Dec. 11, 2007
THIS WEEK
The top-ranked Iowa wrestling team (5-0) will host its 2007-08 home opener Thursday evening at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa will face Northern Iowa (0-0-1) at 6:30 p.m. and Cornell (3-1) at 8 p.m.
WELCOME BACK
Iowa’s No. 1 ranking in the USA Today/NWCA/Intermat coaches poll and by W.I.N. Magazine marks the first time the Hawkeyes have been ranked in the nation’s top spot since the 2003-04 season. W.I.N. Magazine ranked Iowa in the top spot on Dec. 3, 2003. The last time Iowa was ranked No. 1 by Amateur Wrestling News was Nov. 13, 2000, and by InterMat on Nov. 29, 2000.
IOWA TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets and single meet tickets for Iowa’s seven home duals are on sale at the University of Iowa Athletic Ticket Office or at 1-800-464-2957, 319-335-9327 or www.hawkeyesports.com. University of Iowa students will be admitted free to all matches with a student ID. Following are the ticket prices:
Season Tickets
$48 – General Public, $42 University Faculty & Staff
Single-Match Tickets
$8 – Adults, $4 – Youth (Purchased in Advance)
$10 – Adults, $5 – Youth (Purchased at the Event)
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 dual meets will be broadcast live, as will action from the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments. Live audio broadcasts from all competitions will 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 ($9.95 per month or $79.95 per year) or the CSTV XXL Premium subscription ($119.95 per year).
Internet – Press releases, meet results and audio broadcasts are available on the University of Iowa’s website, www.hawkeyesports.com. To access live 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.
SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA
Northern Iowa is 0-0-1, tying Wisconsin (16-16) last weekend in Cedar Falls. Head Coach Brad Penrith is 63-52-4 in eight seasons with the Panthers. Penrith was an NCAA champion and three-time NCAA finalist, all-American and Big Ten champion at Iowa from 1986-88. He is assisted by Nebraska alums Jose DeAnda and Tolly Thompson, and Northern Iowa alums Randy Pugh and Sean Stender.
The Panthers return four NCAA qualifiers in seniors C.J. Ettleson (141) and Alex Dolly (174), and juniors Moza Fay (165), and Andrew Anderson (197) from the 2006-07 squad that went 4-0 in the Western Conference and won the regional. Fay (8-1), Anderson (7-1) and Dolly (6-1) each have one loss this season.
SCOUTING CORNELL COLLEGE
Cornell is 3-1 and is ranked tenth nationally in the most recent Brute-Adidas NWCA Division III rankings. The Rams opened the season with a 31-13 loss at Wisconsin-LaCrosse but have won their last three duals (St. John’s – 20-15, Loras – 27-12 and William Penn – 3-12).
Head Coach Mike Duroe is 32-18-1 in three seasons at Cornell, and has a 114-45-1 career record in eight seasons as a college head coach. Duroe served as head coach for the University of Iowa’s Hawkeye Wrestling Club from 2003-05. He is assisted by Mike Elliott and former Hawkeye two-time all-American Joe Johnston.
Cornell is led by seniors Chris Heilman (125) and Pat McAuley (157). Heilman is 15-1 and ranked second in the nation, while McAuley is 14-5 and ranked fourth.
THE SERIES
Northern Iowa – Iowa leads the series, 39-8-2 and has won the last 31 meetings between the two teams. The Hawkeyes hold a 19-3-1 advantage in matches wrestled in Iowa City. Iowa’s last win in the series was 18-15 last season, while Northern Iowa’s last win was 17-15 in Cedar Falls during the 1973-74 season.
Cornell – Cornell leads the series, 3-1. This will be the first time the teams wrestle in Iowa City, and the first meeting between the two teams in 38 years. Iowa won the last meeting, 22-11 in Mount Vernon during the 1969-70 season. Cornell’s last win in the series was 17-11 in Mount Vernon in 1932-33.
LAST MEETING – IOWA 18, NORTHERN IOWA 15
In a night of firsts, Iowa edged out Northern Iowa, 18-15, in Cedar Falls. It was Head Coach Tom Brands’ first dual victory at the Hawkeye helm and Northern Iowa’s first dual meet at its new McLeod Center. A crowd of 5,831 watched Iowa extend its winning streak in the series to 31.
The Hawkeyes got wins from senior Mario Galanakis (133), redshirt freshman Ryan Morningstar (157), junior Mark Perry (165), senior Eric Luedke (174) and junior Matt Fields (Hwt.). Galanakis scored the only bonus points of the night, pinning redshirt freshman Brett Robbins in 2:50. Morningstar scored a takedown in sudden victory to defeat sophomore Moza Fay, 5-3, and tie the team score at 9-9 at the intermission. Perry, who wrestled in the NWCA All-Star Dual in Dallas, TX, earlier in the week, scored a 3-0 win and accumulated 3:24 of riding time against senior Nick Baima. Luedke gave Iowa a 15-9 lead – its largest of the night – with his 7-4 decision against Alex Dolly. With the scored tied 15-15 going into the heavyweight match, Fields picked up his fourth career win over senior Tyler Rhodes and sealed the team win with a 5-0 decision.
