March 18, 2004
ST. LOUIS, MO – The University of Iowa wrestling team is in third place with 15 points after the first session of competition Thursday at the 2004 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, MO. Illinois leads the team race with 22 points, and Oklahoma State is in second place with 18. The Hawkeyes went 9-3 in the first session, advancing seven wrestlers to tonight’s championship second round and dropping three wrestlers to the consolation brackets.
Hawkeye seniors Luke Eustice (125), Cliff Moore (141), Tyler Nixt (174) and Ryan Fulsaas (197), sophomores Cole Pape (165) and Paul Bradley (184), and redshirt freshman Ryan Fuller (Hwt.) all advanced in the championship bracket. Iowa junior Trent Goodale (133) and sophomores Ty Eustice (149) and Joe Johnston (157) lost their first round matches and will be wrestling in the consolation bracket.
Eustice won his 25th collegiate season match and his 85th career match with a 12-2 major decision over Cal State Fullerton’s Jesse Miramontes in the first round. He also scored a 6-0 decision over Jose Leon of Boston in a pigtail match. Eustice will face Northwestern’s John Velez in the second round. He holds a 3-0 career advantage vs. Velez.
Moore recorded his 105th career victory with a 5:53 pin of Kevin Artis of UNC-Greensboro in the first round. He also defeated Binghamton’s Josh Ruff, 8-6, in q pigtail match. Moore will face Pittsburgh’s Ron Tarquino in the second round. It will be the first meeting between the two.
Pape led Navy’ Michael Barikian, 4-3 in the third period, but was called for a locked-hands penalty as time expired to take the match into sudden victory. He scored a takedown and three nearfall points in the sudden victory period to win 9-4. Pape will face second-seed Troy Letters of Lehigh in the second round. It will be the first meeting between the two.
Nixt recorded a 4-3 decision over Buffalo’s Ed Pawlak, improving to 32-2 on the season. He will face Ralph DeNisco of Wisconsin in the second round. Nixt holds a 2-0 career advantage vs. DeNisco.
Bradley recorded his sixth fall of the season, pinning Greg Gifford of Fresno State in 4:33 in a pigtail match. He then defeated Edinboro’s Alex Clemsen, 3-2, in the first round. Bradley will face Ohio State’s Blake Kaplan in the second round. He is 2-0 vs. Kaplan in his career.
Fulsaas earned a first round bye, and will face Chris Jones of Drexel in the second round. It will be the first meeting between the two.
Fuller scored a late takedown to defeat Iowa State’s Scott Coleman, 3-1. He will face Minnesota’s Cole Konrad in the second round. Fuller is 0-3 vs. Konrad in his career.
Tonight’s second round of competition includes one round each in the championship and consolation brackets. Competition started at 6:30 p.m. (CT) at the Savvis Center.
TEAM STANDINGS (Top 10 After Session I)
1. Illinois 22
2. Oklahoma State 18
3. Iowa 15
4. Cornell 14
Michigan 14
Oklahoma 14
7. Nebraska 13
8. Lehigh 12
Penn State 12
10. Tennessee-Chattanooga 11
IOWA’S SESSION I INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
125 – Luke Eustice (Iowa) dec. Jose Leon (Boston), 6-0
125 – Eustice (Iowa) maj. dec. Jesse Miramontes (Cal St. Fullerton), 12-2
133 – Matt Sanchez (Cal St. Bakersfield) maj. dec. Trent Goodale (Iowa), 14-6
141 – Cliff Moore (Iowa) dec. Josh Ruff (Binghamton), 8-6
141 – Moore (Iowa) pinned Kevin Artis (UNC-Greensboro), 5:53
149 – David Dies (Brown) dec. Ty Eustice (Iowa), 6-5
157 – Matt Lebe (W. Virginia) dec. Joe Johnston (Iowa), 10-7
165 – Cole Pape (Iowa) dec. Michael Barikian (Navy), 9-4 sv
174 – Tyler Nixt (Iowa) dec. Ed Pawlak (Buffalo), 4-3
184 – Paul Bradley (Iowa) pinned Greg Gifford (Fresno St.), 4:33
184 – Bradley (Iowa) dec. Alex Clemsen (Edinboro), 3-2
197 – Ryan Fulsaas (Iowa) received a bye
Hwt. – Ryan Fuller (Iowa) dec. Scott Coleman (Iowa St.), 3-1