Ballweg, Marion Win Kaufman-Brand Open Titles

Nov. 21, 2009

OMAHA, NE — University of Iowa junior Matt Ballweg (157) and sophomore Montell Marion (141) each won titles at the 2009 Ryan Kaufman-Glen Brand Open Saturday in Omaha, NE. A total of 18 Hawkeye wrestlers competed at the tournament and 14 finished in the top five of their respective weight classes. The Kaufman-Brand Open, which is annually hosted by the University of Nebraska-Omaha, is one of the largest single-day collegiate events in the nation.

Matt Ballweg won the 157-pound title in the elite division, scoring a 7-2 win over Iowa State’s Andrew Sorenson in the finals. Ballweg scored a pin, two major decisions and two decisions on the day. His closest match was a 3-2 quarterfinal win over Hawkeye freshman Derek St. John, who placed third.

Marion, who was competing unattached, won the 141-pound title in the elite division. He won all four bouts by decision, including a 7-2 win over Nebraska-Omaha’s Mario Morgan in the finals.

The Hawkeyes had a total of six finalists in the elite division, with junior Tyler Clark (133) and sophomores J.J. Krutsinger (125), Vinnie Wagner (184) and Blake Rasing (Hwt.) all placing second at their respective weights.

Iowa had the most placewinners at 133 pounds as redshirt freshmen Nate Moore and Mark Ballweg placed third and fourth, respectively, in the elite division. Moore scored a 3-2 victory over Ballweg in the third-place match. Freshman Nick Trizzino (133) also placed fourth in the amateur division. Placing fourth for Iowa in the elite division were junior Luke Lofthouse (197) and freshman Ethen Lofthouse (174). Redshirt freshman Grant Gambrall placed fifth at 184 in the elite division, while freshman Joe DuCharme placed fifth at 165 in the amateur bracket.

Up next for Iowa is the 44th annual NWCA All-Star Classic Sunday in Fullerton, CA. Senior Daniel Dennis will face fourth-ranked Steve Bell of Maryland in the 133-pound match. The meet, which will be held at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Gym, is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. (CT). Bell won the pair’s only meeting – a 4-3 decision in sudden victory – at the 2008 Journeyman Duals in Binghamton, NY. It is the first time Dennis will compete in the event.

IOWA’S KAUFMAN-BRAND OPEN ELITE DIVISION RESULTS
125 Pounds
J.J. Krutsinger (I) pinned Venel Rene (WC), 4:53
J.J. Krutsinger (I) dec. Trent Sprenkle (NDSU-UN), 6-3
J.J. Krutsinger (I) tech. fall Pat Hunter (ICCC), 18-1, 5:15
Andrew Long (ISU) maj. dec. J.J. Krutsinger (I), 14-6

133 Pounds
Mark Ballweg (I-UN) tech. fall Matt Jacobsen (IND), 15-0, 5:29
Mark Ballweg (I-UN) pinned Joey Morrison (UNK), 1:58
Kyle Hutter (OD) maj. dec. Mark Ballweg (I-UN), 14-4
Mark Ballweg (I-UN) dec. Tom Kelliher (WIS-UN), 4-3
Nate Moore (I) dec. Mark Ballweg (I-UN), 3-2

Tyler Clark (I-UN) maj. dec. Ridge Kiley (UNL), 10-2
Tyler Clark (I-UN) dec. Nate Moore (I), 3-1 SV-1
Kyle Hutter (OD) dec. Tyler Clark (I-UN), 6-3

Nate Moore (I) pinned Tom Kelliher (WIS-UN), 0:59
Tyler Clark (I-UN) dec. Nate Moore (I), 3-1 SV-1
Nate Moore (I) pinned Aaron Ely (DANA-UN), 0:57
Nate Moore (I) dec. Mark Ballweg (I-UN), 3-2

141 Pounds
Montell Marion (I-UN) dec. Adam Manz (DANA), 8-6
Montell Marion (I-UN) dec. Laramie Shaffer (AC-UN), 6-3
Montell Marion (I-UN) dec. Ryan Adams (NDSU), 8-6
Montell Marion (I-UN) dec. Marion Morgan (UNO-UN), 7-2

149 Pounds
Colby Robinson (UCO) dec. Jeret Chiri (I), 6-5
Jeret Chiri (I) maj. dec. Jared Picket (IND), 8-0
Justin Hale (ISU) dec. Jeret Chiri (I), 6-1

Justin Hale (ISU) dec. Ethan Sebert (I-UN), 7-3
Ethan Sebert (I-UN) pinned Tanner Weltzen (AFA), 1:42
Colby Robinson (UCO) dec. Ethan Sebert (I-UN), 7-0

