Feb. 17, 2008
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IOWA CITY, IA — The top-ranked Iowa wrestling team clinched a share of the 2008 Big Ten regular season title Sunday night when they defeated Michigan, 20-16, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes (20-1, 7-0 Big Ten) scored bonus points in four of their five wins to hold off the Wolverines (15-8, 2-5 Big Ten) in their final home dual and pick up their 13th straight win of the season. It is the first time an Iowa team has won 20 duals in a season since the 1990-91 squad that went 25-0-1.
Hawkeye junior Charlie Falck (125) and sophomore Joe Slaton (133) gave Iowa an 8-0 lead with their major decisions. Falck picked up his 25th season, 20th dual and fifth-straight win with the victory. Slaton extended his winning streak to 12 matches and remains undefeated in Big Ten duals (7-0).
The Wolverines put their first points on the board when freshman Kellen Russell scored a 6-4 win over Dan LeClere at 141. Iowa sophomore Brent Metcalf gave Iowa a 12-3 lead with his 25-8 technical fall in 5:10 at 149. Metcalf picked up his 25th season and career victory, and 20th dual win, while extending his winning streak to 22 matches. He remains undefeated in Big Ten duals (7-0) and in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (7-0).
Michigan rolled off four-straight wins to take a 16-12 lead with two bouts remaining. Wolverine senior Jeff Marsh beat sophomore Ryan Morningstar, 10-8, in sudden victory at 157 and Michigan senior Eric Tannenbaum scored a 13-5 major decision over redshirt freshman Jake Kerr at 165. Michigan junior Steve Luke avenged an earlier season loss to Iowa sophomore Jay Borschel, scoring 5-3 win at 174. Wolverine junior Tyrel Todd scored a takedown with eight seconds left in the match to beat Hawkeye sophomore Phillip Keddy, 3-1, at 184.
Iowa needed a win at 197 to have a shot at the team victory. Hawkeye sophomore Chad Beatty, who lost a 8-0 major decision to Wolverine freshman Anthony Biondo last month, scored a takedown as time expired to beat Biondo, 2-1. Hawkeye senior Matt Fields made the most of his last match in Carver-Hawkeye Arena by scoring a 20-5 technical fall over Michigan freshman Chad Bleske at heavyweight to secure the team win. Fields, who picked up his 85th career victory, and fellow senior Mark Perry (165) were honored on Senior Night before the dual.
Iowa will end the 2007-08 dual meet season Sunday, Feb. 24 at #9/#11 Illinois (12-3, 4-2 Big Ten). The dual will be held at Huff Hall at 1 p.m. in Champaign, IL.
Iowa 20, Michigan 16
125 – Charlie Falck (I) maj. dec. Michael Watts (M), 15-3
133 – Joe Slaton (I) maj. dec. Chris Diehl (M), 14-4
141 – Kellen Russell (M) dec. Dan LeClere (I), 6-4
149 – Brent Metcalf (I) tech. fall Justin Chrzanowski (M), 25-8 in 5:10
157 – Jeff Marsh (M) dec. Ryan Morningstar (I), 10-8 SV
165 – Eric Tannenbaum (M) maj. dec. Jake Kerr (I), 13-5
174 – Steve Luke (M) dec. Jay Borschel (I), 5-3
184 – Tyrel Todd (M) dec. Phillip Keddy (I), 3-1
197 – Chad Beatty (I) dec. Anthony Biondo (M), 2-1
Hwt. – Matt Fields (I) tech. fall Chad Bleske (M), 20-5
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