Hawkeyes Win 16th Straight Big Ten Opener

Jan. 3, 2014

BRADLEY, Ill. — The University of Iowa wrestling team defeated No. 21 Purdue, 30-3, Friday night at Bradley-Bourbonnais High School in Bradley, Ill. The Hawkeyes scored 25 takedowns and surrendered just one to win their 16th straight Big Ten opener.

Nick Moore and Ethen Lofthouse scored bonus points for Iowa. Lofthouse scored eight takedowns en route to a 20-7 win at 184, and Moore used three takedowns and nine nearfall points to earn the first technical fall of his career, 16-1, at 165.

Third-ranked Iowa (7-1, 1-0) won five straight matches to build a 15-0 lead before intermission. Thomas Gilman (125), Tony Ramos (133), Josh Dziewa (141), Brody Grothus (149), and Derek St. John each won by decision. Grothus’ 5-3 win was his first career Big Ten dual victory. St. John won 7-2 to extend his winning streak to a career-best 25 matches.

Alex Meyer earned a win in his Big Ten debut, extending Iowa’s lead to 23-0 with a 5-3 decision at 174 pounds. Meyer scored a takedown in the first, erased a 3-2 deficit with a reversal in the third, and added a point for riding time.

Bobby Telford closed the dual with a 4-0 win at 285. Telford scored a takedown in the first, an escape in the third, and added a point for riding time.

Purdue (3-2, 0-2) won its lone match at 197 pounds. Nathan Burak was unable to erase a 3-1 deficit to start the third, and No. 17 Braden Atwood, the 2013 Midlands runner-up, used a point for riding time to win 5-4. The match was Burak’s first this year as an attached competitor.

Iowa returns to the mat Saturday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes host Michigan State at 7 p.m. (CT). Mediacom will televise the dual.

Notes: Attendance was 1,125… Iowa has won 16 straight Big Ten openers… Iowa has won 27 straight against Purdue… St. John has won 25 straight matches… Alex Meyer was making his Iowa dual debut.

#3 IOWA 30, #21 Purdue 3
125 – #3 Thomas Gilman (IA) dec. Camden Eppert (PU), 2-0; 3-0
133 – #4 Tony Ramos (IA) dec. Kyle Ayersman (PU), 11-5; 6-0
141 – #9 Josh Dziewa (IA) dec. Danny Sabatello (PU), 6-1; 9-0
149 – #15 Brody Grothus (IA) dec. Brandon Nelsen (PU), 5-3; 12-0
157 – #1 Derek St. John (IA) dec. Kyle Mosier (PU), 7-2; 15-0
165 – #5 Nick Moore (IA) tech. fall Pat Robinson (PU), 16-1; 20-0
174 – Alex Meyer (IA) dec. Patrick Kissel (PU), 5-3; 23-0
184 – #3 Ethen Lofthouse (IA) major dec. Tyler Lynde (PU), 20-7; 27-0
197 – #17 Braden Atwood (PU) dec. #11 Nathan Burak (IA), 5-4; 27-3
285 – #4 Bobby Telford (IA) dec. Alex White (PU), 4-0; 30-3