Feb. 2, 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!
THIS WEEK
The top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (18-0, 4-0 Big Ten) will head West to face Utah Valley (7-2, 2-1 WWC) Saturday at 7 p.m. (CT) in Hawkeye senior Phillip Keddy’s hometown of Vernal, UT. Iowa will wrestle the Wolverines at Uintah High School. Hawkeye junior Luke Lofthouse and true freshman Ethen Lofthouse are also Utah natives, graduating from Mountain Crest High School in Avon.
ON THE AIR
Radio – Steven Grace and two-time Hawkeye NCAA champion and four-time all-American Mark Ironside will call the action live on AM-800, KXIC and www.hawkeyesports.com.. Web audio broadcasts are available using the XXL All-Access subscription ($14.95 per month or $119.95 per year).
Internet – Press releases, meet results, and audio and video 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.
IOWA WINNING STREAKS
The Hawkeyes have won 56 straight dual matches, which is a school record. The current streak started with a win over Cornell (32-3) on Jan. 12, 2008, which was the first match after Iowa lost to Oklahoma State (19-14) on Jan. 5.
That 56-match winning streak ranks fourth-best in NCAA wrestling history behind three Oklahoma State streaks. The Cowboys won 76 straight duals from 1937-51, and had two 69-match streaks (1921-32 and 1996-99).
The Hawkeyes have won 38 consecutive duals on the road, which is also a school record. That streak started with a 20-13 win at Iowa State on Dec. 9, 2007.
Iowa has also won its last 23 duals at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. That streak, which ranks fourth in school history, started with a 27-13 win over Penn State on Jan. 20, 2008, which was also the first home match after the loss to the Cowboys.
Against Big Ten opponents, the Hawkeyes have won their last 23 duals, including the last 10 at home and 13 on the road. The 23 duals ranks second in school history, while the 10 and 13 both rank fourth. Iowa’s school record for consecutive Big Ten wins is 98 (12/13/1975-1/28/1989), while the records for Big Ten home wins is 63 (1/17/1975-1/3/1998) and road wins is 54 (1/19/1974-1/28/1989).
UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES
Utah Valley is 7-2 (1-2 WWC) with wins over Gardner-Webb (37-6), UNC Greensboro (21-17), North Carolina State (26-10), Brown (24-12), Harvard (40-10), Air Force (26-15) and Northern Iowa (19-16), and losses to Arizona State (15-27) and Wyoming (3-37). The Wolverines will host #8 Boise State Friday at 7 p.m.
Head Coach Greg Williams, who graduated from Utah State University in 1985, is in his fourth season at Utah Valley. He has a 28-27 record with the Wolverines. Williams is assisted by Associate Head Coach KC Rock (Boise State, 2001), and Assistant Coaches Erken Tadzhimetov (Utah Valley, 2007) and Grant Whitmer (Navy, 2000).
The Wolverines are led by junior 125-pound Ben Kjar, who is ranked 11th in the nation by Intermat and W.I.N. Magazine, and 12th by Amateur Wrestling News with a 24-6 record. While this will be the first dual meeting between Iowa and Utah Valley, Kjar and Hawkeye redshirt freshman Matt McDonough met in the quarterfinals of the 2009 Midlands Championships, with McDonough winning an 8-3 decision. Hawkeye senior 149-pounder Brent Metcalf also wrestled Wolverine junior Justin Morrill at Midlands, winning a 22-6 technical fall in the tournament’s opening round.
The 2009-10 season is the first year in Utah Valley history that the Wolverines will be fully NCAA Division I certified and eligible for post-season tournaments and awards. The Wolverines have spent the last seven years in a provisional period after jumping from Junior College Athletics to NCAA Division I.
DENNIS NAMED BIG TEN WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Hawkeye 133-pounder Daniel Dennis has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the second time in his career. The senior from Ingleside, IL, earned the honor Tuesday for upsetting top-ranked Franklin Gomez of Michigan State and beating Penn State’s Bryan Pearsall in duals last weekend. Dennis helped the Hawkeyes extend their dual match winning streak to 56 with wins over #13 Penn State (29-6) and Michigan State (37-0) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Dennis, who is ranked between third and eighth nationally, scored a 3-2 win in the first tiebreak period over defending NCAA and Big Ten champion Franklin Gomez. Gomez, a senior who was ranked first in the nation, entered the dual on a 29-match winning streak. Dennis was the last collegiate wrestler to beat Gomez, scoring a 3-2 decision at the dual in East Lansing last season, earning him his first Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honor. After a scoreless first period, Gomez scored a quick escape in the second to take a 1-0 lead. Dennis started down in the third period and scored a reversal to take a 2-1 lead. Gomez escaped with 13 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 2-2. Dennis had only accumulated 59 seconds of riding time when Gomez escaped, so the match went to overtime. Neither wrestler scored in the one minute sudden victory period. Dennis started down in the first 30-second tiebreak period, escaping with 16 seconds left to take a 3-2 lead. Gomez needed an escape in the second 30-second tiebreak to force the match to a second sudden victory period, but Dennis rode him out to hold on for the 3-2 win.
