March 15, 2012
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- 2011-12 Iowa Wrestling Media Guide
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ST. LOUIS — The University of Iowa wrestling team won eight of nine bouts in the opening round of the NCAA Championships today inside the Scottrade Center. Iowa scored bonus points in two matches and sits in fourth place with 17 points after one round.
“We go 8-for-9 but we want 9-for-9,” said Brands. “We’re going to have to battle. Our guys want to win and they believe they can win.”
Matt McDonough and Derek St. John each scored bonus points for the Hawkeyes. McDonough erased an early 2-0 deficit and built a 10-3 lead before flattening Eastern Michigan’s Jared Germaine in 3:23. St. John scored a takedown in every period and added one point for riding time and one point for an illegal hold to score a 9-1 major decision over Missouri’s Drake Houdashelt.
“We have to get bonus points when we can,” said Brands. “We want the bonus points but we have to be smart too. I think we can be smart and more wide open.”
Ethen Lofthouse advanced to the brink of the quarterfinals with a pair of decisions. Lofthouse scored a 9-4 victory over Brown’s Dave Foxen in the 174-pound pigtail match. He followed that effort with a 7-2 decision over Lockhaven’s Seth Creasy.
Montell Marion began his quest for a third All-American honor with an 8-4 win over Mike Morales of West Virginia. Tony Ramos totaled four takedowns and didn’t surrender an offensive point in his 9-2 win over Boise State’s Brian Owen.
Redshirt freshmen Mike Evans and Bobby Telford each scored victories in their NCAA debuts. Evans scored a first period takedown, a second period reversal and a point for 1:28 of riding time to score a 5-2 decision over Appalachian State’s Kyle Blevins. Telford scored a takedown in the first, a reversal in the second, and added one point for stalling and one point for riding time (2:29) en route to a 6-1 win.
Grant Gambrall, the only unseeded Hawkeye in the field, dropped a 2-1 decision to Northern Iowa’s Ryan Loder. After both wrestlers traded escapes in the second and third periods, Gambrall fired a late shot and appeared to have control of Loder on the edge of the mat, but the officials determined time had expired and Loder held on for a one-point win by virtue of 1:29 of riding time.
“We left a lot of wrestling for the next round,” said Brands. “We have a lot of ability. I’m not sure we’ve seen it.”
Seven Hawkeyes will wrestle for a spot in the quarterfinals when competition resumes tonight at 6:30 p.m. Fans can follow the championships online via Hawkeye All-Access or watch a video stream on ESPN3. Steven Grace and Mark Ironside will also call the action live on AM-800 KXIC.
IOWA’S PIGTAIL ROUND
174 – #5 Ethen Lofthouse (Iowa) dec. Dave Foxen (Brown), 9-4
IOWA’S FIRST ROUND NCAA RESULTS (# indicates tournament seed)
125 – #1 Matt McDonough (Iowa) pinned Jared Germaine (EMICH), 3:23
133 – #3 Tony Ramos (Iowa) dec. Brian Owen (Boise), 9-2
141 – #3 Montell Marion (Iowa) dec. Mike Morales (WVU), 8-4
157 – #2 Derek St. John (Iowa) major dec. Drake Houdashelt (Mizz), 9-1
165 – #5 Mike Evans (Iowa) dec. Kyle Blevins (App. St.), 5-2
174 – #5 Ethen Lofthouse (Iowa) dec. Seth Creasy (Lockhaven), 7-2
184 – #8 Ryan Loder (UNI) dec. Grant Gambrall (Iowa), 2-1
285 – #5 Bobby Telford (Iowa) dec. Blayne Beale (UNI), 6-1
IOWA SECOND ROUND NCAA MATCHUPS (#indicates tournament seed)
125 – #1Matt McDonough (Iowa) vs. Trent Sprenkle (NDS)
133 – #3 Tony Ramos (Iowa) vs. Aaron Kalil (Navy)
141 – #3 Montell Marion (Iowa) vs. Mitchell Port (Edinboro)
157 – #2 Derek St. John (Iowa) vs. R.J. Pena (Oregon St.)
165 – #5 Mike Evans (Iowa) vs. #12 Paul Gillespie (Hofstra)
174 – #5 Ethen Lofthouse (Iowa) vs. #12 Jimmy Sheptock (Maryland)
285 – #5 Bobby Telford (Iowa) vs. Peter Capone (Ohio State)
IOWA CONSOLATION ROUND MATCHUPS (# indicates tournament seed)
184 – Grant Gambrall (Iowa) vs. Matt Ryan (WVA)/ MacKain Stoll (NSDU)
TEAM STANDING AFTER ONE PERIOD (Top five teams)
1. Penn State 25.5
2. Minnesota 22.5
3. Oklahoma St. 17.5
4. IOWA 17
Cornell 17