Dec. 22, 2009
THIS WEEK
The top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team (9-0) will try for its 21st Midlands title Dec. 29-30 in Evanston, IL. The defending team champion, Iowa has won the most team titles (20) in the 46 years of the meet. All matches will be held at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Northwestern’s campus.
MIDLANDS SESSION & TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets can be purchased from the Northwestern University Athletic Ticket Office at (847) 491-2287 or www.nusports.com. All-session passes are $50 for reserved theater-style seats, $38 for adult bleacher general admission and $32 for student bleacher general admission. Session start times and individual session ticket prices are as follows:
Session – Day – Start Time – Ticket Prices (R/AB/SB)
Session I – Tuesday – 9:30 a.m. – NA/$9/$7
Session II – Tuesday – 7 p.m. – $11/$10/$8
Session III – Wednesday – Noon – $13/$11/$9
Session IV – Wednesday – 7 p.m. – $15/$13/$10
R – reserved seats, AB – adult bleachers, SB – student bleachers
ON THE AIR
Radio – Steven Grace and two-time Hawkeye NCAA champion and four-time all-American Mark Ironside will call Tuesday’s finals live on AM-800, KXIC. Live broadcasts from all four sessions are available on www.hawkeyesports.com using the XXL All-Access subscription ($14.95 per month or $119.95 per year).
Television – The Big Ten Network will air Tuesday’s finals Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. (CT). Tim Johnson, Jim Gibbons and Jake Herbert will call the action.
Internet – Press releases, tournament brackets and tournament notes will be available on the Northwestern University website, www.nusports.com. Session results and recaps will be available on the University of Iowa website, www.hawkeyesports.com. Current Hawkeye staff and student-athlete head shots can be found at pics.hawkeyesports.com.
TEN HAWKEYES EARN MIDLANDS EARLY PRE-SEEDS
Ten Hawkeye wrestlers have earned early pre-seeds for the upcoming Midlands tournament. Two-time Midlands champion Brent Metcalf (149), defending champion Daniel Dennis (133) and Hawkeye senior Jay Borschel (174) each earned the top pre-seed at their respective weight classes.
Iowa has three wrestlers earning pre-seeds at 141, as senior Dan LeClere is second, senior Joe Slaton is third and sophomore Montell Marion is eighth. Slaton is competing unattached at the event.
Defending 165-pound champion Ryan Morningstar is seeded third at his weight class, as are redshirt freshman Matt McDonough (125) and senior Phillip Keddy (184). Junior Chad Beatty is seeded fifth at 197.
MIDLANDS HISTORY AND HONORS
Iowa has won the most team titles (20) in the 46 years of Midlands history. The Hawkeyes won their first team title in 1974, and proceeded to win nine of the next 11. Iowa also won team titles in 1990, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008 and 2009. Other team winners include Iowa State (8), Michigan State (3), Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club (3), Illinois (3), Michigan (2), Arizona State (1), Minnesota (1), North Carolina (1) and Oklahoma State (1). Team scores were not kept at four tournaments (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995).
Seven former Hawkeyes are enshrined in the Midlands Hall of Fame. They are Ed Banach, Chris Campbell, Steve Combs, Tim Cysewski, Barry Davis, Randy Lewis and Chuck Yagla. Former Hawkeye Head Coach Dan Gable is also a Midlands Hall of Fame member.
Former Hawkeye Joe Williams holds the most individual titles in Midlands history, winning 10. Other former Hawkeyes to win at least three titles are Tim Cysweski (5), Mark Ironside (4), Royce Alger (3), Ed Banach (3), Jim Heffernan (3), Randy Lewis (3) and Chuck Yagla (3). Several Hawkeyes also hold Midlands weight class records. Ironside has the most wins (27) at 141 pounds, and he and Cysewski hold the most titles (4 each) at that weight. Jim Heffernan holds the most titles (3) at 157, while Williams holds the most wins (35) and titles (6) at 174. Pat Kennedy holds the fastest fall (11 seconds) at 165. Gable holds the most titles (3) and falls (13) at 149 pounds.
2008 MIDLANDS REVIEW
The University of Iowa wrestling team won its 20th Midlands title and crowned three individual champions at the 2008 tournament in Evanston, IL. The Hawkeyes tallied 156.5 points in the two-day tournament, edging out runner-up Iowa State by three points. Hawkeye juniors Daniel Dennis (133), Brent Metcalf (149) and Ryan Morningstar (165) each won individual titles. Iowa went 7-2 during the fourth and final session. Metcalf received the tournament’s Highest Point Total Award for scoring 27 team points during the competition.
Senior Alex Tsirtsis (141) and junior Phillip Keddy (184) were both the second seeds at their respective weight classes, and both lost their first matches of the season in the finals.
