Bonus Points Aplenty as Iowa Tops Buffalo

Dec. 17, 2012

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The University of Iowa wrestling team defeated Buffalo, 39-3, Monday night at Alumni Arena. Iowa won nine of 10 bouts and scored bonus points in eights contests to improve to 10-0 for the third time in the last five years.

“We had some excitement tonight but now it’s important we continue to move forward,” said UI head coach Tom Brands. “We’ve got to get two hands to the leg more at some weights. We need to finish stronger. It’s needs to be quick, one move.”

The Hawkeyes’ usual suspects delivered their familiar routine, but it was a freshman and an understudy that provided the excitement. Freshman Nathan Burak fought back from an early deficit to earn a major decision at 197, and sophomore Matt Gurule, filling in for top-ranked Matt McDonough at 125, earned a 15-10 shootout against returning NCAA qualifier Max Soria.

Trailing 2-0 in the first, Burak turned a front headlock into three nearfall points to grab a 6-2 lead after one period. He extended his lead to 9-3 with a second period escape and takedown, and eventually added a third takedown and 2:36 of riding time to earn a 12-4 win.

Gurule used a variety of scoring opportunities to earn a 15-10 win over Soria. He surrendered an early takedown but battled back within a point by stringing together one escape, one takedown and two nearfall points in the first. Soria opened the second period with an escape to reclaim his two-point edge, 7-5, but Gurule finished the frame with a pair of takedowns to take a 9-8 lead into the final period. He opened the third with a reversal and added two takedowns in the final minute to finish with an entertaining 15-10 win.

The dual started at 141, where Mark Ballweg used four takedowns and piled up 2:50 of riding time to earn the first of Iowa’s six major decisions. He scored one takedown in the first, two in the second and two in the third to top Andrew Schutt, 12-3.

Michael Kelly and Derek St. John both dominated their respective third periods to earn major decisions at 149 and 157. Kelly fell behind 4-0 in the first but rallied to tie the score 8-8 entering the second. He opened the second frame with an escape and added two points for stalling before finishing the match with a five-point move to win 21-13.

St. John scored one takedown in the first and two in the second before totaling 11 points in the third. He recorded four takedowns in the final frame and used three nearfall points at the end of the match to secure a 21-7 major decision.

Mike Evans scored a takedown 35 seconds into the match and totaled six nearfall points by the end of the frame to cruise to a 14-1 major decision at 174. Ethen Lofthouse recorded five takedowns and 2:37 of riding time to earn a 12-4 win at 184.

Bobby Telford (285) needed just 1:36 to earn his fourth pin of the season, and Tony Ramos (133) closed the dual with a fall in 4:22. Ramos has scored bonus points in all 10 wins this season – five major decisions and team-best five falls.

Iowa returns to the mat Jan. 4 against No. 4 Ohio State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes and Buckeyes will meet at 7 p.m.

“Jan. 4 against Ohio State looms large,” said Brands. “It’s next on the schedule and that’s what we look for. We’ve got to get home, get back on campus, get to work and keep a good thing going.”

The Hawkeyes (10-0) will also send a limited number of participants to the Midlands Championships Dec. 29-30 in Evanston, Ill.

NOTES: Attendance was 1,736… Iowa has started the season 10-0 three different times since Brands was named head coach (2008-09, 2009-10, 2012-13).

#5 IOWA 39, Buffalo 3
141 – #11 Mark Ballweg (IA) major dec. Andrew Schutt (UB), 12-3; 4-0
149 – Michael Kelly (IA) major dec. Blake Roulo (UB), 21-13; 8-0
157 – #1 Derek St. John (IA) major dec. Wally Maziarz (UB), 21-7; 12-0
165 – Mark Lewandowski (UB) dec. Nick Moore (IA), 8-3; 12-3
174- #7 Mike Evans (IA) major dec. John-Martin Cannon (UB), 14-1; 16-3
184 – #7 Ethen Lofthouse (IA) major dec. Tony Lock (UB), 12-4; 20-3
197 – Nathan Burak (IA) major dec. Angelo Malvestuto (UB), 12-4; 24-3
285 – #5 Bobby Telford (IA) pinned Justin Heiserman (UB), 1:36; 30-3
125 – Matt Gurule (IA) dec. Max Soria (UB), 15-10; 33-3
133 – #3 Tony Ramos (IA) pinned Erik Gallowy (UB), 4:27; 39-3