Dec. 4, 2005
CEDAR FALLS, IA – University of Iowa junior Eric Luedke won the 165-pound title at Sunday’s UNI Open. Luedke, who defeated Hawkeye junior Joe Uker, 7-2, in the finals, was one of Iowa’s seven placewinners and 20 competitors at the annual tournament in Cedar Falls. Luedke transferred from Colby College in Colby, KS, and is in his first season with the Hawkeyes. Northern Iowa officials estimated over 350 wrestlers competed in the one-day tournament in the UNI Dome.
Also placing for Iowa were junior Alex Grunder (149-5th), sophomore Matt Fields (Hwt.-2nd), and freshmen Ryan Morningstar (157-6th), Chad Beatty (174-3rd) and Phillip Keddy (184-5th). Fields scored a major decision and three decisions, including one in sudden victory, before losing a 9-3 match in the finals to Les Sigmon, who was competing unattached. Morningstar, of Lisbon, IA, advanced to the quarterfinals before losing the last three matches of the day by medical forfeit. Beatty, from Wilton, IA, won six straight matches in the consolation bracket, including a 4:28 pin of Northern Iowa’s Curt Zinnel in the finals, to place third.
Iowa (2-0) will host Northern Iowa (0-1) Thursday at 7 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. It will be Iowa’s first home dual of the 2005-06 season.