The Hawkeyes went 4-0 in the fourth session’s consolation bracket. Top-seeded junior Jay Borschel placed third at 174 with a 4-1 win over #2 Raymond Jordan of Missouri. Junior Dan Erekson (Hwt.), sophomore Jake Kerr (165) and redshirt freshman Montell Marion (133) each placed fifth for Iowa. Kerr, who was unseeded, scored a 7-3 upset over #2 seed Nick Marable of Missouri. Eighth-seeded Erekson also upset #6 Rashawn Goff of Cleveland State, 7-3, in the fifth place match.
IOWA WRESTLING HISTORY
Iowa’s overall dual meet record is 863-215-30 (.792) in 100 seasons. The Hawkeyes have won 22 national titles and 33 Big Ten titles. Iowa’s 49 NCAA champions have won a total of 57 NCAA individual titles, crowning six three-time and 14 two-time champions. The Hawkeyes’ 101 Big Ten champions have won a total of 184 conference titles. There have been seven four-time, 18 three-time and 26 two-time Iowa winners. Iowa’s 138 all-Americans have earned all-America status 278 times, including 17 four-time, 27 three-time and 35 two-time honorees.
HAWKEYE WRESTLING TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for Iowa’s five remaining home meets are on sale at the University of Iowa Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-464-2957, 319-335-9327 or www.hawkeyesports.com.Following are this season’s prices.
Single Meet vs. Michigan State, Northwestern
Advance Purchase: $10 – Adult, $5 – Youth
Door Purchase: $12 – Adult, $6 – Youth
Free Admission: UI students, Children ages 5 and under
Single Meet vs. Oklahoma State, Penn State and Ohio State
Advance Purchase: $13 – Adult, $7 – Youth, $2 – Age 5 and under
Door Purchase: $15 – Adult, $8 – Youth, $2 – Age 5 and under
Free Admission: UI students
IOWA PINS DOWN NORTHERN IOWA, 48-3
The top-ranked Hawkeyes (9-0) recorded six pins and three major decisions en route to a 48-3 win over Northern Iowa (3-4) Dec. 10 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The 45-point victory margin is Iowa’s largest in the 79-year series. The win was also Iowa Head Coach Tom Brands’ 85th career victory.
Iowa also collected 659 pounds of food in a non-perishable food drive at the meet. Attendance for the dual was 5,490.
The Hawkeyes, who picked up their 47th straight dual win and 20th consecutive victory in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, collected 29 takedowns on the evening, allowing just one for the Panthers. It was the third time this season that Iowa pinned six opponents in a dual, duplicating their efforts against Iowa Lakes and Southern Illinois Edwardsville at the Iowa City Duals on Nov. 20. Iowa decked seven opponents that day against Cornell College.
Hawkeye redshirt freshmen Matt McDonough (125) and Nate Moore (133), sophomore Montell Marion (141) and senior Brent Metcalf (149) gave Iowa a convincing 24-0 lead with their pins. McDonough had a 9-2 lead before sticking Caleb Flores in 4:38 to improve to 9-0 on the season. Moore, who was filling in for senior starter Daniel Dennis, made the most of his dual meet debut by scoring a first-period pin over Ryan Jauch in 2:42. Marion, who was also making his first dual appearance in a Hawkeye singlet, built a 6-2 lead over Trent Washington before decking him in 3:28. Metcalf had a 14-2 lead over Trevor Kittleson before recording the fall in 3:49 and improving to 9-0. The Hawkeye senior 149-pounder has seven pins this season and 38 in his career. He only needs two more to break into Iowa’s top 10 career pins list.
Junior Aaron Janssen took Iowa into the intermission with an 11-1 major decision over Tyson Reiner at 157. It was Janssen’s 15th career win and his first major decision of the season.
Seniors Ryan Morningstar (165) and Jay Borschel (174) got the Hawkeye fans back on their feet with second-period pins, giving Iowa a 40-0 lead. Morningstar led 1-0 going into the third period before recording the fall over David Bonin in 5:32. Borschel, who is 9-0 on the season, had a 5-0 lead over Jarion Beets before recording the pin in 4:44 to pick up his 70th career win.
Major decisions from seniors Phillip Keddy (184) and Chad Beatty (197) built the Hawkeye lead to 48-0. Keddy recorded the most takedowns of the night (6) in his 14-5 win over Andy O’Loughlin, while Beatty tallied five takedowns in his 15-5 victory over Dustin Bauman.
Northern Iowa’s Christian Brantley recorded the Panther’s only win and takedown of the night, scoring a 3-2 decision over Hawkeye sophomore Blake Rasing at heavyweight to end the dual.
