Men's Wrestling January 5, 2010

Hawkeyes Earn National Duals Top Seed

Jan. 5, 2010

THIS WEEK
Top-ranked Iowa (9-0) will face #15 Nebraska (8-3) in the first round of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals Saturday at 9 a.m. at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Iowa is the top seed of the two-day annual tournament, which 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, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State and Wisconsin will also be competing for the Division I title.

Results will be available at www.nwcaonline.com and www.unipanthers.com throughout the meet.

ON THE AIR
Radio – Steven Grace and two-time Hawkeye NCAA champion and four-time all-American Mark Ironside will call the action for Iowa’s duals live on AM-800, KXIC. Live audio broadcasts from the entire tournament will be available online at www.hawkeyesports.com. To listen online, go to the wrestling schedule, click on the event and click on the Listen link. Broadcasts are available using the Hawkeye All-Access subscription ($14.95 per month or $119.95 per year). Takedown Wrestling Radio will also broadcast portions of the tournament at www.Takedownradio.com.

Television – Iowa Public Television will air a taped-delay broadcast of the Division I championship semifinals Sunday at 1 p.m. and a live broadcast of the Division I championship finals Sunday at 3 p.m.

Online Video – Livesportsvideo.com will be airing video of National Duals matches throughout the tournament on their website. Fans can access the video feed through the site for a $5 fee.

Internet – Tournament brackets and results will be updated throughout the weekend at www.unipanthers.com. Press releases, meet results and audio broadcasts are available on the University of Iowa’s website, www.hawkeyesports.com. Current staff and student-athlete head shots can be found at pics.hawkeyesports.com.

NATIONAL DUALS TICKET INFORMATION
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.

NATIONAL DUALS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
The following is the Division I tournament schedule for this weekend’s NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals:

Saturday, January 9
9-11 a.m. – Championship Preliminary Round
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Championship Preliminary Round
1-3 p.m. – Championship Quarterfinal, Consolation First Round
3-5 p.m. – Championship Quarterfinal, Consolation First Round
5-7 p.m. – Consolation Second Round
7-9 p.m. – Consolation Third Round

Sunday, January 10
9-11 a.m. – Seventh-Place Match
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Championship Semifinal
1-2:45 p.m. – Third and Fifth-Place Matches
3-5 p.m. – Championship Final

HAWKEYE HISTORY AT THE DUALS
Iowa has wrestled in 16 National Duals and has a 62-10-3 all time record in the tournament. Iowa has won the title five times (1992, 1995, 1996, 2008, 2009), placed second three times (1994, 1997, 1998), third six times (1990, 1991, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003), fifth once (2007) and sixth once (2006).

LAST TIME AT THE DUALS
The top-ranked Hawkeyes (14-0) won their fifth Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals tournament title Jan. 11, 2009, beating Cornell (23-13) in the championship finals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The Hawkeyes beat Wyoming (38-3), Minnesota (27-7) and Nebraska (22-11) en route to the finals. It was the first time the Hawkeyes – who also won the team title in 2008 – won back-to-back National Duals titles since 1995 and 1996. Hawkeye senior Alex Tsirtsis (141) and juniors Brent Metcalf (149), Phillip Keddy (184) and Dan Erekson (Hwt.) all went 4-0 during the two-day tournament. Metcalf won all four of his matches with team bonus-point victories – one pin, two technical falls and one major decision.

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
Nebraska is 8-3 with wins over Wisconsin (26-17), Binghamton (27-11), Hofstra (29-6), Appalachian State (40-6), South Dakota State (46-6), Nebraska-Kearney (23-18), North Dakota State (33-9) and North Carolina State (31-10), and losses to Lehigh (15-18), Minnesota (14-28) and Central Michigan (6-29).

Head Coach Mark Manning is 134-48-3 in 10 years at Nebraska, and has a 157-72-5 record in 13 seasons as a collegiate head coach. He was named Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2009, and Dan Gable Coach of the Year in 2009. He is assisted by Mike Greenfield (Central Michigan, 2001) and former Hawkeye wrestler Tony Ersland. Ersland was a four-time academic all-Big Ten honoree and letterwinner at Iowa (1994-97), helping the Hawkeyes to three national and four Big Ten titles.