Iowa 18, Northern Iowa 15
125 – Kyle Anson (UNI) dec. Charlie Falck (I), 9-4
133 – Mario Galanakis (I) pinned Brett Robbins (UNI), 2:50
141 – C.J. Ettleson (UNI) dec. Alex Tsirtsis (I), 5-2
149 – Charlie Ettelson (UNI) dec. Alex Grunder (I), 3-2
157 – Ryan Morningstar (I) dec. Moza Fay (UNI), 5-3 SV-1
165 – Mark Perry (I) dec. Nick Baima (UNI), 3-0
174 – Eric Luedke (I) dec. Alex Dolly (UNI), 7-4
184 – Danny Dunning (UNI) dec. Phillip Keddy (I), 6-4
197 – Andrew Anderson (UNI) dec. Dan Erekson (I), 7-5
Hwt. – Matt Fields (I) dec. Tyler Rhodes (UNI), 5-0
HAVEN’T WE MET?
Following are series results for possible Iowa-Northern Iowa matchups:
141 – Dan LeClere (I) is 1-0 vs. C.J. Ettleson (UNI)
LeClere dec. Ettleson, 7-6, at 2006 Nichols Open*
165 – Mark Perry (I) is 1-0 vs. Moza Fay (UNI)
Perry pinned Fay in 5:51 at 2007 Kaufman-Brand Open*
174 – Jay Borschel (I) is 1-0 vs. Alex Dolly (UNI)
Borschel dec. Dolly, 4-2, at 2006 UNI Open*
184 – Phillip Keddy (I) is 0-1 vs. Danny Dunning (UNI)
Dunning dec. Keddy, 6-4, at 2006-07 dual
184 – Rick Loera (I) is 1-0 vs. Andy O’Loughlin (UNI)
Loera maj. dec. O’Loughlin, 15-5, at 2007 Kaufman-Brand Open
* – Hawkeye wrestler was competing unattached
PERSONNEL NOTES
? Iowa sophomore Joe Slaton (133) and Northern Iowa redshirt freshman Jarion Beets (157) and true freshman Cruse Aarhus (125) all attended Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School.
? Hawkeyes Dan (141) and Nick LeClere (149), and Cornell freshman Ryan Mulnix (141) are Coggon, IA, natives and wrestled at North-Linn high school. Dan LeClere and Mulnix are scheduled to meet in Thursday night’s dual.
? Hawkeye sophomore Ryan Morningstar (157) and Cornell freshman Zach Campion (125) were high school teammates at Lisbon.
? Iowa freshman J.J. Krutsinger and Cornell freshman Mitchell Forness both wrestled at Waterloo Columbus high school.
MORNINGSTAR, PERRY LOOK FOR CAREER MILESTONES
Sophomore Ryan Morningstar (157) and senior Mark Perry (165) will each be looking for a career victory milestone this week. Morningstar will be going after his 30th victory, while Perry will be looking for his 80th.
CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Carver-Hawkeye Arena has been the home of Iowa wrestling since 1983. The Hawkeyes are 156-17 (.902) 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.
HAWKEYES KNOCK OFF TOP-RANKED IOWA STATE, 20-13
Iowa knocked off top-ranked Iowa State, 20-13, Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. A sold-out crowd of 8,988 saw Iowa improve to 5-0 and hand Iowa State (6-1) its first loss of the season. Iowa scored two points in the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series with the win to make the series score 16-5.
Iowa jumped out to a 13-0 lead with wins at the first four weights. Hawkeye junior Charlie Falck scored an 8-4 decision over Cyclone redshirt freshman Mark Kist at 125 to open the dual. Iowa sophomore Joe Slaton handed Iowa State’s Nick Fanthorpe his first loss of the season with a 6-5 win at 133. Sophomore Dan LeClere followed with a 3-1 win over Nick Gallick at 141 to give Iowa a 9-0 lead, and sophomore Brent Metcalf scored the first bonus points of the dual with a 14-4 major decision over Iowa City native Mitch Mueller at 149. Iowa State put its first team points on the board when sophomore Cyler Sanderson scored a 10-5 major decision over sophomore Ryan Morningstar at 157. Sanderson took Morningstar to his back with over one minute remaining in the third period, but Morningstar held on to avoid the pin.
