Hawkeyes Take On Big Ten Foes

Jan. 23, 2007

IOWA CITY, IA –

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THIS WEEK
Iowa (10-2, 1-0 Big Ten) will wrestle at Purdue (10-2, 0-2 in Big Ten) Friday at 6 p.m. at the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility in West Lafayette, IN. The Hawkeyes then return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to host Wisconsin (15-0, 1-0 in Big Ten) in their Big Ten home opener Saturday at 7 p.m. in Iowa City.

ON THE AIR
Radio – Steven Grace and two-time Hawkeye NCAA champion and four-time all-American Mark Ironside will call the action live on AM-800, KXIC. All remaining dual meets will be broadcast live, as will action from the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments. Live audio broadcasts from all competitions will also be available online at www.hawkeyesports.com. To listen online, go to the wrestling schedule, click on the event and click on the Listen link. Broadcasts are available using the Hawkeye All-Access subscription ($6.95 per month or $49.95 per year) or the CSTV XXL Premium subscription ($99.95 per year).

The Internet – Press releases, meet results, audio broadcasts and home dual livestats are available on the University of Iowa’s website, www.hawkeyesports.com. To access the live home dual scoring, go to the wrestling schedule page, select the event and click on the Livestats link. Current staff and student-athlete head shots can be found at pics.hawkeyesports.com.

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
Purdue is 10-2, 0-2 in the Big Ten, with wins over Old Dominion (18-17), North Carolina State (24-12), North Carolina (33-3), Virginia (19-16), Carson-Newman (32-7), Indianapolis (32-6), Ohio (26-7), Eastern Illinois (34-8), Appalachian State (28-9) and Cleveland State (30-6), and losses to Ohio State (28-6) and Indiana (25-12).

Head Coach Jesse Reyes is 179-114-3 in 15 seasons with the Boilermakers. During his tenure, the Boilermakers have crowned four Big Ten Champions and four all-Americans. Reyes is assisted by Scott Hinkel and Tom Erikson.

Purdue is led by nationally ranked Jake Patacsil (#11 at 149) and Nathan Moore (#14 at 197). Patacsil, a sophomore, is 25-6 on the season, while Moore, a senior, is 27-5.

LAST MEETING
Iowa defeated Purdue, 28-11, Jan. 27, 2006, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes won seven bouts, including one by pin and three by major decision, en route to the victory. Iowa improved to 8-4 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten with the win.

Iowa 28, Purdue 11
125 – Lucas Magnani (I) dec. Brandon Tucker (P), 7-2
133 – Chris Fleeger (P) tech. fall Daniel Dennis (I), 5:25
141 – Alex Tsirtsis (I) dec. Jason Cook (P), 11-2
149 – Ty Eustice (I) dec. Doug Withstandly (P), 4-2
157 – Joe Johnston (I) maj. dec. Jake Murphy (P), 21-7
165 – Eric Luedke (I) pinned Dan Bedoy (P), 6:07
174 – Mark Perry (I) maj. dec. Nick Corpe (P), 24-5
184 – Ben Wissel (P) dec. Paul Bradley (I), 5-3
197 – Nathan Moore (P) dec. Dan Erekson (I), 10-8 (OT)
Hwt. – Ryan Fuller (I) maj. dec. Aaron Keough (P), 10-1

THE SERIES
Iowa leads the series with Purdue, 33-4-3. The Hawkeyes have won the last 21 meetings, and are 14-3-1 in West Lafayette. Purdue’s last win in the series was a 23-9 decision, at Iowa City, in 1961.

HAVEN’T WE MET?
Following are career results for potential Iowa-Purdue matchups:
141 – Alex Tsirtsis (I) is 1-0 vs. Nick Bertucci (P)
Tsirtsis dec. Bertucci, 4-0, at 2006 Midlands
149 – Alex Grunder (I) is 0-1 vs. Jake Patacsil (P)
Patacsil pinned Grunder in 2:37 at 2006 Midlands

WISCONSIN BADGERS
Wisconsin brings an undefeated 15-0 record (1-0 in the Big Ten) to Iowa City, beating Dubuque (49-0), Wisconsin-Oshkosh (40-3), Indianapolis (43-0), Navy (29-7), Cumberland (53-0), North Carolina State (29-9), Virginia (30-7), North Carolina (35-9), Northern Iowa (24-10), Northern Illinois (26-9), Harvard (36-9), Northern Colorado (29-10), Army (35-3), Air Force (37-6) and Penn State (17-16).