Nebraska is led by seniors Stephen Dwyer (174) and Craig Brester (197), and sophomore Tucker Lane (Hwt.). Dwyer is ranked third in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News, Intermat and W.I.N. Magazine. He has a 15-1 record, going 11-0 in dual competition. Brester, who is a returning all-American, is undefeated at 17-0 (11-0 in duals), and ranked second in the nation by A.W.N., Intermat and W.I.N. Lane is 16-4 (8-3 in duals), and is ranked ninth by W.I.N., and 11th by A.W.N. and Intermat. Defending NCAA champion Jordan Burroughs (157) suffered a season-ending knee injury in December.

THE SERIES
Iowa holds at 25-10-2 lead in the series with Nebraska, winning the last three meetings between the two teams. The Huskers and Hawkeyes have met in the last four NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals tournaments. The Hawkeyes hold a 3-1 edge in those duals, losing in 2006 (13-24), but winning in 2007 (30-5), 2009 (24-6) and 2009 (22-11).

THE LAST MEETING – IOWA 22, NEBRASKA 11
The top-ranked Hawkeye wrestling team improved to 13-0 on the season with a 22-11 win over Nebraska in the semifinals of the 2009 NWCA/Cliff KeenNational Duals in Cedar Falls on Jan. 11. The Hawkeyes won seven bouts to pick up their 27th straight dual, and hand the Cornhuskers (8-1) their first loss of the season.

Iowa jumped out to a 13-0 lead with decisions from redshirt freshman J.J. Krutsinger (125), junior Daniel Dennis (133) and senior Alex Tsirtsis (141), and a 24-9 technical fall from junior Brent Metcalf (149). Nebraska picked up its first win of the dual at 157 when #2 Jordan Burroughs scored a 22-7 technical fall in 4:04 over Hawkeye sophomore Matt Ballweg. Hawkeye junior Ryan Morningstar fought back at 165 with a 3-2 win over Nebraska’s Stephen Dwyer to score his 65th career victory.

Iowa went 2-2 in the last four bouts to seal the team win. Nebraska’s Brandon Browne evened his career series with Hawkeye junior Jay Borschel at 2-2 with a 5-4 win at 174. Hawkeye junior Phillip Keddy held off a late charge at 184 from Vince Jones to post an 8-5 win. Hawkeye junior Chad Beatty took top-ranked Craig Brester to sudden victory at 197, but was taken down in the overtime to lose 7-5. Hawkeye junior heavyweight Dan Erekson closed out the dual with an 8-3 win over Tucker Lane.

Iowa 22, Nebraska 11
125 – J.J. Krutsinger (I) dec. Andy Pokorny (N), 7-4
133 – Daniel Dennis (I) dec. Patrick Aleksanyan (N), 4-0
141 – Alex Tsirtsis (I) dec. Curtis Salazar (N), 7-2
149 – Brent Metcalf (I) tech. fall Robert Sanders (N), 24-9
157 – Jordan Burroughs (N) tech. fall Matt Ballweg (I), 22-7 in 4:04
165 – Ryan Morningstar (I) dec. Stephen Dwyer (N), 3-2
174 – Brandon Browne (N) dec. Jay Borschel (I), 5-4
184 – Phillip Keddy (I) dec. Vince Jones (N), 8-5
197 – Craig Brester (N) dec. Chad Beatty (I), 7-5 SV
Hwt – Dan Erekson (I) dec. Tucker Lane (N), 8-3

METCALF EARNS BIG TEN WEEKLY HONOR
University of Iowa 149-pound wrestler Brent Metcalf has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week. It is the fourth time the senior from Davison, MI, has earned the honor in his Hawkeye career.

Metcalf, who is ranked first in the nation at 149, earned the weekly honor after winning his third straight title at the annual Midlands Championships in Evanston, IL, last week. He was named the Dan Gable Most Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament, and took home the Individual High Scorer Award for racking up 32.5 team points. Iowa won its 21st overall and third straight Midlands title with 168.5 points. Metcalf pinned three Midlands opponents, and recorded a technical fall and major decision before beating #2 Kyle Ruschell of Wisconsin, 9-2, in the finals.

Metcalf is undefeated (15-0) this season with 10 pins, going 9-0 in dual competition. His 41 career pins ranks 10th in Iowa school history. He scored team bonus points in 13 of his 15 victories, and has a career record of 87-2.

