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Feb. 15, 2015
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa wrestling team defeated 13th-ranked Virginia, 30-6, on Sunday afternoon in the opening round of the EAS/NWCA National Duals.
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The top-ranked Hawkeyes scored bonus points in four matches and got an upset at 174 pounds to improve to 15-0 overall, 10-0 against ranked opponents.
Virginia won the first bout of the afternoon before Iowa scored bonus points in three straight matches to grab a 14-3 lead.
Cory Clark and Josh Dziewa recorded major decisions against ranked opponents at 133 and 141, respectively, and Brandon Sorensen pinned Gus Sako in 6:09 at 149.
“Bonus points are always good, especially in a dual meet like this when you’re wrestling three backups,” said UI head coach Tom Brands.
“You’re always talking about bonus points and separation. It was a better performance than Friday, and then you get to see some excitement with some guys that you don’t normally see.”
Iowa wrestled without Thomas Gilman, Mike Evans, and Bobby Telford, but got two wins from their replacements, including an upset from Alex Meyer at 174.
Meyer trailed sixth-ranked Blaise Butler, 8-6, early in the third period, but finished a takedown with 1:05 on the clock and used a ride-out to win, 9-8, with 1:09 riding time.
“I did see at one point that a ride-out would win,” said Meyer. “I knew he was getting tired and if we went on our feet he was going to back away and keep me at a distance. I knew he didn’t have a stall call and I could put a good ride on him. My corner wasn’t telling me any different so that’s what I did.”
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It was Meyer’s second win in as many times out against a nationally ranked opponent. He pinned Illinois’ sixth-ranked Zac Brunson his last time out on Jan. 16. After nearly a month off between competitions, he said he didn’t need the extra motivation of facing a ranked opponent.
“You just want to go put on a show,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter who the opponent is. If he’s maybe not as good, you put on a show and score a ton of points, and if he’s better then you, you go out and put on a show and score a ton of points.”
Kris Klapprodt followed that advice in the third period at 285 pounds. Klapprodt, who owns a 15-7 record at 197, bumped up a weight class and scored six points in the final period to defeat Patrick Gillen, 7-2.
“The fun one for me was heavyweight,” said Brands. “We’ve got a 97-pounder out there who does whatever we ask. He’s a great student, and he’s between a rock and a hard place so good for him too.”
Iowa also got wins at 157, 184 and 197. Sammy Brooks scored a season-high 20 points with a 20-8 major decision at 184. Michael Kelly scored a takedown with one second left in the opening period and held on for a 2-1 win at 157, and Nathan Burak scored a takedown in each period to defeat 19th-ranked Zach Nye, 8-2, at 197
Overall the Hawkeyes won eight-of-10 bouts and held a 24-8 advantage in takedowns to advance to the quarterfinals of the EAS/NWCA National Duals.
“We’re in the postseason now,” said Dziewa, who has won four of his last five against ranked opponents. “The regular season is over. Today was the first leg of the postseason. We’ve got the National Duals, Big Tens, and nationals. I’m not sure who we’re going to line up against on Saturday, but we’re ready to go against anybody.”
Iowa hosts the EAS/NWCA final rounds on Feb. 21-22 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes’ opponent will be announced Tuesday, Feb. 17. Quarterfinals begin at 12 p.m. (CT) on Feb. 21. Semifinals follow at 3 p.m. The finals are Sunday at 11:30 a.m. BTN will televise the semifinals and finals.
Tickets are $10 for Saturday and $20 for Sunday. Prices are for all ages. Contact the UI Athletics Ticket Office or visit hawkeyesports.com for ticket information.
NOTES: Attendance was 6,564… Laux made his Carver-Hawkeye Arena debut… Dziewa improved to 6-3 against ranked opponents… Sorensen’s fall was his sixth of the season… Meyer’s last two wins have been against the sixth-ranked wrestler in the country (Zac Brunson, ILL)… Meyer is 4-0 all-time at Carver-Hawkeye Arena… Quarterfinal teams include Iowa, Chattanooga, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio State, Lehigh, Missouri, and Cornell.
#1 IOWA 30, #13 Virginia 6
125 – Nick Herrman (UVA) dec. Phillip Laux (IA), 12-6; 0-3
133 – #6 Cory Clark (IA) major dec. #14 George DiCamillo (UVA), 12-3; 4-3
141 – #6 Josh Dziewa (IA) major dec. #13 Joe Spisak (UVA), 11-1; 8-3
149 – #2 Brandon Sorensen (IA) pinned Gus Sako (UVA), 6:09; 14-3
157 – #16 Michael Kelly (IA) dec. Andrew Atkinson (UVA), 2-1; 17-3
165 – #4 Nick Sulzer (UVA) dec. #9 Nick Moore (IA), 8-7; 17-6
174 – Alex Meyer (IA) dec. #6 Blaise Butler (UVA), 9-8; 20-6
184 – #8 Sammy Brooks (IA) major dec. Tyler Askey (UVA), 20-7; 24-6
197 – #6 Nathan Burak (IA) dec. #19 Zach Nye (UVA), 8-2; 27-6
285 – Kris Klapprodt (IA) dec. Patrick Gillen (UVA), 7-2; 30-6
