Jan. 23, 2009
IOWA CITY, IA — The top-ranked Hawkeye wrestling team posted its 30th consecutive dual win Friday night when they defeated #15/#13 Wisconsin, 24-12, in their Big Ten season opener in front of 6,981 fans in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It was Iowa’s 165th win in Carver-Hawkeye, and the team improved to 16-0 on the season (1-0 Big Ten). Wisconsin fell to 6-4 (0-1 Big Ten) with the loss.
Iowa won six of the night’s 10 bouts, starting with a decision by senior Charlie Falck at 125 and a match-ending technical fall by junior Daniel Dennis at 133. It was Falck’s first match since injuring his ankle at the 2008 Midlands. Wisconsin senior Zach Tanelli put the Badgers’ first points on the board with a 5-0 win over Iowa senior Alex Tsirtsis at 141. Hawkeye junior Brent Metcalf widened Iowa’s lead to 14-3 with his 2:12 pin over fifth-ranked Kyle Ruschell at 149. Metcalf, who is ranked first in the nation, has won his last 53 matches and is 21-0 this season.
Wisconsin made a run at the mid-way point with decisions from Badger freshmen at 157 and 165. Badger Ben Jordan scored an 8-4 win over Hawkeye sophomore Matt Ballweg at 157, and Andrew Howe posted a 4-3 victory over Iowa junior Ryan Morningstar in the second tiebreak period. Howe was awarded the win due to a seven-second riding time advantage after the second tiebreak.
Hawkeye juniors Jay Borschel and Philllip Keddy responded with wins at 174 and 184, respectively, to make the team score 21-9. Borschel picked up his 50th career win with a 7-3 win over freshman Travis Rutt at 174, and Keddy posted his sixth straight win with a 17-4 major decision over sophomore Eric Bugenhagen at 184.
Third-ranked Badger Dallas Herbst fought off late attempts by Hawkeye junior Chad Beatty at 197 to post a 2-1 win, but the decision put the team win out of reach for Wisconsin. Iowa junior Dan Erekson closed out the dual with a 3-2 decision over Badger senior Kyle Massey at heavyweight.
The top-ranked Hawkeyes will host undefeated Illinois (7-0, 0-0 Big Ten) Sunday at 5 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The dual will be aired live on the Big Ten Network, and has been designated a “Be Bold, Wear Gold” event. The Hawkeyes will also host the 2009 Iowa Wrestling Youth Clinic at 3 p.m. Sunday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Youth, ages eighth grade and younger, are invited to participate in the annual free clinic put on by members of the University of Iowa wrestling coaching staff. Participants will receive a free ticket at the ticket office window to the Iowa-Illinois dual and a complimentary clinic t-shirt. Friends and family members will be able to purchase their ticket into the dual at this time as well. Check-in will start at 2:30 p.m. at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena north entrance.
MEET RESULTS
Iowa 24, Wisconsin 12
125 – Charlie Falck (I) dec. Drew Hammen (W), 10-3
133 – Daniel Dennis (I) tech. fall Tom Kelliher (W), 19-4 in 4:24
141 – Zach Tanelli (W) dec. Alex Tsirtsis (I), 5-0
149 – Brent Metcalf (I) pinned Kyle Ruschell (W), 2:12
157 – Ben Jordan (W) dec. Matt Ballweg (I), 8-4
165 – Andrew Howe (W) dec. Ryan Morningstar (I), 4-3 TB-2
174 – Jay Borschel (I) dec. Travis Rutt (W), 7-3
184 – Phillip Keddy (I) maj. dec. Eric Bugenhagen (W), 17-4
197 – Dallas Herbst (W) dec. Chad Beatty (I), 2-1
Hwt. – Dan Erekson (I) dec. Kyle Massey (W), 3-2