IOWA WINS 21ST MIDLANDS TITLE, CROWNS THREE CHAMPIONS
The Hawkeyes won their 21st overall and third straight Midlands Championships title with 168.5 points at the 47th annual tournament Dec. 30 in Evanston, IL. Iowa State placed second with 144.5, while Central Michigan placed third with 118.0.

Iowa went 3-3 in the finals, crowning three champions in redshirt freshman Matt McDonough (#3 seed at 125), and seniors Brent Metcalf (#1 seed at 149) and Jay Borschel (#1 seed at 174). It was Metcalf’s third Midlands title and the first for McDonough and Borschel. Metcalf was named the Dan Gable Most Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament, and took home the Individual High Scorer Award, racking up 32.5 team points. Hawkeye redshirt freshman Nate Moore (133) earned the tournament’s Fastest Fall Award, sticking his first opponent in 46 seconds.

McDonough sparked a strong Iowa start with a 9-7 win in sudden victory over #4 seed Andrew Long in the 125-pound title match. Down 5-2 at the end of the first period, McDonough scored an escape and takedown to tie the score at 5-5 in the second period. Long, who accumulated over one minute of riding time in the bout, scored an escape to start the third period to take a 6-5 lead. McDonough scored a takedown near the end of the third period to take a 7-6 lead, but Long’s riding time point sent the match into sudden victory. McDonough scored a takedown in the first sudden victory period for the win. The Hawkeye redshirt freshman remains undefeated at 15-0 this season.

In a rematch of the 2008 Midlands title match, Metcalf won a 9-2 decision over #2 seed Kyle Ruschell of Wisconsin. The Hawkeye senior improved to 15-0 on the season, scoring team bonus points in five of his six Midlands matches.

Borschel picked up his 75th career victory with a 6-1 win over #2 seed Ben Bennett of Central Michigan in the finals. The Hawkeye senior scored a takedown and two nearfall points near the end of the first period, an escape early in the second period and accumulated over two minutes of riding time in the match. He is now undefeated at 14-0 this season and is a three-time Midlands placewinner. He placed second in 2007, and third in 2008 before winning the 2009 title.

Also placing for the Hawkeyes were seniors Joe Slaton (#4 seed at 141-3rd), Ryan Morningstar (#3 seed at 165-3rd), Phillip Keddy (#3 seed at 184-4th) and Chad Beatty (#5 seed at 197-3rd), sophomore Montell Marion (#9 seed at 141-6th), redshirt freshmen Nate Moore (133-6th) and Grant Gambrall (184-6th), and true freshman Derek St. John (157-5th). It is the first time that Beatty, Moore, Gambrall and St. John have placed at Midlands.

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

FORMER HAWKEYES HOLM, REILAND NAMED TO HALL OF FAME
Five former NCAA champions and one of the nation’s finest wrestling officials will be inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa, Class of 2010. The event will be held April 17 at 1 p.m. at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, IA

Members of the Class of 2010 are Gordon Hassman, Chuck Jean, Dan Holm, Mike Allen, Mark Reiland, and Tolly Thompson.

The Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame was established in 2002 to honor the people who have made an impact on the sport on a national level, or who have done extraordinary work in the State of Iowa. The hall recognizes native born Iowans, and those who achieved their fame while wrestling or coaching for an Iowa college. To date, 98 individuals have been honored by the hall. This is the ninth class.

The hall is named after Glen Brand, an NCAA champion for Iowa State in 1948, who won an Olympic gold medal the same year, at 174 pounds in London. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering and by 1983 he owned two companies in Omaha – Brand Hydraulics and Brand Fluid Power. The companies had over 50 distributors around the world. He attended every hall of fame inductions, and passed away on Nov. 15, 2008, in Omaha, at the age of 85.

Holm was a three-time all-American at Iowa (1973-75). Placing third at the NCAA tournament in 1973 and 1974, he won an individual NCAA title in 1975. His title was part of the first NCAA team wrestling championship in school history.

Reiland two-time all-American at Iowa (1989, 1991), winning the 1991 NCAA title. He has also achieved excellence in coaching, leading the Iowa City West High School team to six state championships: four dual meet titles and two traditional state titles.

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 584-208, 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, three 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 11 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 host #4 Oklahoma State (3-0-1) January 16 at 7 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It is a “Be Bold, Wear Gold” event, where fans are encouraged to wear gold attire to the meet.

Complete Release in PDF Format

2010 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals Division I Tournament Brackets in PDF Format