March 21, 2009
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ST. LOUIS, MO — Despite crowning no individual champions, the University of Iowa wrestling team collected its second straight national team title at the 2009 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, MO, Saturday night. The Hawkeyes scored 96.5 points, edging runner-up Ohio State by 4.5 points, to record the school’s 22nd NCAA team title. That is the closest margin of victory since Iowa won the 1999 team title by two points, and only the second time in school history that the Hawkeyes won the NCAA title without an individual champion. Iowa also accomplished that feat in 1978. It is also the first year that the Hawkeyes have not crowned an individual champion since 2006.
“This championship was won this morning,” said Hawkeye Head Coach Tom Brands. “We had a lot of guys that came through for us. We have five all-Americans who are all back next year. It’s bittersweet with Brent’s (Metcalf) match, but our fans love championships.”
Iowa’s lone finalist – junior Brent Metcalf – was upset in the 149-pound finals by #3 seed Darrion Caldwell of North Carolina State, 11-6. Metcalf, who won the 2008 NCAA 149-pound title and was the top seed for this year’s tournament at that weight class, saw his 69-match winning streak snapped in the finals. A team point was deducted from Iowa’s team score for unsportsmanlike conduct after the match. Metcalf ends the season with a 37-1 record, and has a 72-2 career mark. Both losses are to Caldwell.
The Hawkeyes crowned a total of five all-Americans in Metcalf and juniors Daniel Dennis (133-7th), Ryan Morningstar (165-3rd), Phillip Keddy (184-4th) and Dan Erekson (Hwt.-4th). The tournament’s six-session attendance total of 97,111 set the all-time record for the event.
Iowa ends the 2009 season winning two straight NCAA and Big Ten titles. The Hawkeye posted a perfect 24-0 dual meet record, going 8-0 in Big Ten duals.
FINAL NCAA TEAM STANDINGS
Place Team – Points
1. Iowa – 96.5
2. Ohio State – 92
3. Iowa State – 84.5
4. Nebraska – 78.5
5. Cornell – 73.5
6. Edinboro – 72
7. Missouri – 70
8. Illinois – 55
9. Wisconsin – 53
10. Maryland – 47.5
IOWA’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS RESULTS
165 – #3 Darrion Caldwell (N. Carolina St.) dec. #1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa), 11-6