Jan. 30, 2009
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- 2008-09 UI wrestling media guide
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- Big Ten Network highlights
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Talk about going for a ride.
The top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team defeated Bucknell 40-3 on Friday, and in the process compiled just under 17 minutes of riding time in nine contested bouts.
“We spent a little bit more time on top than usual because we wanted to get that fall,” said UI junior 197-pounder Chad Beatty, who rode Rob Waltko for 3 minutes, 12 seconds. “It helped that we were going to our scoring attacks to the legs quicker and we didn’t spend a lot of time tying up. We went straight to our shots.”
Iowa improved to 18-0 and the Bison slipped to 8-8. Two Bucknell competitors — David Marble at 133 and Andy Rendos at 165 — entered Friday’s match with top 20 individual rankings.
Here is the riding time breakdown for the victorious Hawkeyes: Charlie Falck (2:10), Daniel Dennis (2:13), Alex Tsirtsis (1:06 with a fall in 1:22), Brent Metcalf (2:22 with a fall in 4:20), Matt Ballweg (2:11), Ryan Morningstar (0:06), Phillip Keddy (3:26) and Beatty.
“If we go straight to our shots, we’re going to spend more time on top,” Beatty explained. “Riding and trying to get the fall. Especially tonight we were definitely trying to get the pins.”
Tsirtsis (141) and Metcalf (149) were successful getting falls in back-to-back bouts. Ballweg (157) and Keddy (184) won by shut out. Of the nine individual matches, Bucknell scored offensive points in only one — Shane Riccio’s 7-2 decision over Colby Covington at 165.
Beatty improved to 10-3 on the season with his second consecutive victory. With a national ranking anywhere from 13th to 19th, Beatty is beginning to enter more matches as the favorite.
“I don’t know if you’re ever favored,” he said after posting a 26-11 match termination. “On paper, maybe, but what does that mean? That’s just like rankings — they don’t really mean anything. I prepare for every match the same, it doesn’t matter if you’re favored or not favored. You still have to be up for the match, it doesn’t matter who you’re wrestling. You still have to go out and score points and be offensive and wrestle your match.”
The Hawkeyes — winners of 32 consecutive dual matches — are back in action Friday, Feb. 6, at Michigan State.