Head Coach Barry Davis is 137-93-9 in 13 seasons at Wisconsin. During his tenure he has coached two NCAA Champions, 10 Big Ten Champions and 16 all-Americans. The 1985 Big Ten Athlete of the Year, Davis was a four-time all-American and Big Ten Champion and three-time NCAA Champion at 118 and 126 at Iowa (1981-85). A two-time Olympian, he still holds Iowa records for most wins in a season (46) and a career (162). Davis is assisted by Bart Chelesvig, Donny Pritzlaff and Cory Wallman. Chelesvig, a Webster City, IA, native, was a three-time all-American at 167 and 177 at Iowa (1988-92).

The Badgers are led by returning all-American Craig Henning (157), senior Tyler Turner (149), sophomores Zach Tanelli (133) and Dallas Herbst (197) and freshman Trevor Brandvold (184). Henning and Tanelli are undefeated in dual competition, while Turner, Herbst and Brandvold are 12-1, 14-1 and 9-1, respectively.

IOWA-WISCONSIN TIES
? Wisconsin Head Coach Barry Davis is from Cedar Rapids, IA. His wife is the former Nan Doak, who was the 1985 10,000-meter NCAA Champion for the University of Iowa. She was a five-time all-American in track and three-time in cross country for the Hawkeyes, winning three Big Ten titles. She still holds school records in the outdoor 5,000 meters. She is a native of Hedrick, IA.

? Wisconsin Assistant Bart Chelesvig and Iowa Head Coach Tom Brands were Hawkeye teammates 1989-92. Current Iowa Assistant Coach Dan Gable was the head coach and Davis was an assistant during their Hawkeye careers. Iowa won two NCAA and four Big Ten titles during those four seasons.

? Hawkeye junior Mark Perry and Wisconsin junior Matt Maciag were prep teammates at Blair Academy in Blair, NJ.

LAST MEETING
The Hawkeyes beat Wisconsin, 24-7, on Jan. 20, 2006, at Madison in its first Big Ten match of the season. The Hawkeyes won eight of the 10 bouts.

Iowa 24, Wisconsin 7 184 – Paul Bradley (I) dec. Justin Peterson (WIS), 13-9 197 – Dan Erekson (I) dec. Dallas Herbst (WIS), 8-5
Hwt. – Matt Fields (I) dec. Kyle Massey (WIS), 8-2
125 – Lucas Magnani (I) dec. Colin Cudd (WIS), 6-4
133 – Tom Clum (WIS) maj. dec. Daniel Dennis (I), 12-4
141 – Alex Tsirtsis (I) dec. Ed Gutnik (WIS), 10-3
149 – Ty Eustice (I) dec. Tyler Turner (WIS), 3-2
157 – Craig Henning (WIS) dec. Joe Johnston (I), 7-2
165 – Eric Luedke (I) dec. Jake Donar (WIS), 7-6
174 – Ben Stedman (I) dec. Mike Felling (WIS), 11-5

THE SERIES
Iowa leads the series with Wisconsin, 70-7-3. The Hawkeyes have won the last 32 meetings, and are 36-3-1 in Iowa City. Wisconsin’s last win the series was a 18-12 decision, at Iowa City, in 1966.

HAVEN’T WE MET?
Following are the career results for potential Iowa-Wisconsin matchups:

125 – Charlie Falck (I) is 1-0 vs. Collin Cudd (W)
Falck dec. Cudd, 13-11 SV-1, at 2005 Iowa-Wisconsin dual
157 – Ryan Morningstar (I) is 0-1 vs. Craig Henning (W)
Henning dec. Morningstar, 1-0, at 2005 Spartan Open
165 – Mark Perry (I) is 1-0 vs. Jake Donar (W)
Perry dec. Donar, 8-5, at 2005 Iowa-Wisconsin dual
Hwt. – Matt Fields (I) is 1-0 vs. Kyle Massey (W)
Fields dec. Massy, 8-2, at 2006 Iowa-Wisconsin dual

LAST WEEK
Iowa went 1-1 last weekend, losing at Oklahoma State (21-11) and defeating Northwestern (24-14) in its Big Ten opener at Rolling Meadows, IL.

