Feb. 4, 2005
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – The Hawkeye wrestling team improved to 7-4 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten with a 23-16 win over Penn State Friday night in University Park, PA. A crowd of 3,207 watched the dual in Penn State’s Rec Hall. Penn State fell to 8-8 overall, 2-3 in the Big Ten.
The Nittany Lions started the dual off strong at 125 pounds with Adam Smith’s 4:34 pin over Hawkeye freshman Charlie Falck. Iowa responded by winning the next five matches and scoring 20 unanswered team points. Iowa junior Mario Galanakis started the roll at 133, winning an 8-4 decision over Bryan Heller. Freshman Alex Tsirtsis followed up at 141 with his first win of the Big Ten dual season, scoring a 6-4 decision in sudden victory over DeWitt Driscoll. At 149, Iowa junior Ty Eustice scored a match-ending 24-9 technical fall over Jack Decker in 6:46 to improve to 18-3 on the season. Hawkeye junior Joe Johnston followed that with a 23-10 major decision over Nate Galloway at 157, improving to 17-4 in collegiate competition. Iowa redshirt freshman Mark Perry added a pin in 2:02 over Jarrad Turner at 165 to give the Hawkeyes their biggest lead of the dual. Perry is 17-2 this season, and leads Iowa with 38 team points scored in dual competition.
Penn State started a roll of its own, winning matches at 174, 184 and 197, and trimming a 14-point Iowa lead to four. At 174, Penn State’s James Yonushonis scored a 12-4 major decision over Iowa freshman Luke Lofthouse. Nittany Lion Eric Bradley improved to 4-1 in his career series with Iowa junior Paul Bradley, scoring a 3-2 decision at 184. At 197, Phil Davis pulled Penn State within striking distance with his 8-2 decision over Hawkeye junior Adam Fellers. Penn State needed a major decision or more at heavyweight to win the dual, but Hawkeye freshman Matt Fields spoiled the Nittany Lion comeback with his 4-2 decision over Joel Edwards. Fields improved to 17-5 on the season with the win.
Iowa will face Ohio State (7-7, 0-3 in the Big Ten) Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Columbus, OH. The match will be held in St. John Arena.
MEET RESULTS
Iowa 23, Penn State 16
125 Adam Smith (P) pinned Charlie Falck (I), 4:34
133 Mario Galanakis (I) dec. Bryan Heller (P), 8-4
141 Alex Tsirtsis (I) dec. DeWitt Driscoll (P), 6-4 SV
149 Ty Eustice (I) tech. fall Jack Decker (P), 24-9 in 6:46
157 Joe Johnston (I) maj. dec. Nate Galloway (P), 23-10
165 Mark Perry (I) pinned Jarrad Turner (P), 2:02
174 James Yonushonis (P) maj. dec. Luke Lofthouse (I), 12-4
184 Eric Bradley (P) dec. Paul Bradley (I), 3-2
197 Phil Davis (P) dec. Adam Fellers (I), 8-2
Hwt. Matt Fields (I) dec. Joel Edwards (P), 4-2