Feb. 7, 2006
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THIS WEEK
Iowa will wrap-up the Big Ten dual season this weekend with a pair of home contests. The Hawkeyes will battle Illinois Friday night at 7 p.m., then host Northwestern Sunday at 2 p.m.
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 live telecast of Iowa’s dual vs. Illinois Friday. Tim Johnson, Jim Gibbons and former Iowa Wrestling Coach Dan Gable will call the action.
The Internet – The University of Illinois will stream live video of the Friday’s dual on their website, www.fightingillini.com. The stream will also be linked from the University of Iowa’s website, www.hawkeyesports.com.
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 125-33 (.803). 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.
HAWK TALK WITH Jim Zalesky
KXIC Radio (AM-800) will air the Hawk Talk with Jim Zalesky radio show this season. The show will be live from LaCasa Mexican Restaurant in Iowa City from 6-7 p.m. on the following dates: Jan. 3, Jan. 17, Jan. 31, Feb. 15, Feb. 28 and March 7.
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI
The Illinois Fighting Illini are 8-2 on the season and 3-2 in Big Ten action. They are coming off a rough weekend which saw them drop their first two duals of the season, 18-17 to Michigan and 19-16 to Northwestern.
The Fighting Illini are coached by former Hawkeye assistant Mark Johnson, who is in his 14th year at the helm. Johnson was Dan Gable’s top assistant for eight years at Iowa. He has a 135-35-1 record and has guided Illinois to seven top-10 finishes.
Illinois is led by two-time Big Ten Champion Alex Tirapelle, who is 17-1 on the year and ranked No. 1 in the country. Senior 184-pounder and two-time all-American Pete Friedl is 16-2 on the season.
THE SERIES
The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series with Illinois 43-25-1, and hold a 20-8-1 advantage in Iowa City. The Fighting Illini won the last meeting, 25-7, in Champaign, IL.
HAVEN’T WE MET?
Here are past results of potential Iowa-Illinois matchups:141 Alex Tsirtsis (I) is 0-1 vs. Cassio Pero (IL) Pero dec. Tsirtsis 4-3 at 2005 dual
157 Joe Johnston (I) is 2-4 vs. Alex Tirapelle (IL) Johnston dec. Tirapelle 4-2 at 2003 dual Tirapelle dec. Johnston 7-5 at 2004 dual Tirapelle dec. Johnston 9-5 at 2005 Big Ten Champs. Johnston dec. Tirapelle 6-5 at 2004 NCAA Champs. Tirapelle dec. Johnston 4-2 at 2005 NWCA All-Star Classic Tirapelle dec. Johnston 3-0 at 2005 Midlands
184 Paul Bradley (I) is 0-1 vs. Pete Friedl (IL) Friedl dec. Bradley 4-2 at 2005 NWCA All-Star Classic="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%3ELast%20year,%20Iowa%20fell%20at%20Illinois%2025-7.%20The%20Hawkeyes%20missed%20opportunities%20throughout%20the%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20dual,%20losing%20six%20of%20the%20eight%20matches%20by%20three%20points%20or%20less.%3C/p%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3EWinning%20matches%20for%20Iowa%20were%20%3Ca%20href="/roster.aspx?rp_id=3291" class="imported_story_link" oldlink="/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/perry_mark00.html">Mark Perry and Matt Fields. Perry recorded one of the two major decisions in the dual, defeating Illinois' Cal Ferry, 12-2, at 165 pounds. Fields scored a 6-3 decision over Mike Behnke at heavyweight.
Illinois 25, Iowa 7149 - Anton Dietzen (IL) dec. Ty Eustice (I), 3-2157 - Alex Tirapelle (IL) dec. Joe Johnston (I), 7-5165 - Mark Perry (I) maj. dec. Cal Ferry (IL), 12-2174 - Pete Friedl (IL) dec. Luke Lofthouse (I), 12-5184 - Brian Glynn (IL) dec. Paul Bradley (I), 2-1197 - Tyrone Byrd (IL) dec. Adam Fellers (I), 3-0Hwt. - Matt Fields (I) dec. Mike Behnke (IL), 6-3125 - Kyle Ott (IL) maj. dec. Charlie Falck (I), 14-6133 - Mark Jayne (IL) dec. Mario Galanakis (I), 7-5141 - Cassio Pero (IL) dec. Alex Tsirtsis (I), 4-3="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:>
NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS
The Northwestern Wildcats are 8-4 overall on the season and 3-2 in Big Ten Conference action. The Wildcats are coming off a huge weekend in which they defeated Ohio State 31-6, then upset No. 3 Illinois 19-16. With the team score knotted at 16-16 and the day’s final match in overtime, Dustin Fox earned an escape with 10 seconds remaining in the second-tiebreaker period to claim the win for Northwestern.