Iowa jumped out to a solid start against Oklahoma State behind decisions from sophomore Charlie Falck (125) and senior Alex Grunder (149), making the team score 6-6 after the first four matches. The Cowboys picked up wins at 157 and 165, including two-time defending NCAA Champion Johny Hendricks’ sixth career win over Iowa junior Mark Perry at 165. Hawkeye senior Eric Luedke scored a last second reversal to defeat Brandon Mason, 2-1 at 174, making the team score 12-9 in Oklahoma State’s favor. But Iowa could not keep the momentum as Cowboy Jack Jensen scored a 3-2 decision over redshirt freshman Phillip Keddy at 184 and a team point was deducted from Iowa for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving Oklahoma State a 15-8 lead. Hawkeye sophomore 197-pounder Dan Erekson suffered a shoulder injury and was forced to injury default, putting the team win out of reach for Iowa. Junior Matt Fields ended the dual with a 6-4 decision in sudden victory over Jared Rosholt at heavyweight.

Northwestern jumped out to an 8-0 lead with wins at 197 and heavyweight. Wildcat junior Mike Tamillow scored a 19-4 technical fall over redshirt freshman Rick Loera and Dustin Fox followed with his fourth career victory over Fields – a 2-0 decision at heavyweight. Iowa responded with wins in the next seven bouts and 24 unanswered team points. Junior Alex Tsirtsis scored his 60th career win with a 15-4 major decision over James Kohlberg at 141. Grunder and Perry also recorded major decisions for Iowa. Northwestern scored its final points when Iowa forfeited the 184-pound match.

HAWKEYES SIGN TWO
Iowa signed two student-athletes to national letters of intent in the early signing period. Jordan Johnson of Bettendorf, IA and Brodie Ambrose of Eldridge, IA, are Tom Brands’ first signings as Iowa’s head coach.

Johnson won the 2006 Class AA Illinois state heavyweight state title at Naperville North High School. He moved to Bettendorf, IA, and will be competing for Bettendorf High School this season.

Ambrose placed third at 171 pounds at the 2006 Class 3A state tournament for North Scott Eldridge High School. He will compete at 189 pounds this season and is a projected 197-pounder for the Hawkeyes. Ambrose also is a 189-pound Fargo freestyle all-American.

CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Carver-Hawkeye Arena has been the home of Iowa wrestling since 1983. The Hawkeyes are 154-15 (.911) 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’s meet with Iowa State earlier this year drew 13,732. That figure ranks 11th in NCAA and Carver-Hawkeye Arena history.

IOWA WRESTLING HISTORY
Iowa’s overall dual meet record is 805-211-30 (.784) in 95 seasons. The Hawkeyes have won 20 national titles, including nine of the last 16, 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 titles. There have been seven four-time, 18 three-time and 24 two-time Iowa winners. Iowa’s 129 all-Americans have earned all-America status 263 times, including 16 four-time, 27 three-time and 32 two-time honorees.

IOWA TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for Iowa’s remaining four home duals are on sale at the University of Iowa Athletic Ticket Office. Tickets purchased in advance are $8 for adults and $4 for youth/non-University of Iowa students. Tickets purchased at the door are $10 for adults and $5 for youth/non-University of Iowa students. University of Iowa students will be admitted free of charge for all matches with a student ID. For tickets, contact the University of Iowa Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-424-2957, 319-335-9327 or www.hawkeyesports.com.

CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE
The Hawkeye wrestling staff of Tom Brands, Dan Gable, Wes Hand, Doug Schwab and Mike Zadick earned a total of two Olympic gold medals, seven NCAA titles, 10 conference titles and 15 all-America honors. Their combined college career wrestling record is 605-84-2 (.877), including three undefeated seasons.

NEXT COMPETITION
Iowa will kickoff the month of February with two Big Ten road duals. The Hawkeyes will wrestle at Michigan (1-3-1, 0-0 Big Ten) Friday, February 2 at 6:30 p.m. (CT) and at Penn State (9-4, 0-2 Big Ten Sunday, February 4 at 11 a.m. (CT).