Iowa’s 37-0 shut out of Michigan State was the sixth for the Hawkeyes this season, which sets a new school record. The previous record of five was set during the 1980-81, 1989-90, 1990-91 and 2008-09 seasons.
Friday night Dennis scored a 17-7 major decision over Pearsall, who is not ranked. The Hawkeye senior snatched seven takedowns while allowing none.
With the wins, Dennis is now 12-1 in collegiate and dual matches this season, while going 4-0 in Big Ten duals. He has a career record of 59-25 and has won his last four matches.
It’s the fourth time this season a Hawkeye wrestler has been named Big Ten wrestler of the week. Hawkeye seniors Brent Metcalf (149-Jan. 5) and Jay Borschel (174-Jan. 12), and sophomore Montell Marion (133-Jan. 19) were honored last month. It was the first time, since the Big Ten Conference started awarding the weekly honor during the 2001-02 season, that wrestlers from the same team earned the honor in three consecutive weeks.
HAWKEYES POUND PENN STATE, MICHIGAN STATE
Iowa beat #13 Penn State (29-6) and Michigan State (37-0) last weekend at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, improving to 18-0 (4-0 Big Ten) on the season. The wins bumped Iowa’s dual winning streak total to 56 matches.
The Hawkeyes held Penn State to its lowest point total of the season in front of 8,923 fans, while posting its sixth dual shut-out of the season against Michigan State in front of 7,120 fans. The six dual shut-outs is an Iowa school record, beating the previous record of five set in the 1980-81, 1989-90, 1990-91 and 2008-09 seasons. Iowa allowed only seven takedowns all weekend.
Iowa jumped out to a 7-0 lead against Penn State with wins from redshirt freshman Matt McDonough (125) and senior Daniel Dennis (133). Unranked senior Adam Lynch scored Penn State’s first takedowns of the night and the first upset of the dual when he defeated fifth-ranked Hawkeye sophomore Montell Marion, 8-6, in sudden victory at 141. Marion trailed 5-2 early in the third period, but scored two takedowns in less than one minute to force the match into sudden victory. Lynch scored a takedown off a scramble in sudden victory for the win. The Hawkeyes rolled off wins at the next four weights – including an upset at 157 pounds – to build a 23-3 lead. Top-ranked senior Brent Metcalf picked up his 95th career victory and 12th pin of the season when he stuck fifth-ranked Penn State sophomore Frank Molinaro in 3:59. Metcalf, who remains undefeated at 23-0, led 12-4 before taking Molinaro to his back and scoring his 43rd career pin. Unranked Hawkeye junior Jake Kerr got the nod at 157, pulling off a 4-2 upset over Penn State senior Cyler Sanderson, who was ranked between third and fifth in the nation. Sanderson led 1-0 after the first two periods, but Kerr scored a reversal and two nearfall points to take a 4-1 lead. Sanderson escaped with 1:30 left in the match, but neither wrestler scored again despite several scrambles. Iowa junior Ryan Morningstar, who is ranked fifth or sixth in the country, used an escape and riding time point to defeat #8 Dan Vallimont, 2-0 at 165. Hawkeye senior Jay Borschel, who is ranked first or second in the nation, improved to 22-0 with a 14-2 major decision over Penn State freshman Justin Ortega at 174.
The Nittany Lions posted their second and final win of the night at 184 when senior David Erwin, who is ranked between #11-#13 scored a 6-4 upset over Iowa senior Phillip Keddy, who is ranked seventh or eighth. Keddy scored the bout’s first takedown to take a 2-0 lead, but Erwin escaped and scored a takedown to lead 3-2. Keddy escaped to tie the score at 3-3 at the end of the first period. Erwin’s second-period escape gave him a 4-3 lead, but Keddy escaped early in the third period to tie the score at 4-4. Erwin scored a takedown with less than a minute left to take a 6-4 lead, and held on for the win.
Iowa closed out the dual with wins at the last two weights. Hawkeye junior Luke Lofthouse picked up his 25th career victory with a 5-2 decision over Penn State sophomore Clay Steadman at 197. Lofthouse scored the bout’s only takedown, and added an escape and two stalling points for the win. Iowa senior heavyweight Dan Erekson ended the dual with a 6-1 decision over #11 Cameron Wade of Penn State, collecting his 55th career win.
