March 4, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, IN – After one session at the Big Ten Championships, the University of Iowa wrestling team is in third place with points. Illinois is in the lead with 62.
The Hawkeyes have five wrestlers moving on to the semifinals. Sophomore 141-pounder Alex Tsirtsis, senior 149-pounder Ty Eustice, senior 157-pounder Joe Johnston, junior 165-pounder Eric Luedke and sophomore 174-pounder Mark Perry all advanced in the winners bracket during Session I.
Junior 125-pounder Lucas Magnani, freshman 133-pounder Daniel Dennis, senior 184-pounder Paul Bradley, freshman 197-pounder Dan Erekson and redshirt freshman heavyweight Michael Bucklin were all defeated in their first matches of the day.
Tsirtsis picked up a pair of wins for Iowa, getting a 9-1 major decision over Purdue’s Jason Cook in a pigtail match, then defeating No. 6 seed Cassio Pero of Illinois, 7-3, in the quarterfinals. He will face No. 2 seed Andy Simmons of Michigan State in the semifinals during Session II.
Eustice received a first-round bye, then topped Penn State’s seveth-seeded James Woodall 5-3 to reach the semifinals. Eustice will face unseeded Troy Tirapelle of Illinois, who upset No. 3 seed Eric Tannenbaum of Michigan and No. 6 seed Tyler Turner of Wisconsin to advance.
Johnston picked up a 19-6 major decision in the first round against Jake Murphy of Purdue, then used a pair of takedowns to edge fifth-seeded Brandon Becker of Indiana, 4-2. Johnston will face top-seeded Adam Tirapelle (Illinois) in the semifinals.
At 165 pounds, Luedke roared out of the gates to get a first-round, 10-0 major decision over Bryan Harney of Michigan State. Luedke then used a third-period reversal to upset No. 4 seed David Erwin of Penn State. The win avenges Luedke’s 4-3 loss earlier this season in dual action. Luedke will battle top-seeded Ryan Churella of Michigan later today.
Perry picked up his eighth pin of the year when he stuck first-round opponent Kelly Flaherty of Wisconsin in just 2:05. His quarterfinal match against Michigan’s Nick Roy was closer, as Perry built a 4-0 lead with a takedown and two backpoints, then held on for the 5-3 win. He will face sixth-seeded Donny Reynolds of Illinois in the semifinals.
Magnani was forced into the consolation bracket after being pinned by No. 4 Kyle Ott (Illinois) in the quarterfinals. At 133 pounds, Dennis was leading 7-3 with over two minutes of riding time late in the third period when he was taken to his back and pinned with just eight seconds left in the match. Bradley lost to Illinois’ Pete Friedl for the third time this season, 5-0, while Erekson was defeated 4-3 when unseeded Jeff Clemens scored an edge-of-the-mat takedown with just 13 seconds left in their first-round match. Bucklin was pinned by fourth-seeded Joel Edwards of Penn State in his first round match.
Session II will begin today at 5 p.m. (CDT).
SESSION I RESULTSTEAM STANDINGS1. Illinois - 62 pts.2. Minnesota - 57.5 pts.3. IOWA - 51 pts.4. Penn State - 46 pts.5. Michigan - 39 pts. Northwestern - 39 pts.7. Purdue - 27 pts.8. Ohio State - 26 pts.9. Michigan State - 22 pts. Wisconsin - 22 pts.11. Indiana - 15 pts.
FIRST ROUND133 poundsNo. 8 Reece Humphrey (OSU) pinned Daniel Dennis (IA), 6:51141 poundsNo. 3 Alex Tsirtsis (IA) maj. dec. Jason Cook (PUR), 9-1157 PoundsNo. 4 Joe Johnston (IA) maj. dec. Jake Murphey (PUR), 19-6165 poundsNo. 5 Eric Luedke (IA) maj. dec. Bryan Harney (MSU), 10-0174 poundsNo. 2 Mark Perry (IA) pinned Kelly Flaherty (WI), 2:05197 poundsJeff Clemens (MSU) dec. No. 6 Dan Erekson (IA), 4-3HeavyweightNo. 4 Joel Edwards (PSU) pinned Michael Bucklin (IA), 2:16
QUARTERFINALS125 poundsNo. 4 Kyle Ott (IL) pinned No. 5 Lucas Magnani (IA), 6:52141 poundsTsirtsis (IA) dec. No. 6 Cassio Pero (IL), 7-3149 poundsNo. 2 Ty Eustice (IA) dec. No. 7 James Woodall (PSU), 5-3157 poundsJohnston (IA) dec. No. 5 Brandon Becker (IU), 4-2165 poundsLuedke (IA) dec. No. 4 David Erwin (PSU), 5-3174 poundsPerry (IA) dec. No. 7 Nick Roy (MI), 6-4184 poundsNo. 4 Pete Friedl (IL) dec. No. 5 Paul Bradley, 5-0
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