Jan. 19, 2010
- Order 2009-10 Hawkeye Wrestling Tickets
- Carver-Hawkeye Arena Revitalization
- 2009-10 Hawkeye Wrestling Media Guide
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- Big Ten Network highlights
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
PARK RIDGE, IL — University of Iowa 141-pound wrestler Montell Marion has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week. It is the first time the sophomore from Des Moines, IA has earned the honor. Marion’s earned the award as a result of his upset victory in top-ranked Iowa’s win over fourth-ranked Oklahoma State last Saturday in Iowa City.
It’s also the third-straight week a Hawkeye wrestler has earned the conference honor. This marks the first time, since the Big Ten Conference started awarding the weekly honor during the 2001-02 season, that wrestlers from the same team have earned the honor in three consecutive weeks. Hawkeye seniors Brent Metcalf (149-Jan. 5) and Jay Borschel (174-Jan. 12) were honored earlier this month.
Marion, who is now ranked seventh in the nation by Intermat, scored Iowa’s biggest upset in Saturday night’s 19-16 victory over the Cowboys. Marion, who was ranked #11 by Intermat at match time, blanked fifth-ranked sophomore Jamal Parks, 4-0. After a scoreless first period, Marion scored an escape and takedown and added a riding time point for the victory. Marion accumulated 3:16 of riding time during the match, improving to 12-2 in collegiate matches and 4-1 in dual competition this season.
A crowd of 10,967 was on hand at to see Iowa pick up its 52nd straight dual victory and beat Oklahoma State for the first time, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, since December 4, 2000. Both teams won five bouts in the dual, but Marion’s upset and Iowa’s bonus-point wins at 125, 149 and 174 made the difference in the final team score. Iowa remains undefeated on the season at 14-0. It was Oklahoma State (8-1-1) first loss of the season.
The top-ranked Hawkeyes will open the 2010 Big Ten dual season on the road this weekend with matches at Michigan (4-7) and Purdue (10-4). The Hawkeyes will wrestle Michigan Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) at Cliff Keen Arena in Ann Arbor, MI. It’s then on to Purdue to face the Boilermakers at 12 p.m. (CT) in the Lowell High School Gymnasium at Lowell, IN.