March 16, 2007
AUBURN HILLS, MI –
Hawkeye junior Mark Perry advanced to the NCAA finals at 165 pounds with a 6-4 semifinal win over Hofstra’s Michael Patrovich Friday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Iowa is in eighth place with 48.5 points after the second day of competition. Iowa State leads the team race with 83.5 points, while Minnesota is a close second at 80. The Hawkeyes are guaranteed three all-Americans in Perry, sophomore Charlie Falck (125) and senior Eric Luedke (174).
Perry, who is a two-time all-American and was an NCAA finalist in 2005, will face top-seed Johny Hendricks of Oklahoma State in the finals. Hendricks is a two-time NCAA champion and is on a 56-match winning streak. Perry, the #2 seed, is 0-6 against the Cowboy senior, including a 5-2 loss in the 2005 NCAA finals, and two losses this season.
Luedke wrestled tough against top seed and defending NCAA Champion Ben Askren of Missouri, but could not pull the upset and lost an 8-3 decision. The Hawkeye senior is one of only three wrestlers to lose a decision to Askren this season as the rest of his wins were by pin, technical fall or major decision. The victory also extended Askren’s winning streak to 85 matches. Luedke, the #5 seed, will wrestle #3 seed Steve Luke of Michigan in Saturday morning’s consolation semifinals. Luedke is guaranteed to finish no lower than sixth.
In the consolation bracket, Falck went 1-1 and will wrestle #3 seed Tanner Gardner of Stanford for seventh place Saturday morning. The Hawkeye sophomore scored his second shutout of the tournament and the fourth of his career with an 8-0 major decision over unseeded Javier Maldonado of Tennessee-Chattanooga in his first consolation match, but dropped a 6-5 decision to #9 seed Obensen Blanc of Lock Haven in the next round.
Saturday’s consolations rounds will start at 9 a.m. (CT) and will be aired live on ESPNU. The championship finals will start at 7 p.m. (CT) Saturday and will be aired live on ESPN. All matches will be held at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
CURRENT TEAM STANDINGS (Top 10 Teams After Day 2)
Place Team – Points – Finalists/Consolations
1. Iowa State – 83.5 – 3/1
2. Minnesota – 80.0 – 1/4
3. Missouri – 69.5 – 1/2
4. Oklahoma State – 62.5 – 2/2
5. Northwestern – 56.5 – 2/2
6. Michigan – 55.5 – 1/4
7. Penn State – 50.0 – 1/2
8. Iowa – 48.5 – 1/2
9. Hofstra – 48.0 – 0/4
10. Wisconsin – 45.5 – 1/1
IOWA’S SESSION IV INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Championship Semifinals
165 – #2 Mark Perry (Iowa) dec. #6 Michael Patrovich (Hofstra), 6-4
174 – #1 Ben Askren (Missouri) dec. #5 Eric Luedke (Iowa), 8-3
Consolation Fourth Round
125 – #5 Charlie Falck (Iowa) maj. dec. Javier Maldonado (Tennessee-Chattanooga), 8-0
Consolation Fourth Round
125 – Obenson Blanc (Lock Haven) dec. #5 Charlie Falck (Iowa), 6-5
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