157 Pounds
Matt Ballweg (I) maj. dec. Brad Nardick (WIS), 14-0
Matt Ballweg (I) pinned Phil Bullington (CSC), 0:53
Matt Ballweg (I) dec. Derek St. John (I-UN), 3-2
Matt Ballweg (I) maj. dec. Brett Robbins (UNI), 10-2
Matt Ballweg (I) dec. Andrew Sorenson (ISU), 7-2

Derek St. John (I-UN) tech. fall Justin Turek (MSU), 24-8, 5:14
Matt Ballweg (I) dec. Derek St. John (I-UN), 3-2
Derek St. John (I-UN) maj. dec. Darren Olsen (MSU), 19-7
Derek St. John (I-UN) dec. Travis Elg (MSU), 11-6
Derek St. John (I-UN) maj. dec. Vince Salminen (NDSU), 10-2
Derek St. John (I-UN) won by medical forfeit over Brett Robbins (UNI)

Brian Easterling (CSC) dec. Stew Gillmor (I-UN), 3-2
Darren Olsen (MSU) pinned Stew Gillmor (I-UN), 4:42

174 Pounds
Ethen Lofthouse (I-UN) dec. Nate Matousek (UM), 6-2
Ethen Lofthouse (I-UN) dec. Scott Glasser (UM), 6-5
Tyler French (AFA) dec. Ethen Lofthouse (I-UN), 6-4
Ethen Lofthouse (I-UN) dec. Cody Yohn (UM), 5-4
Scott Glasser (UM) dec. Ethen Lofthouse (I-UN), 6-4 SV-1

184 Pounds
Vinnie Wagner (I-UN) dec. Aaron Denson (UNO), 9-3
Vinnie Wagner (I-UN) dec. Joe Budi (OD), 10-7
Sonny Yohn (UM) pinned Vinnie Wagner (I-UN), 3:46

Grant Gambrall (I) dec. Derek Ross (UNK), 5-2
Sonny Yohn (UM) dec. Grant Gambrall (I), 4-0
Aaron Denson (UNO) dec. Grant Gambrall (I), 11-7
Grant Gambrall (I) dec. Derek Ross (UNK), 8-7

197 Pounds
Luke Lofthouse (I) maj. dec. Jon Treml (UWP), 16-6
Luke Lofthouse (I) dec. Austin Boehm (UNO), 5-2
Tyler Sorenson (SDSU) dec. Luke Lofthouse (I), 3-1
Luke Lofthouse (I) dec. Kyle Simonson (ISU), 5-2
Jesse Strawn (OD) dec. Luke Lofthouse (I), 8-3

Heavyweight
Blake Rasing (I) dec. Dave Marone (VT-UN), 8-6 SV-1
Blake Rasing (I) dec. Brady Wilson (MSU), 4-2 TB-2
Tucker Lane (UNL) dec. Blake Rasing (I), 3-2

IOWA’S KAUFMAN-BRAND OPEN AMATEUR DIVISION RESULTS
133 Pounds
Nick Trizzino (I-UN) maj. dec. Jared Wilmert (DANA), 14-5
Nick Trizzino (I-UN) dec. Marshall Koethe (ICCC-UN), 9-2
Nick Trizzino (I-UN) pinned Justin LaValle (OD), 3:23
David Thorn (UM-UN) dec. Nick Trizzino (I-UN), 3-1
Nick Trizzino (I-UN) dec. Matt Katusin (UNK), 3-0
Justin LaValle (OD) dec. Nick Trizzino (I-UN), 4-3

165 Pounds
Joe DuCharme (I-UN) dec. Derrick Ageday (NCCC), 11-5
Jake Waste (IND) dec. Joe DuCharme (I-UN), 2-0
Joe DuCharme (I-UN) dec. D.J. Dubas (CSC-UN), 9-3
Joe DuCharme (I-UN) dec. Jarred Gubbels (UNL-UN), 15-9
Alec Ortiz (UM-UN) dec. Joe DuCharme (I-UN), 11-10
Joe DuCharme (I-UN) won by medical forfeit over Mike Viera (NCCC)

184 Pounds
Tomas Lira (I-UN) dec. Trey Vicknair (NCCC), 8-4
Chad Wright (LCC) maj. dec. Tomas Lira (I-UN), 10-2
Tomas Lira (I-UN) dec. Jeff Graber (TSU), 12-8
Tomas Lira (I-UN) pinned Bryce Drefke (SDSU), 2:36
Tomas Lira (I-UN) dec. Cory Devine (WAYNE), 9-7
Mitch Brown (UNO-UN) dec. Tomas Lira (I-UN), 5-3

Complete Kaufman-Brand Open Elite Division Brackets in PDF Format

Complete Kaufman-Brand Open Amateur Division Brackets in PDF Format