March 6, 2004
COLUMBUS, OH – The University of Iowa wrestling team is in second place with 64 points after the first session of the 2004 Big Ten Championships in Columbus, OH. Defending team champion Minnesota leads the team standings with 64.5 points. The Hawkeyes went 10-3 during the first session, advancing seven wrestlers to tonight’s semifinals. Iowa collected team bonus points in five of the wins.
Iowa’s top seeds Luke Eustice (125), Cliff Moore (141) and Tyler Nixt (174) all advanced to the quarterfinals in fine fashion. Eustice recorded a 5-1 decision over Penn State’s Adam Smith to improve to 22-1 on the season. He will face Indiana’s Joe Dubuque in the semifinals. Moore recorded his 25th season win with a 16-5 major decision over Michigan’s Clark Forward. Moore will face Minnesota’s Tommy Owen in the semifinals. Nixt went 2-0 in the first session with major decisions over Michigan State’s Anton Hall (14-6) and Ohio State’s Anthony Magistrelli (16-4). He will face Illinois’ Pete Friedl in the semifinals.
Also advancing to tonight’s quarterfinals were senior Ryan Fulsaas (197), sophomores Ty Eustice (149) and Paul Bradley (184) and redshirt freshman Cole Pape (165). Fulsaas recorded his 20th win of the season with a 44-second pin over Penn State’s Joel Edwards. He will face Ohio State’s J.D. Bergman in the semifinals. Eustice recorded the team’s first fall of the tournament with a 6:53 pin over Northwestern’s Josh Ballard for his 50th career win. He will face Matt Storniolo of Penn State in the semifinals. Bradley scored his 20th season win with a 5-2 decision over Blake Kaplan of Ohio State. He will face Josh McLay of Minnesota in the semifinals. McLay upset top-seed Brian Glynn of Illinois in the quarterfinals, and holds a 1-0 advantage in his series with Bradley. Pape was the other Hawkeye to go 2-0 in the first session with wins over Purdue’s Bryce Markley (8-3) and Wisconsin’s Kelly Flaherty (7-5). He will face top-seed Johnny Clark of Ohio State in the semifinals.
Three other Hawkeyes are still alive in the consolation bracket. Sophomores Trent Goodale (133) and Joe Johnston (157), and redshirt freshman Ryan Fuller (Hwt.) will wrestle in the first round consolation matches tonight. Tonight’s second session begins at 5 p.m. (CT) in St. John Arena.
Team Standings (After Session I)
1. Minnesota 64.5
2. Iowa 64
3. Michigan 50.5
4. Penn State 49
Illinois 49
6. Purdue 41
7. Ohio State 36.5
8. Wisconsin 27
9. Indiana 20
10. Northwestern 8
11. Michigan State 3
Iowa’s Individual Match Results From Session I
125 Luke Eustice (I) dec. Adam Smith (PSU), 5-1
133 Quincy Osborn (MN) dec. Trent Goodale (I), 6-5
141 Cliff Moore (I) maj. dec. Clark Forward (MICH), 16-5
149 Ty Eustice (I) pinned Josh Ballard (NW), 6:53
157 Brad Harper (PUR) dec. Joe Johnston (I), 7-5 SV2
165 Cole Pape (I) dec. Bryce Markley (PUR), 8-3
165 Pape dec. Kelly Flaherty (WIS), 7-5
174 Tyler Nixt (I) maj. dec. Anton Hall (MSU), 14-6
174 Nixt (I) maj. dec. Anthony Magistrelli (OSU), 16-4
184 Paul Bradley (I) dec. Blake Kaplan (OSU), 5-2
197 Ryan Fulsaas (I) pinned Joel Edwards (PSU), 0:44
Hwt. Ryan Fuller (I) dec. Jarek Horton (WIS), 5-0
Hwt. Tommy Rowlands (OSU) tech. fall Fuller (I), 18-2