Jan. 4, 2006
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THIS WEEK
Iowa (3-0) will host top-ranked and defending NCAA Champion Oklahoma State (3-0) Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes will try to regain the national dual meet attendance record at the dual. The current national attendance record of 15,646 was set February 1, 2002, when Iowa wrestled at Minnesota.
ON THE AIR
Radio – Morrie Adams and four-time Hawkeye all-American Mark Ironside will call this season’s action live on AM-800 KXIC. To listen to the broadcast online, go to the wrestling schedule page on www.hawkeyesports.com. Broadcasts are available using the CSTV All-Access subscription, which can be purchased for $6.95 per month or $49.95 per year.
Television – Iowa Public Television, in its 30th season of televising college wrestling, will air a one-hour tape-delayed telecasts of Iowa’s dual vs. Oklahoma State. Tim Johnson, Jim Gibbons and former Iowa Wrestling Coach Dan Gable will call the action.
HEAD COACH Jim Zalesky
Jim Zalesky is in his ninth season as head coach at the University of Iowa. He has a school and career record of 119-27 (.815). Named National Coach of the Year in 1998 and 1999, and Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2004, he has led the Hawkeyes to three NCAA (1998-00) and three Big Ten titles (1998, 2000, 2004). Zalesky has coached 10 NCAA Champions, 20 Big Ten Champions and 40 all-Americans at Iowa. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in June 2004, the University of Iowa Letterman’s Club Hall of Fame and the Iowa High School Athletic Association Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994.
A three-time national champion and one of Iowa’s 15 four-time all-Americans, Zalesky was an assistant coach and head recruiter at Iowa under Dan Gable for seven seasons (1991-97). He was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the N.W.C.A. in 1992 and 1997. Undefeated as a junior and senior, Zalesky ended his career on an 89-match winning streak.
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
Top-ranked Oklahoma State is 3-0, with wins over Michigan State (21-15), Lehigh (31-6) and Oklahoma (23-12). The Cowboys will host Army and Northern Iowa Thursday night in Stillwater, OK. Head Coach John Smith is 223-25-3 in 14 seasons at Oklahoma State. Smith is nearing the school record for career wins, which is 227 held by former Cowboy coach Tommy Chesbro. The Cowboys also enter Carver-Hawkeye Arena on a 24-dual match winning streak, with their last loss coming to Minnesota in the final dual of the 2003-04 season.
The Cowboys are led by defending NCAA Champions Zack Esposito (149), Johny Hendricks (165), Jake Rosholt (197) and Steve Mocco (Hwt.) and returning all-Americans Coleman Scott (125) and Daniel Frishkorn (141). Mocco, who transferred from the University of Iowa prior to the 2004-05 season, has won 74 consecutive matches. His last loss was to Ohio State’s Tommy Rowlands in the finals of the 2002 NCAA Championships.
THE SERIES Oklahoma State leads the series, 21-16-1, and has won the last five meetings between the two teams. The Hawkeyes hold a 9-7 advantage in Iowa City. Iowa’s last win in the series was 20-14 in 2000 in Iowa City. Oklahoma State’s last win in the series was 26-12 last season in Stillwater, OK.
HAVEN’T WE MET?