Iowa State struck first after the intermission when redshirt freshman Jon Reader scored a 7-3 decision over Iowa redshirt freshman Jake Kerr at 165. Kerr was wrestling for Hawkeye starter Mark Perry, who was serving a one-meet suspension after being disqualified for misconduct during Iowa’s Nov. 24 dual with Old Dominion. Hawkeye sophomore Jay Borschel scored crucial team points with an 18-7 win over Aron Scott at 174.
The Cyclones rallied with wins at 184 and 197 to make the score 17-13. Hawkeye senior Matt Fields sealed the team win with a 6-3 decision over sophomore David Zabriskie at heavyweight. Following are the match results:
Iowa 20, Iowa State 13
125 – Charlie Falck (I) dec. Mark Kist (ISU), 8-4
133 – Joe Slaton (I) dec. Nick Fanthorpe (ISU), 6-5
141 – Dan LeClere (I) dec. Nick Gallick (ISU), 3-1
149 – Brent Metcalf (I) maj. dec. Mitch Mueller (ISU), 14-4
157 – Cyler Sanderson (ISU) dec. Ryan Morningstar (I), 10-5
165 – Jon Reader (ISU) dec. Jake Kerr (I), 7-3
174 – Jay Borschel (I) maj. dec. Aron Scott (ISU), 18-7
184 – Jake Varner (ISU) dec. Phillip Keddy (I), 4-1
197 – David Bertolino (ISU) maj. dec. Chad Beatty (I), 16-5
Hwt. – Matt Fields (I) dec. David Zabriskie (ISU), 6-3
AMBROSE, EREKSON WIN TITLES AT JIM FOX OPEN
University of Iowa junior Dan Erekson (Hwt.) and freshman Brodie Ambrose (197) won individual titles while competing unattached at the Jim Fox Open Saturday in Dubuque, IA.
Iowa recorded a total of 13 placewinners at the tournament – eight of whom were competing unattached. Placing at the event were Hawkeye junior Michael Fahrer (165-4th), sophomores Luke Lofthouse (197-3rd) and Derek Coorough (141-5th), redshirt freshmen Matt Ballweg (149-2nd), Brooks Kopsa (157-2nd) and Aaron Janssen (165-3rd), and true freshmen Montell Marion (133-2nd), Vinnie Wagner (184-2nd), Blake Rasing (Hwt. – 2nd), Jordan Johnson (197-5th) and Tyler Halverson (133-6th).
BIG TEN NETWORK SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
The Big Ten Network has released its 2007-08 wrestling schedule. Nine dual matches and the finals of the 2007 Midlands Championships and 2008 Big Ten Championships are scheduled to be aired on the network.
Iowa will have two televised duals. The Iowa-Oklahoma State dual on Jan. 5 in Iowa City will air Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. (CT), and the Iowa-Ohio State dual on Jan. 18 in Columbus will air live at 5 p.m. (CT).
CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE
The Hawkeye wrestling staff of Tom Brands, Wes Hand, Doug Schwab and Mike Zadick earned a total of one Olympic gold medal, four NCAA titles, six conference titles and 12 all-America honors. Their combined college career wrestling record is 487-83-2 (.853).
IOWA WRESTLING HISTORY
Iowa’s overall dual meet record is 814-214-30 (.783) in 96 seasons. The Hawkeyes have won 20 national titles and 31 Big Ten titles. Iowa’s 48 NCAA champions have won a total of 74 NCAA individual titles, crowning six three-time and 13 two-time champions. The Hawkeyes’ 100 Big Ten champions have won a total of 181 conference titles. There have been seven four-time, 18 three-time and 24 two-time Iowa winners. Iowa’s 130 all-Americans have earned all-America status 266 times, including 16 four-time, 28 three-time and 32 two-time honorees.
FAMILY FOUR PACK AVAILABLE
The University of Iowa is offering a Family Four Pack ticket package for the Iowa vs. Indiana dual on Feb. 15. The package includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four drinks for $30. Orders can be placed through the University of Iowa Athletic Ticket Office or at 1-800-464-2957, 319-335-9327 or pics.hawkeyesports.com.
JOHNSON COUNTY I-CLUB WRESTLING LUNCHEON
The annual Johnson County I-Club wrestling luncheon will be held Jan. 4, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. at the First Avenue Club in Iowa City. Tickets for the event are $13 and must be purchased in advance. To purchase tickets, make a check payable to the Johnson County I-Club and mail to:
Iowa Wrestling
ATTN: Luncheon
223 Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Iowa City, IA 52242
NEXT COMPETITION
Iowa (5-0) will compete at the 45th annual Midlands Championships Dec. 29-30 in Evanston, IL. All matches will be held at Welsh-Ryan Arena on the Northwestern University campus. Session times are as follows:
Session I – Dec. 29 at 9:30 a.m.
Session II – Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.
Session III – Dec. 30 at Noon
Final Session – Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.
Click HERE for the Big Ten Network home page.