The Wildcats are coached by Tim Cysewski, who is in his 16th season. Under Cysewski’s direction, 16 Wildcats have earned All-America honors and 60 wrestlers have qualified for the NCAA Championships.
Northwestern is led by sophomore 174-pounder Jake Herbert, who placed third at last year’s NCAA Championships. This season, he is undefeated at 25-0. Fellow sophomore Ryan Lang is 14-2 on the year at 141 pounds.
THE SERIES
Iowa leads the overall series with Northwestern, 60-7-1. In Iowa City, the Hawkeyes have a 26-3 advantage. Last season, the Wildcats defeated the Hawkeyes 22-19 in Evanston, IL.
HAVEN’T WE MET?
Here are past results of potential Iowa-Northwestern matchups:
125 Lucas Magnani (I) is 1-0 vs John Velez (NU) Magnani win via medical forfeit at 2004 Midlands
141 Alex Tsirtsis (I) is 0-2 vs. Ryan Lang (NU) Lang dec. Tsirtsis 10-4 at 2005 dual Lang MD Tsirtsis 12-1 at 2005 Big Ten Championships
184 Paul Bradley (I) is 0-1 vs. Mike Tamillow (NU) Tamillow dec. Bradley 5-3 2005 dual="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%20Wildcats%20snapped%20Iowa's%2035-match%20winning%20streak%20in%20the%20series%20with%20a%2022-19%20win%20last%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20season%20in%20Evanston,%20IL.%20Northwestern's%20last%20win%20over%20Iowa%20was%20in%201968.%3C/p%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3EIowa%20won%20four%20of%20the%20first%20five%20weight%20classes%20to%20take%20a%2019-3%20team%20lead.%20The%20Hawkeyes%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20got%20pins%20from%20junior%20Joe%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Johnston%20and%20%3Ca%20href="/roster.aspx?rp_id=3291" class="imported_story_link" oldlink="/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/perry_mark00.html">Mark Perry, a major decision from Ty Eustice and a decision from junior Mario Galanakis (133) in the first five matches. Northwestern responded by winning the last five matches to take the dual. Iowa endured a pin at 174, an upset decision at 184 and a major decision at 197 while still holding on to a 19-16 team lead. Hawkeye freshmen Matt Fields (Hwt.) and Charlie Falck (125) each had a chance to preserve an Iowa dual win, but neither could overcome early deficits in their matches and both lost decisions.
Northwestern 22, Iowa 19133 - Mario Galanakis (I) dec. Dan Quintela (N), 6-0141 - Ryan Lang (N) dec. Alex Tsirtsis (I), 10-4149 - Ty Eustice (I) maj. dec. Jimmy Kim (N), 15-6157 - Joe Johnston (I) pinned Mike Kimberlin (N), 5:18165 - Mark Perry (I) pinned Nick Hayes (N), 4:12174 - Jake Herbert (N) pinned Luke Lofthouse (I), 1:05184 - Mike Tamillow (N) dec. Paul Bradley (I), 5-3197 - Matt Delguyd (N) maj. dec. Adam Fellers (I), 10-2Hwt. - Dustin Fox (N) dec. Matt Fields (I), 7-6125 - John Velez (N) dec. Charlie Falck (I), 10-8="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:>
LAST WEEK
The Hawkeyes dropped a pair of Big Ten duals, falling to Penn State 21-12 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena before losing to Michigan State 19-17 in East Lansing, MI.
PERRY OUT
Hawkeye sophomore 174-pounder Mark Perry missed the last two dual meets with a neck injury. Perry, who is 12-2 on the season and ranked No. 3, originally injured his neck at the National Duals and missed three of Iowa’s five duals there. He is expected to return in time for the Big Ten Championships, March 4-5.
FIELDS OUT
Hawkeye sophomore heavyweight Matt Fields will miss the remainder of the season with torn ligaments in his knee sustained during his match with No. 1 Cole Konrad Jan. 22. The Lowden, IA, native tore both the ACL and MCL.
IOWA WRESTLING HISTORY
Iowa’s overall dual meet record is 794-209-30 (.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 147-14 (.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
The Hawkeyes host Boise State Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in their final dual of the 2005-06 season.