Iowa 48, Northern Iowa 3
125 – Matt McDonough (I) pinned Caleb Flores (UNI), 4:38
133 – Nate Moore (I) pinned Ryan Jauch (UNI), 2:42
141 – Montell Marion (I) pinned Trent Washington (UNI), 3:28
149 – Brent Metcalf (I) pinned Trevor Kittleson (UNI), 3:49
157 – Aaron Janssen (I) maj. dec. Tyson Reiner (UNI), 11-1
165 – Ryan Morningstar (I) pinned David Bonin (UNI), 5:32
174 – Jay Borschel (I) pinned Jarion Beets (UNI), 4:44
184 – Phillip Keddy (I) maj. dec. Andy O’Loughlin (UNI), 14-5
197 – Chad Beatty (I) maj. dec. Dustin Bauman (UNI), 15-5
Hwt. – Christian Brantley (UNI) dec. Blake Rasing (I), 3-2
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Iowa’s 11 seniors – Chad Beatty, Jay Borschel, Daniel Dennis, Dan Erekson, Michael Fahrer, Phillip Keddy, Dan LeClere, Rick Loera, Brent Metcalf, Ryan Morningstar, Joe Slaton – bring a wealth of talent and experience to the mat.
The group has a combined career record of 558-201, going 346-109 in duals, 94-48 in Big Ten duals and 131-36 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The group has scored 1,409 team points in dual competition and has started a combined 458 dual matches. Iowa’s seniors have won one NCAA individual title, three Big Ten individual titles, nine all-America honors and qualified for the NCAA Championships 16 times.
CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE
The Hawkeye wrestling staff of Tom Brands, Terry Brands, Doug Schwab, Mike Zadick and Danny Song earned a total of one Olympic gold medal, one Olympic bronze medal, six NCAA titles, 10 conference titles and 13 all-America honors.
WRESTLING SUMMER CAMPS
For dates and more information about 2010 Iowa Wrestling Summer camps visit www.iowawrestlingcamps.com.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
On the 2009-10 Hawkeye wrestling team, there is one set of brothers, two wrestlers whose fathers wrestled at Iowa and two uncle-nephew combinations.
Junior Matt Ballweg (157) and redshirt freshman Mark Ballweg (133/141) are brothers who hail from Waverly, IA.
Senior Rick Loera (197), redshirt freshman Matt McDonough (125/133) and true freshman Nick Trizzino all had fathers who wrestled for the Hawkeyes. George Loera (1975-76) and Mike McDonough (1974-76) wrestled on the same team, while Mark Trizzino was an all-American (1984) and four-year letterwinner (1981-84) for the Hawkeyes.
Junior Luke Lofthouse (197) is the uncle of Hawkeye true freshman Ethen Lofthouse (174). Nick Trizzino’s uncle, Scott Trizzino, was also a three-time all-American (1978-79-81) and four-time letterwinner (1977-79, 1981) for the Hawkeyes.
There have been 10 sets of brothers to wrestle together in the Hawkeye lineup since the 1950s. They are Don and Tom Huff (1961), Mark and Scott Trizzino (1981), Lenny, Larry and Jim Zalesky (1981-82), Ed and Lou Banach (1981-83), Marty and Lindley Kistler (1984-85), Jim and John Heffernan (1987), Tom and Terry Brands (1989-92), Troy and Terry Steiner (1991-93), Ryan and Randy Fulsaas (2001) and Luke and Ty Eustice (2003-04).
There have also been five sets of twins to wrestle at Iowa. They are Ed and Lou Banach, Tom and Terry Brands, Ben and Brett Stedman, Troy and Terry Steiner, and Randy and Ryan Fulsaas.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR OMAHA
The 2010 NCAA Wrestling Championships are scheduled for March 18-20 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, NE. The NCAA, University of Nebraska and the Omaha Sports Commission will co-host the event. Tickets to the event are available at (402) 422-1212 or ticketmaster.com.
Sessions one (11 a.m.) and two (6:30 p.m.) will be held Mar. 18, sessions three (10 a.m.) and four (6 p.m.) will be Mar. 19, and session five (10 a.m.) and the championship finals (6:30 p.m.) are set for Mar. 20. All times are Central.
UP NEXT
Top-ranked Iowa (9-0) will compete at the 2010 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals Jan. 9-10 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The two-day annual tournament features top wrestlers from each collegiate athletic division (NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, JUCO and Women’s). The Hawkeyes have a 62-10-3 record at the National Duals, winning five team titles, including the last two.
The Division I field includes eight of the top 10 ranked teams in the most recent USA Today/NWCA coaches poll. Arizona State, Bloomsburg, Boise State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Cornell, Iowa State, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State and Wisconsin will battle the Hawkeyes for the title. Results will be available at www.unipanthers.com throughout the tournament.
All-session tickets are $45 for adults and $35 for seniors and students. Individual session tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors and students. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the UNI-Dome box office at 877-216-3663 or 319-273-4849.