Feb. 23, 2010
- Carver-Hawkeye Arena Revitalization
- 2010 Big Ten Championships
- 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 — For the fifth and final time of his Hawkeye career, Iowa 149-pounder Brent Metcalf has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week. The senior from Davison, MI, is one of three Big Ten wrestlers to have earned the weekly conference honor five times in their collegiate careers. Minnesota’s Ryan Lewis (2001-03), Michigan State’s Nick Simmons (2004-07) and Northwestern’s Jake Herbert (2004-09) are the other three.
Metcalf, who is ranked first in the nation, earned the honor for helping the Hawkeyes finish out the 2009-10 season undefeated (23-0) for the second-straight season and pick up their third-straight Big Ten regular season title with wins over #3 Ohio State (32-3) and #14 Wisconsin (31-6) last weekend. The wins helped Iowa extend its school-record winning streak to 61 matches. Metcalf scored a 3-1 victory over #2 Lance Palmer of Ohio State Friday night in Iowa City, recording his 100th career victory and going undefeated (25-0) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena during his collegiate career. The Hawkeye senior received a forfeit in the dual at Wisconsin Sunday afternoon to stay undefeated at 29-0 and post a perfect 8-0 record in Big Ten dual competition.
It’s the fifth time this season a Hawkeye wrestler has been named Big Ten wrestler of the week, which ties Iowa’s school record of five set during the 2002-03 and 2007-08 seasons. Metcalf (Jan. 5), senior Jay Borschel (174-Jan. 12), and sophomore Montell Marion (133-Jan. 19) were honored in January, and senior Daniel Dennis (133) was honored Feb. 2. 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. Metcalf is one of only two wrestlers to earn the weekly conference honor twice this season. Ohio State’s Palmer (Jan. 26, Feb. 16) and Penn State’s Cyler Sanderson (Nov. 17, Dec. 22) each collected the honor twice.
Up next for Iowa is a trip to the Big Ten Championships, March 6-7, where the Hawkeyes will fight for their third-straight and 34th overall conference team title. The event will be held at the University of Michigan’s Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, MI. 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.