The Hawkeyes used two pins and an upset at 133 pounds to blank Michigan State Sunday night. Dennis won the evening’s marquee match-up, scoring a 3-2 win in the first tiebreak period over defending NCAA and Big Ten champion Franklin Gomez at 133. Gomez, a senior who was ranked first in the nation, entered the dual on a 29-match winning streak. Dennis, who was ranked fourth in the country, was the last collegiate wrestler to beat Gomez, scoring a 3-2 decision at the dual in East Lansing last season. After a scoreless first period, Gomez scored a quick escape in the second to take a 1-0 lead. Dennis started down in the third period and scored a reversal to take a 2-1 lead. Gomez escaped with 13 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 2-2. Dennis had only accumulated 59 seconds of riding time when Gomez escaped, so the match went to overtime. Neither wrestler scored in the one minute sudden victory period. Dennis started down in the first 30-second tiebreak period, escaping with 16 seconds left to take a 3-2 lead. Gomez needed an escape in the second 30-second tiebreak to force the match to a second sudden victory period, but Dennis rode him out to hold on for the 3-2 win.
Picking up extra team points for the Hawkeyes were McDonough, Metcalf and Borschel. All three remain undefeated. McDonough opened the dual by pinning Spartan freshman Brennan Lyon in 2:52. McDonough scored two takedowns in the first period before scoring the pin, and improving to 24-0. Metcalf picked up his 24th season win, pinning Michigan State sophomore David Cheza in 3:37. The Hawkeye senior led the bout 7-2 before scoring his 13th pin of the season and the 44th of his Hawkeye career. He now ranks ninth on Iowa’s all-time pins list. Borschel improved to 23-0 with an 8-0 major decision over Spartan sophomore Ian Hinton, picking up his eighth major decision of the season.
Also scoring decisions for the Hawkeyes were Marion, junior Aaron Janssen (157) Morningstar, Keddy, Lofthouse and Erekson. Marion (6-0), Janssen (1-0) and Morningstar (3-0) held their Spartan opponents scoreless, while Keddy, Lofthouse and Erekson only allowed a combined total of 10 Michigan State points. Marion picked up his 25th career victory and 15th this season with his 6-0 win over Spartan freshman Dan Osterman.
HAWKEYES CROWN SIX CHAMPS AT GRAND VIEW OPEN
Iowa sent 13 unattached wrestlers to the Grand View Open last weekend in Des Moines, crowning six champions and 11 individual placewinners. Bringing home titles were sophomores Brodie Ambrose (197) and Blake Rasing (Hwt.), and true freshmen Tony Ramos (133), Dylan Carew (149), Derek St. John (157) and Ethen Lofthouse (174). The Hawkeyes had a total of nine individual finalists as redshirt freshman Mark Ballweg (133), junior Matt Ballweg (157) and sophomore Jordan Johnson (Hwt) each placed second at their respective weight classes.
Also placing for the Hawkeyes were true freshman Phillip Sheridan (149-4th) and redshirt freshman Grant Gambrall (184-3rd). As a group, the Iowa wrestlers posted a 47-10 record at the tournament which featured over 200 wrestlers.
HAWKEYE TRIO REMAINS UNDEFEATED
Hawkeye seniors Brent Metcalf (149) and Jay Borschel (174), and redshirt freshman Matt McDonough (125) are all undefeated this season. Metcalf and McDonough are 24-0, while Borschel is 23-0. Metcalf has scored extra team points in 19 of his 24 bouts, while McDonough has posted extra points in 18 and Borschel 15. All three are 17-0 in dual matches, and have combined for 263 of Iowa’s 636 team points scored in dual competition. Metcalf (23-0) and McDonough (9-0) are also unbeaten at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in their Iowa careers.
METCALF MOVES UP ON CAREER PINS LIST
Hawkeye senior 149-pounder Brent Metcalf moved up to ninth on Iowa’s all-time career pins top 10 list after sticking both of his Big Ten opponents last weekend. His 44 career pins is tied for ninth with former Hawkeye Chuck Yagla (1973-76). Former Hawkeye Ed Banach (1980-83) holds the record with 73. Metcalf is the only Hawkeye to crack the career list with only three seasons of competition. He has pinned 45 percent (44 pins in 98 matches) of his opponents at Iowa. The top-ranked Hawkeye has 13 pins this season and is undefeated at 24-0.
MORNINGSTAR GOES AFTER MILESTONE WIN
Hawkeye senior Ryan Morningstar will wrestle for his 100th career win Saturday night in Utah. He brings a 99-35 career record to the dual, going 19-3 in collegiate matches this season and 14-2 in duals. The Lisbon, IA, native has started 81 duals for the Hawkeyes during his career.
