Perry Advances To Finals

March 5, 2005

IOWA CITY, IA – The University of Iowa wrestling team is tied for fourth place with 75 points after two sessions of competition at the 2005 Big Ten Wrestling Championships in Iowa City. Illinois leads the team race with 114.5 points. The Hawkeyes still have eight wrestlers competing in the tournament, and seven are guaranteed qualifiers for the NCAA Championships.

Hawkeye redshirt freshman Mark Perry advanced to the 165-pound championship finals with his 8-4 decision over Minnesota’s Matt Nagel. Perry will face top-seed Ryan Churella of Michigan in the finals. He is 0-1 against the Wolverine in his career, losing a 7-5 decision in the Iowa-Michigan dual in February.

Hawkeye juniors Mario Galanakis (133), Ty Eustice (149), Joe Johnston (157) and Paul Bradley (184) and freshmen Alex Tsirtsis (141) and Matt Fields (Hwt.) will compete in Sunday’s consolation semifinals, while junior Adam Fellers (197) will wrestle for seventh place.

Sunday’s Session III starts at Noon with the consolation semifinals and seventh-place matches. The championship and consolation finals will start at approximately 2 p.m.

TEAM STANDINGS (After Session II)
Place Team Points
1. Illinois 114.5
2. Minnesota 95.5
3. Michigan 95.0
4. Iowa 75.0
4. Indiana 75.0
6. Wisconsin 65.0
7. Michigan State 58.5
8. Northwestern 56.5
8. Penn State 56.5
10. Purdue 33.5
11. Ohio State 26.5

IOWA’S INDIVIDUAL SESSION II RESULTS
Championship Semifinals
133 Mark Jayne (IL) dec. Mario Galanakis (I), 4-3
149 Craig Henning (WIS) dec. Ty Eustice (I), 4-2 SV
157 Alex Tirapelle (IL) dec. Joe Johnston (I), 9-5
165 Mark Perry (I) dec. Matt Nagel (MN), 8-4

Consolation Matches
125 Collin Cudd (WIS) maj. dec. Charlie Falck (I), 19-5
141 Alex Tsirtsis (I) maj. dec. Tommy Owen (MN), 12-3
174 James Yonushonis (PSU) dec. Luke Lofthouse (I), 8-4
184 Paul Bradley (I) pinned Alex Picazo (OSU), 0:55
184 Bradley (I) dec. Andy Rios (IN), 14-8
197 Ryan Flaherty (WIS) dec. Adam Fellers (I), 4-0
Hwt. Matt Fields (I) dec. Jake O’Brien (PUR), 7-1
Hwt. Fields (I) dec. Joel Edwards (PSU), 5-3