Feb. 6, 2009
EAST LANSING, MI — Unranked Michigan State put up a fight, but the top-ranked Hawkeye wrestling team held off the Spartans to post a 22-15 victory Friday night at Jenison Field House in East Lansing, MI. Iowa (19-0, 3-0 Big Ten) went 6-4 on the night to keep its 33-match winning streak alive. Michigan State fell to 6-4 (1-3 Big Ten) in front of 1,103 fans.
The Hawkeyes jumped out to a 16-0 lead with wins at the first four weights. Iowa senior Charlie Falck posted his 85th career win with a 25-13 major decision over Eric Olanowski at 125 to start the dual. In the night’s marquee match between two top-ranked wrestlers, Hawkeye junior Daniel Dennis handed Franklin Gomez his second loss of the season with a 3-2 victory at 133. Gomez, who is ranked first in the nation by W.I.N. Magazine and Amateur Wrestling News, is the defending Big Ten champion with a 13-2 record. Dennis, who is ranked first in the nation by Intermat/NWCA/NWMA, improved to 20-2 on the season and has won his last five matches. Hawkeye senior Alex Tsirtsis kept the Iowa streak going with a 6-2 win over Collin Dozier at 141. Davison, MI, native Brent Metcalf celebrated his homecoming by sticking David Cheza in 4:41 at 149. The top-ranked Hawkeye junior is 24-0 and on a 56-match winning streak – pinning his last four opponents.
Michigan State posted three straight one-point wins at 157, 165 and 174 to make the team score 16-9. Sophomore Colby Covington was wrestling for injured Hawkeye starter Jay Borschel at 174. Hawkeye juniors Phillip Keddy (184) and Chad Beatty (197) both posted decisions to seal the team victory. Keddy remains undefeated at 19-0 in dual competition, while Beatty picked up his 25th career victory. Hawkeye junior heavyweight Dan Erekson sustained an injury to his right leg in the first period of his match and could not continue – defaulting to Alan O’Donnell to end the dual.
Iowa will take its 33-match winning streak to University Park, PA, when it faces #22/#17 Penn State (7-9-2, 0-3-2 Big Ten) Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT). The Nittany Lions lost a 33-7 decision to #6/#5 Ohio State earlier Friday night.
Iowa 22, Michigan State 15
125 – Charlie Falck (I) maj. dec. Eric Olanowski (MSU), 25-13
133 – Daniel Dennis (I) dec. Franklin Gomez (MSU), 3-2
141 – Alex Tsirtsis (I) dec. Collin Dozier (MSU), 6-2
149 – Brent Metcalf (I) pinned David Cheza (MSU), 4:41
157 – Anthony Jones (MSU) dec. Matt Ballweg (I), 1-0
165 – Rex Kendle (MSU) dec. Ryan Morningstar (I), 5-4
174 – Ian Hinton (MSU) dec. Colby Covington (I), 3-2 TB
184 – Phillip Keddy (I) dec. Nick Palmieri (MSU), 8-2
197 – Chad Beatty (I) dec. Tyler Dickenson (MSU), 12-5
Hwt – Alan O’Donnell (MSU) won by injury default over Dan Erekson (I)