Hawkeye seniors Brent Metcalf (96-2) and Phillip Keddy (93-38) are also closing in on their 100th career victories.
HAWKEYE HEAD COACH Tom Brands
Two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, Tom Brands, is in his fourth season as head wrestling coach at Iowa. A 1996 Olympic gold medalist and member of wrestling’s Hall of Fame, Brands is only the eighth wrestling coach at Iowa. The former Hawkeye wrestler was a four-time all-American and three-time national champion (1989-92) at Iowa. He has a 77-6 overall and 25-3 Big Ten coaching record at Iowa, and an 94-26 career mark.
In his third season with the Hawkeyes, Brands led Iowa to its second straight NCAA and Big Ten team titles, crowning five all-Americans and two Big Ten champions. The 2009 national title was the school’s 22nd, and it was only the second time in school history Iowa won the NCAA title without an individual champion. Brands earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors after guiding Iowa to the school’s 33rd conference team title. The Hawkeyes ended the 2008-09 season with a 24-0 record, going undefeated for the first time since 1999-2000. The Hawkeyes, who ended the season on a 38-dual match winning streak that dates back to the 2007-08 campaign, clinched the 2009 Big Ten regular season title with a perfect 8-0 mark in conference competition and won the 2008 Midlands team title.
Brands served as head coach at Virginia Tech University for two seasons (2005-06), recording a 17-20 dual mark. Prior to taking the helm at Virginia Tech, Brands was an assistant coach at Iowa for 12 seasons (1993-2004). He helped the Hawkeyes to a 177-27 dual record, seven NCAA and eight Big Ten titles, while crowning 23 NCAA champions, 73 all-Americans and 36 Big Ten champions. He was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in 2000.
As a competitor, Brands won the 1996 Olympic freestyle gold medal at 136.5 pounds in Atlanta, GA. He also won a gold medal at the 1993 World Freestyle Championships in Toronto, two World Cup gold medals (1994, 1995) and was the 1995 Pan American Games champion. He won four U.S. National titles (1993-96) and made four straight U.S. World or Olympic teams (1993-96). Along with his twin brother, Terry, Tom was named 1993 USA Wrestling Athlete of the Year, the 1993 John Smith Outstanding Freestyle Wrestler and 1993 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year. He was inducted into wrestling’s Hall of Fame in 2001.
Brands was a four-time all-American at Iowa (1989-92). During his Hawkeye career, he won three NCAA titles and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the 1992 NCAA Championships. Also a three time Big Ten champion, Brands won 95 percent of his matches at Iowa. His career mark of 158-7-2, included an undefeated season in 1991 (45-0).
IOWA WRESTLING HISTORY
Iowa’s overall dual meet record is 872-215-30 (.794) 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.
WRESTLING SUMMER CAMPS
For dates and more information about 2010 Iowa Wrestling Summer camps visit www.iowawrestlingcamps.com.
HAWKEYE WRESTLING TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for Iowa’s two 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
Single Meet vs. Northwestern – Feb. 12
Advance Purchase: $10 – Adult, $5 – Youth
Door Purchase: $12 – Adult, $6 – Youth
Free Admission: UI students, Children ages 5 and under
Single Meet vs. Ohio State – Feb. 19
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
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.
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 624-213, going 386-114 in duals, 116-49 in Big Ten duals and 145-39 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The group has scored 1,568 team points in dual competition and has started a combined 503 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.
MICHIGAN TO HOST 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2010 Big Ten Wrestling Championships are set for Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7 at the University of Michigan’s Crisler Arena at Ann Arbor, MI.
Session One (first round and quarterfinals) is set to start Saturday at 10 a.m. (CT). Session Two (championship semifinals and consolation matches) will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. Sunday’s Session Three (consolation semifinals and seventh-place matches) will start at 11 a.m. with the championships round (first, third and fifth-place matches) starting at 1:05 p.m.
All-session tickets ($30) are available from the UM Athletic Ticket Office (734-764-0247 or www.MGoBlue.com/tickets). Single-session tickets will be on sale at Crisler Arena on days of competition. Single-session tickets for Sessions One and Two are $15 for reserved seats, $10 for general admission seats and $8 for general admission seats for groups of 10 or more. Tickets for Session Three are $20 for reserved seats, $15 for general admission seats and $8 for general admission seats for groups of 10 or more.
2010 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
The top-ranked Hawkeyes (18-0, 4-0 Big Ten) will host Northwestern (5-8-1, 0-3 Big Ten) Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. and will wrestle at #5 Minnesota (9-4, 4-0 Big Ten) Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. The Iowa-Northwestern dual at Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be streamed live on www.bigtennetwork.com. at a cost of $2.99. The Iowa-Minnesota dual, which will be held at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.