Jan. 18, 2008
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COLUMBUS, OH — The top-ranked Iowa wrestling team opened the 2007-08 Big Ten season with 24-10 win over #6 Ohio State at St. John Arena in Columbus, OH, Friday night. The victory is Iowa’s fifth straight and extended Iowa’s winning streak in the series with the Buckeyes to 32 matches. The Hawkeyes improved to 12-1 overall, 1-0 in the Big Ten, while Ohio State fell to 13-3, 0-1.
Iowa jumped out to a 12-0 lead with decisions in the first four matches by a quartet of Hawkeye sophomores. Joe Slaton improved to 16-2 with a 6-2 win over Reece Humphrey at 133 to open the dual. Dan LeClere (141) and Brent Metcalf (149) followed with identical 5-3 wins over their Ohio State opponents. LeClere is now 14-4 this season, while Metcalf is 17-1 in collegiate matches and 12-1 in duals. Metcalf, who was named Wrestler of the Week by the Big Ten and TheMat.com, extended his winning streak to 14 matches.
The Hawkeyes and Buckeyes traded wins at the last five weights. Ohio State put its first points on the board at 165 when Colt Sponseller scored a 22-11 major decision over redshirt freshman Jake Kerr. Kerr was filling in for senior Mark Perry, who injured his knee last week at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. Iowa sophomore Jay Borschel (174) responded after the intermission, pinning Alex Picazo in 3:43, but #3 Mike Pucillo of Ohio State scored a 3-2 win over Phillip Keddy at 184 to keep the Buckeyes alive.
Hawkeye sophomore Chad Beatty scored a hard-fought 3-2 win the second tiebreak period over John Weakley at 197. Beatty, who has wrestled at 174, 184 and 197 this season, notched six seconds of riding time in the overtime to post his second dual win at 197 and seal the team victory for Iowa.
Ohio State’s second-ranked heavyweight J.D. Bergman scored the final Buckeye win of the night (4-2), handing Hawkeye senior Matt Fields his first dual loss of the season. Iowa junior Charlie Falck ended the dual with a 9-3 win over Nikko Triggas at 125. Falck remains undefeated (13-0) in dual matches and is 21-1 in collegiate competition.
Iowa (12-1, 1-0 Big Ten) will host #7 Penn State (8-2, 0-0 Big Ten) Sunday at 2 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. There will be a free youth wrestling clinic at noon, in Carver-Hawkeye, prior to the dual. Children from kindergarten through eighth grade can join members of the Iowa coaching staff on the mat to learn some fundamental techniques.
Iowa 24, Ohio State 10
133 – Joe Slaton (I) dec. Reece Humphrey (OSU), 6-2
141 – Dan LeClere (I) dec. J Jaggers (OSU), 5-3
149 – Brent Metcalf (I) dec. Lance Palmer (OSU), 5-3
157 – Ryan Morningstar (I) dec. Jason Johnstone (OSU), 5-4
165 – Colt Sponseller (OSU) maj. dec. Jake Kerr (I), 22-11
174 – Jay Borschel (I) pinned Alex Picazo (OSU), 3:43
184 – Mike Pucillo (OSU) dec. Phillip Keddy (I), 3-2
197 – Chad Beatty (I) dec. John Weakley (OSU), 3-2 TB-2
Hwt. – J.D. Bergman (OSU) dec, Matt Fields (I), 4-2
125 – Charlie Falck (I) dec. Nikko Triggas (OSU), 9-3
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