Here are past results of potential Iowa-Oklahoma State matchups:149 Ty Eustice (I) is 0-2 vs. Zack Esposito (OSU) Esposito dec. Eustice, 4-1, at 2003-04 dual Esposito dec. Eustice, 2-1 TB-1 at 2004-05 dual157 Joe Johnston (I) is 4-0 vs. Kevin Ward (OSU) Johnston maj. dec. Ward, 21-7, at 2004 Midlands Johnston pinned Ward, 6:57, at 2004-05 dual Johnston maj. dec. Ward, 18-8, at 2005 NCAA Championships Johnston dec. Ward, 8-3, at 2005 Kaufman-Brand Open165 Paul Bradley (I) is 1-0 vs. Clay Kehrer (OSU) Bradley dec. Kehrer, 6-4, at 2004-05 dual197 Adam Fellers (I) is 0-1 vs. Jake Rosholt (OSU) Rosholt tech. fall Fellers, 21-6 in 6:28, at 2004-05 dualHwt. Matt Fields (I) is 0-3 vs. Steve Mocco (OSU) Mocco dec. Fields, 5-0, at 2004 Kaufman-Brand Open Mocco dec. Fields, 4-0, at 2004-05 dual Mocco dec. Fields, 4-0, at 2005 NCAA Championships="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/pre%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELAST%20MEETING%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3EThe%20Hawkeye%20wrestling%20team%20lost%20a%2026-12%20dual%20at%20Oklahoma%20State%20January%2016,%202005,%20in%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Stillwater,%20OK.%20It%20was%20the%20top-ranked%20Cowboy's%20fifth-straight%20dual%20win%20over%20Iowa,%20as%20they%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20improved%20to%208-0%20on%20the%20season.%20Iowa%20fell%20to%205-2%20in%20dual%20competition.%20The%20Hawkeyes%20recorded%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20wins%20in%20three%20matches,%20including%20a%20pin%20by%20junior%20Joe%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Johnston%20at%20157,%20but%20it%20was%20not%20enough%20to%20hold%20off%20the%20defending%20NCAA%20champions.%3C/p%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3EHawkeye%20freshman%20%3Ca%20href="/roster.aspx?rp_id=3267" class="imported_story_link" oldlink="/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/falck_charlie00.html">Charlie Falck put Iowa on the scoreboard with a 5-3 decision over freshman Coleman Scott at 125 pounds. Oklahoma State built a 10-3 team lead on freshman Nathan Morgan's 12-3 major decision over Hawkeye junior Mario Galanakis at 133, senior Ronnie Delk's 3-2 decision over Iowa freshman Alex Tsirtsis at 141 and top-ranked Zack Esposito's 2-1 win in the first tiebreak period over Iowa junior Ty Eustice at 149. Johnston's pin over junior Kevin Ward at 157 pulled the Hawkeyes to within one team point, but Oklahoma State scored wins in four of the final five weight classes to seal the team victory. Cowboy junior Johny Hendricks spoiled Hawkeye redshirt freshman and Stillwater, OK, native Mark Perry's homecoming, scoring a 3-1 win at 165. Top-ranked Chris Pendleton proved to be too much for Hawkeye freshman Luke Lofthouse at 174, scoring a pin in 1:31. Iowa senior Paul Bradley scored a 6-4 win at 184 over Clay Kehrer, but that would be the last team points for the Hawkeyes as top-ranked Jake Rosholt scored a 21-6 technical fall in 6:28 over Iowa junior Adam Fellers at 197 and top-ranked Steven Mocco recorded a 4-0 decision over Hawkeye freshman Matt Fields at heavyweight. One team point was deducted from Oklahoma State because of unsportsmanlike conduct from Mocco, who was a two-time all-American at Iowa, after the match. Here are the match-by-match results:
Oklahoma State 26, Iowa 12125 - Charlie Falck (I) dec. Coleman Scott (OSU), 5-3133 - Nathan Morgan (OSU) maj. dec. Mario Galanakis (I), 12-3141 - Ronnie Delk (OSU) dec. Alex Tsirtsis (I), 3-2149 - Zack Esposito (OSU) dec. Ty Eustice (I), 2-1 TB-1157 - Joe Johnston (I) pinned Kevin Ward (OSU), 6:57165 - Johny Hendricks (OSU) dec. Mark Perry (I), 3-1174 - Chris Pendleton (OSU) pinned Luke Lofthouse (I), 1:31184 - Paul Bradley (I) dec. Clay Kehrer (OSU), 6-4197 - Jake Rosholt (OSU) tech. fall Adam Fellers (I), 21-6 in 6:28Hwt. - Steven Mocco (OSU) dec. Matt Fields (I), 4-0**one team point was deducted from Oklahoma State due to Mocco's unsportsmanlike conduct="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>
IOWA-OKLAHOMA STATE TIES Hawkeye sophomore Mark Perry is the nephew of Oklahoma State Head Coach John Smith. Perry’s father, Mark Perry, Sr., was a two-time Big 12 Conference champion (1984-85) at 118 pounds and a three-year letterwinner (1983-85) at Oklahoma State. He also served as an assistant coach on the Cowboy wrestling staff for eight seasons (1992-99). Mark Perry, Jr, also attended Blair Academy in New Jersey, as did Oklahoma State’s Steve Mocco and Zack Esposito.
