), 8-4
Hwt. Ryan Fuller (I) dec. Mike Keenan (MSU), 3-1
125 Luke Eustice (I) maj. dec. Craig Trombly (MSU), 24-10
133 Tony Greathouse (MSU) pinned Trent Goodale (I), 2:33