Dec. 31, 2004
EVANSTON, IL – The University of Iowa wrestling team crowned three individual champions en route to a runner-up finish at the 2004 Midlands Championships. The Hawkeyes scored 119.0 points at the 42nd annual tournament. Illinois scored 130.5 points to win its second straight team title.
Winning titles for the Hawkeyes were top-seeds Ty Eustice (149) and Paul Bradley (184), and third-seed Mark Perry (165). Eustice defeated third-seed James Woodall of Penn State, 6-5, in the finals. The Hawkeye junior is now 12-1 on the season. Perry, a redshirt freshman, scored a 6-4 decision over fourth-seed Travis Paulson of Iowa State in the finals, improving to 10-1. Bradley recorded his 45th career victory with a 4-2 decision over third-seed Kurt Backes of Iowa State in the finals. Bradley remains undefeated at 8-0 in collegiate competition.
In the consolation bracket, Hawkeye junior Lucas Magnani (125) placed fourth and freshman Alex Tsirtsis (141) placed sixth. Magnani lost a 13-5 major decision to second-seed Efren Ceballos of Cal State Bakersfield in the third-place match. Tsirtsis, who was the sixth-seed, lost a 6-4 decision to third-seed and unattached competitor Max Meltzer in the fifth-place match.
Iowa (2-1) will open the 2005 portion of its dual meet season January 7 when it hosts Virginia Tech (8-2). Match time is set for 7 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Former University of Iowa wrestler and assistant coach Tom Brands is in his first season as head coach of the Hokies. He is assisted by former Hawkeye wrestlers Doug Schwab and Lee Fullhart.
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS (Top 10 Teams)
1. Illinois 130.5
2. Iowa 119.0
3. Iowa State 110.5
4. Central Michigan 101.0
5. Michigan State 83.5
6. Northern Iowa 76.5
7. Northwestern 64.5
8. Indiana 63.5
9. Penn State 60.5
10. Lehigh 53.5
SESSION IV INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
125 Pounds – Third Place Match
#2 Efren Ceballos (CSB) maj. dec. Lucas Magnani (I), 13-5
141 Pounds – Fifth Place Match
#3 Max Meltzer (UNA) dec. #5 Alex Tsirtsis (I), 6-4
149 Pounds – Championship Finals
#1 Ty Eustice (I) dec. #3 James Woodall (PSU), 6-5
165 Pounds – Championship Finals
#3 Mark Perry (I) dec. #4 Travis Paulson (ISU), 6-4
184 Pounds – Championship Finals
#1 Paul Bradley (I) dec. #3 Kurt Backes (ISU), 4-2