Feb. 20, 2004
IOWA CITY, IA – The University of Iowa wrestling team won three of its last four matches to defeat Ohio State, 22-18, Friday night in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes won a total of six matches in their final dual of the season, including four team bonus-point victories, but the Buckeyes scored team bonus points in three of their four matches to threaten an Iowa team win.
With the win Iowa improves to 140-10 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It was also Senior Night for the Hawkeyes, as seniors Jason D’Agata, Luke Eustice, Ryan Fulsaas, Cliff Moore and Tyler Nixt all made their final appearances in Carver-Hawkeye.
Hawkeye sophomore Joe Johnston started Iowa off to a 4-0 lead with his 16-7 major decision over James King at 157. Ohio State took a 5-4 lead when John Clark scored a 20-5 technical fall over redshirt freshman Mark Mueller at 165. Senior Tyler Nixt snared his eighth consecutive season win with a 20-6 major decision over Anthony Magistrelli at 174. Sophomore Paul Bradley followed up at 184 with a 5-3 decision over Blake Kaplan to pick up his 30th career win. Ohio State’s J.D. Bergman silenced the crowd and tied the team score at 11-11 with his 4:41 pin over senior Ryan Fulsaas. Top-ranked Ohio State heavyweight Tommy Rowlands boosted the Buckeyes’ lead to 15-11 with his 16-7 major decision over redshirt freshman Ryan Fuller. Senior Luke Eustice tied the team score at 15-15 with his 17-5 major decision over Jermaine Jones, picking up his 10th consecutive win and ending the dual meet season undefeated at 13-0. But Jesse Leng’s 10-6 decision over Hawkeye sophomore Trent Goodale at 133 gave the Buckeyes an 18-15 lead. Iowa senior Cliff Moore recorded his 100th career victory with a 22-6 technical fall over Theo Dotson in 6:00 at 141, making the team score 19-18 in Iowa’s favor. It was also Moore’s 11th consecutive win of the season. In the final match of the night, Iowa sophomore Ty Eustice and Ohio State senior Jeff Ratliff each scored an escape in regulation, but it was Eustice who scored a takedown with 26 seconds left in sudden victory to win his match, 3-1, and give Iowa the 22-18 team win.
Iowa ends the 2003-04 dual meet season at 11-4, 6-2 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes’ next competition will be at the 2004 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, scheduled for March 6-7 in Columbus, OH. All matches will be held at St. John Arena.
MEET RESULTS
Iowa 22, Ohio State 18
157 Joe Johnston (I) maj. dec. James King (OSU), 16-7
165 John Clark (OSU) tech. fall Mark Mueller (I), 20-5
174 Tyler Nixt (I) maj. dec. Anthony Magistrelli (OSU), 20-6
184 Paul Bradley (I) dec. Blake Kaplan (OSU), 5-3
197 J.D. Bergman (OSU) pinned Ryan Fulsaas (I), 4:41
Hwt. Tommy Rowlands (OSU) maj. dec. Ryan Fuller (I), 16-7
125 Luke Eustice (I) maj. dec. Jermaine Jones (OSU), 17-5
133 Jesse Leng (OSU) dec. Trent Goodale (I), 10-6
141 Cliff Moore (I) tech. fall Theo Dotson (OSU), 22-6 in 6:00
149 Ty Eustice (I) dec. Jeff Ratliff (OSU), 3-1 sv