March 20, 2008
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Coach Brands Press Conference (Day One) | Session II Photo Gallery
ST. LOUIS, MO — The top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team is in first place with 29.5 points after Thursday’s first day of competition at the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, MO. The Hawkeyes hold a three-point lead over second-place Nebraska, and Iowa State is in third with 25.
Iowa posted a near-perfect 8-1 record Friday night, winning 15 of 18 bouts on the day, and advancing seven wrestlers to Friday morning’s championship quarterfinals. Hawkeye sophomore Ryan Morningstar is also still alive in the 157-pound consolation bracket.
“That sets us up,” said Iowa Head Coach Tom Brands. “We’ve got seven guys going in the quarterfinals – seven guys with firepower. They have got to be ready in the morning because it starts over for everyone. We did a good job of picking up bonus points today, but we have to wrestle hard and smart the entire time, every time.”
Hawkeye junior Charlie Falck kicked off Thursday night’s session at 125 with a 5-2 win over Penn State’s Mark McKnight, picking up his 30th season win. Falck, who is the fifth seed, will face fourth-seeded Tanner Gardner of Stanford in the quarterfinals. Falck is 0-2 against Gardner, losing a 3-2 decision at the 2004 Midlands and getting pinned in 2:41 at last year’s NCAA Championships.
Sophomore 133-pounder Joe Slaton followed with a 9-5 victory over Nebraska’s Kenny Jordan. Slaton is the fourth seed, and he will face fifth-seeded Nick Fanthorpe of Iowa State in the quarterfinals. It will be the first meeting between the intra-state rival teams at the tournament. Slaton is 1-0 against Fanthorpe, winning a 6-5 decision at the dual in December.
Top-seeded 149-pounder Brent Metcalf posted a 10-5 win over Indiana’s Kurt Kinser to advance to the quarterfinals. The Hawkeye sophomore will take on ninth-seeded Lance Palmer of Ohio State. Metcalf won the only meeting between the two – a 5-3 decision at the dual in January.
Second-seeded senior Mark Perry scored team bonus points in his second match of the day with his 12-2 major decision over Air Force’s Stephen Crozier at 165. Perry will face 10th-seeded Michael Cannon of American in the quarterfinals.
Sophomore Jay Borschel also posted his second bonus-point victory of the day when he stuck Illinois’ John Dergo in 6:06 at 174. The fourth-seeded Hawkeye will face fifth-seeded Brandon Sinnott of Central Michigan in the quarterfinals. Borschel is 1-0 against Sinnott, winning an 8-5 decision at the Midlands Championships in December.
Sophomore Phillip Keddy scored an escape in the tiebreak period to defeat Kirk Smith of Boise State, 2-1. Keddy, who picked up his 40th career victory with the win, is the seventh seed at 184. He will face second-seeded Mike Pucillo of Ohio State in the quarterfinals. Keddy is 0-2 against Pucillo, losing a 3-2 decision at the dual in January and a 9-4 match last season.
Hawkeye senior heavyweight Matt Fields won Iowa’s final championship bout of the day, scoring a 4-1 win over Indiana’s Nate Everhart. Fields, who is the fourth seed, will face fifth-seeded Jared Rosholt of Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals. Fields is 2-1 against Rosholt, winning the last two bouts in the series.
Iowa went 1-1 in the consolation bracket. Morningstar scored a 4-1 victory over American’s Christian Stout to stay alive in the tournament. The Hawkeye sophomore will face fifth-seeded C.P. Schlatter of Minnesota Friday morning. Morningstar is 0-3 against Schlatter, losing all three bouts by decision. Iowa sophomore 141-pounder Dan LeClere lost a 13-7 decision to Arizona State’s Chris Drouin to end his season. LeClere, who was the tournament’s eighth seed, posted a 22-11 record at 141 this season.
Friday morning’s matches are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. (CT) at the Scottrade Center. Competition will include the championship quarterfinals and two rounds of consolation matches.
NCAA FIRST ROUND TEAM STANDINGS (Top 10 Teams)
Place Team Points
1. Iowa 29.5
2. Nebraska 26.5
3. Iowa State 25
4. Central Michigan 24
Minnesota 24
6. Missouri 23
Oklahoma State 23
8. Ohio State 22
9. Cornell 17.5
Penn State 17.5
IOWA’S NCAA SESSION II RESULTS
Championship Round
125 – #5 Charlie Falck (Iowa) dec. Mark McKnight (Penn State), 5-2
133 – #4 Joe Slaton (Iowa) dec. Kenny Jordan (Nebraska), 9-5
149 – #1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa) dec. Kurt Kinser (Indiana), 10-5
165 – #2 Mark Perry (Iowa) maj. dec. Stephen Crozier (Air Force), 12-2
174 – #4 Jay Borschel (Iowa) pinned John Dergo (Illinois), 6:06
184 – #7 Phillip Keddy (Iowa) dec. Kirk Smith (Boise State), 2-1 TB
Hwt – #4 Matt Fields (Iowa) dec. Nate Everhart (Indiana), 4-1
Consolation Round
141 – Chris Drouin (Arizona State) dec. #8 Dan LeClere (Iowa), 13-7
157 – Ryan Morningstar (Iowa) dec. Christopher Stout (American), 4-1
IOWA’S NCAA SESSION III MATCH-UPS
Championship Quarterfinals
125 – #5 Charlie Falck (Iowa) vs. #4 Tanner Gardner (Stanford)
133 – #4 Joe Slaton (Iowa) vs. #5 Nick Fanthorpe (Iowa State)
149 – #1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa) vs. #9 Lance Palmer (Ohio State)
165 – #2 Mark Perry (Iowa) vs. #10 Michael Cannon (American)
174 – #4 Jay Borschel (Iowa) vs. #5 Brandon Sinnott (C. Michigan)
184 – #7 Phillip Keddy (Iowa) vs. #2 Mike Pucillo (Ohio State)
Hwt – #4 Matt Fields (Iowa) vs. #5 Jared Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Consolation Round 157 – Ryan Morningstar (Iowa) vs. #5 C.P. Schlatter (Minnesota)
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