Hawkeyes Beat Minnesota, 28-9

Feb. 14, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team extended its winning streak to 59 dual matches Sunday night with a 28-9 win at #5 Minnesota at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The Hawkeyes improved to 21-0 (6-0 Big Ten) while handing the Golden Gophers (11-5, 5-1 Big Ten) their first conference dual loss of the season. Iowa went 7-3 on the night, scoring team bonus points at six weights. It was Iowa’s second win over Minnesota this season, posting a 28-18 win Jan. 10 in the championship semifinals of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in Cedar Falls.

“In a dual meet like this you need bonus points, and we got them early,” said Hawkeye Head Coach Tom Brands, who collected his 80th career victory with the win. “This was a big win for us. This rivalry is not going away. We have got to be ready to come into an environment like this and perform.”

Hawkeye redshirt freshman Matt McDonough set the tone for the dual with his opening 13-2 major decision over #6 Zach Sanders at 125. McDonough, who is ranked fourth in the nation with an undefeated 27-0 record, dominated Sanders. He accumulated over four minutes of riding time on four takedowns and three nearfall points.

Minnesota handed Iowa its first individual dual loss since Jan. 29 when top-ranked Jayson Ness scored an 8-4 win over Iowa senior Daniel Dennis at 133. Ness, who is undefeated at 22-0, built a 5-0 lead early in the second period. Dennis, who is ranked third by Amateur Wrestling News and Intermat, and seventh by WIN Magazine, scored a takedown in the second period and an escape in the third period to pull within two (5-3), but Ness scored another takedown and a point for riding time for the win. Dennis is now 14-2 on the season.

Iowa added two more bonus-point wins at 141 and 149 to take a 13-3 lead. Sophomore Montell Marion avenged last month’s National Duals loss to Minnesota’s Mike Thorn with a 15-7 major decision at 141 to pick up his fourth straight win. Marion took a narrow 7-5 lead into the third period, scoring a reversal, takedown, three nearfall points and a riding time point for the win. The Hawkeye sophomore is now 18-3 on the season, going 10-2 in dual competition. At 149, top-ranked Iowa senior Brent Metcalf improved to 27-0 with his 23-8 match-ending technical fall in 6:19 over Minnesota redshirt freshman Mario Mason. Metcalf scored a takedown and two nearfall points in the first minute of the match, and added another takedown before being caught in a scramble and getting taken down by Mason. Metcalf quickly escaped, added another takedown in the first period and four more in the second period for a 20-7 lead. One third-period takedown and a stalling point for Mason gave Metcalf his 24th bonus-point win of the season.

The Golden Gophers grabbed their second win of the night when #2 Dustin Schlatter scored a 4-1 decision over Iowa junior Jake Kerr at 157.

The Hawkeyes came out of the intermission with three straight major decisions from three Iowa seniors to seal the team victory. Ryan Morningstar got the run going with his 9-0 win over Cody Yohn at 165. After a scoreless first period, Morningstar scored five nearfall points from the top position in the second period. He then added an escape, takedown and riding time point in the third period to improve to 22-3 this season and collect his seventh straight win. At 174, Jay Borschel kept his 26-0 record spotless with a 14-2 win over Scott Glasser. Borschel, who is ranked first or second in the nation, dominated the match, scoring a takedown in each period and tallying four nearfall points in the first three minutes. Glasser, who is ranked between seventh and eighth, had won 17 of his last 18 bouts with his last loss coming to Borschel at National Duals in January. At 184, Phillip Keddy scored a takedown in each period and accumulated over four minutes of riding time in his 9-1 win over Kaleb Young.

Minnesota put its final points on the board at 197 when Sonny Yohn scored a 7-0 decision over Iowa junior Luke Lofthouse. Lofthouse fought off his back in the second period, but Yohn added an escape, takedown and riding time point in the third period for the win.

Hawkeye senior Dan Erekson needed an extra minute in his heavyweight match with Ben Berhow, scoring a 5-3 win in sudden victory. Neither wrestler scored in the first period, but Erekson escaped in the second period and scored a takedown to take a 3-0 lead. Berhow escaped at the end of the second period and the start of the third to make the score 3-2. Erekson was warned for stalling twice in the third period, which gave Berhow a penalty point and sent the match into overtime tied at 3-3. Erekson scored a takedown in sudden victory to improve to 6-0 this season.

Iowa will close out the 2009-10 Big Ten dual season at home and on the road next weekend, with both matches appearing on the Big Ten Network. The Hawkeyes will host #3 Ohio State (18-1, 7-0 Big Ten) Friday, at 7 p.m. (CT) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Big Ten Network will air a same-day taped delay broadcast of the dual at 10 p.m. (CT). Tickets purchased in advance are $13 for adults, $7 for youth and $2 for children ages five and under, while tickets purchased at the meet are $15 for adults, $8 for youth and $2 for children ages five and under. UI students will be admitted for free. Tickets are available at the University of Iowa Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-464-2957, 319-335-9327 or www.hawkeyesports.com, where fans can take advantage of a print-at-home option.

The Hawkeyes will close out the dual meet season Sunday at #15 Wisconsin (7-9, 3-3 Big Ten). The match will be wrestled at the UW Field House in Madison at 3 p.m. (CT), and aired on a same-day taped-delay basis on the Big Ten Network at 10 p.m. Tickets ($5 for adults, $2 for children and seniors) go on-sale starting one hour prior to the event and are available at the ticket windows located inside the entrance to Gates B and C of the Field House.

#1 Iowa 28, #5 Minnesota 9
125 – Matt McDonough (I) maj. dec. Zach Sanders (M), 13-2
133 – Jayson Ness (M) dec. Daniel Dennis (I), 8-4
141 – Montell Marion (I) maj. dec. Mike Thorn (M), 15-7
149 – Brent Metcalf (I) tech. fall Mario Mason (M), 23-8 in 6:19
157 – Dustin Schlatter (M) dec. Jake Kerr (I), 4-1
165 – Ryan Morningstar (I) maj. dec. Cody Yohn (M), 9-0
174 – Jay Borschel (I) maj. dec. Scott Glasser (M), 14-2
184 – Phillip Keddy (I) maj. dec. Kaleb Young (M), 9-1
197 – Sonny Yohn (M) dec. Luke Lofthouse (I), 7-0
Hwt – Dan Erekson (I) dec. Ben Berhow (M), 5-3 SV

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