Cowboy senior Steve Mocco was a two-time all-American at Iowa, winning Big Ten and NCAA titles at heavyweight as a sophomore in 2003. He took an Olympic redshirt in 2003-04, and transferred to Oklahoma State for the 2004-05 school year. He posted a 71-3 record with 24 pins in two seasons with the Hawkeyes.
Oklahoma State redshirt freshman Brandon Mason is a native of Council Bluffs, IA. He attended Lewis Central High School.
LAST MEET Iowa placed fourth at the Midlands Championships in Evanston, IL last week with 83 points. Illinois (115.5) took the title, followed by Central Michigan (112.5) and Michigan State (83).
Senior Joe Johnston and sophomores Mark Perry and Matt Fields each finished second. Johnston fell to No. 1 Alex Tirapelle 3-0 in the finals, while Perry lost to Northwestern’s Jake Herbert 5-4 and Fields dropped a 9-0 major decision to Les Sigman of Nebraska-Omaha.
IOWA WRESTLING HISTORY
Iowa’s overall dual meet record is 787-202-30 (.787) in 94 seasons. The Hawkeyes have won 20 national titles, including nine of the last 15, and 31 Big Ten titles. Iowa’s 47 NCAA Champions have won a total of 73 NCAA individual titles, crowning six three-time and 13 two-time champions. The Hawkeyes’ 99 Big Ten Champions have won a total of 180 conference individual titles. There have been seven four-time, 18 three-time and 24 two-time Iowa winners. Iowa’s 127 all-Americans have earned all-America status 258 times, including 16 four-time, 27 three-time and 29 two-time honorees.
CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA Carver-Hawkeye Arena has been the home for Iowa wrestling since 1983. The Hawkeyes have a record of 147-12 (.925) in the arena, which includes a record 10 victories during the 1986 season. Iowa has recorded 16 undefeated seasons in the arena, with the most recent (8-0) occurring in 2002-03. The dual wrestling attendance record for Carver-Hawkeye Arena is 15,291, set when Iowa defeated Iowa State on February 22, 1992. The arena seats 15,500 for a dual wrestling meet.
IOWA TICKET INFORMATION Tickets for Iowa’s home duals are on sale at the University of Iowa Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-424-2957, 319-335-9327 or www.hawkeyesports.com. Tickets for Saturday’s dual with Oklahoma State are $10 per person. Single-match tickets for Iowa’s other five duals purchased in advance are $8 for adults and $4 for youth. Single-match tickets purchased at the gate are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. Groups of 15 or more can purchase tickets for $4. University of Iowa students will be admitted free of charge for all duals except Oklahoma State.
NEXT COMPETITION Iowa will compete in 2006 N.W.C.A./Cliff Keen National Duals January 14-15 in Cedar Falls, IA. The annual tournament features 16 teams from NCAA Divisions I, II and III and NAIA, eight NJCAA teams, four NCWA teams and three women’s teams. All matches will be held in the UNI-Dome on the University of Northern Iowa campus. All-session tickets are $25 for adults and $17 for seniors and students. Groups of eight or more can received pre-sold all-session tickets for $17. Individual session tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and students and $8 for groups of eight or more if pre-sold. All seats are general admission. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the UNI-Dome box office at 1-877-216-3663.
Saturday, January 149 a.m.-1 p.m. Division I, II, III & NAIA Preliminary Rounds1-5 p.m. Division I, II, III & NAIA Quarterfinals & First Round Consolations5-7 p.m. Division I, II, III & NAIA Second Round Consolations7-9 p.m. Division I, II, III & NAIA Third Round Consolations NJCAA Quarterfinals, NCWA & Women's First Round9-11 p.m. NJCAA Semifinals & Consolations NWCA & Women's Second Round Division II, III, NAIA extra matches
Sunday, January 159-11 a.m. Division I, II, III & NAIA 7th Place Matches NJCAA 3rd, 5th & 7th Place Matches11 a.m.-1 p.m. Division I, II, III & NAIA Semifinals1-3 p.m. Division I, II, III & NAIA 3rd & 5th Place Matches3-5 p.m. Division I, II, III, NAIA & NJCAA Championship Finals