- IowaCitytoRio.com
- 2016 Olympic Trails at Carver-Hawkeye Arena
- Read the February issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
ON THE MAT
The second-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team hosts fourth-ranked North Carolina State on Monday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Mat at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The dual is streamed on BTN Plus.
NATIONAL DUALS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Iowa and N.C. State are meeting in the inaugural National Duals Championship Series. Formerly the NWCA National Duals Tournament, the 2016 National Duals Championship Series matches the top eight Big Ten programs against regular season champions from the Big 12 (Oklahoma State), ACC (Virginia Tech), EIW (Lehigh), EWL (Edinboro), MAC (Missouri), and SoCon (Appalachian State). North Carolina State and Iowa State were selected as at-large teams. Penn State and Oklahoma State are competing for the National Duals Championship Series title. The Nittany Lions, co-Big Ten champions with Iowa, got the nod in the title dual based on their No. 1 ranking in the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll. Oklahoma State won the Big 12 and is ranked third behind Iowa.
- NDCS matchups include:
- Iowa State at Minnesota, Friday, Feb. 19
- Lehigh at Rutgers, Saturday, Feb. 20
- Appalachian State at Indiana, Sunday, Feb. 21
- Missouri at Nebraska, Sunday, Feb. 21
- Virginia Tech at Michigan, Sunday, Feb. 21
- Oklahoma State at Penn State, Sunday, Feb. 21
- Edinboro at Ohio State, Monday, Feb. 22
- NC State at Iowa, Monday, Feb. 22
IOWA-N.C. STATE
Iowa is 4-0 all-time against North Carolina State. Monday’s dual is the first meeting between the programs since Iowa’s 37-9 win in 2007. The Wolfpack has seven wrestlers ranked in the top 20, and four ranked in the top five, including returning All-American Kevin Jack (141) and two-time NCAA Champion Nick Gwiazdowski (285). North Carolina State is 22-1 overall and placed second in the ACC with an 8-1 record. The Wolfpack’s 22 wins lead the country.
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IOWA VS. THE ACC
The Hawkeyes are 12-0 all-time against teams from the ACC, including North Carolina (3-0), North Carolina State (4-0), Virginia (2-0), and Virginia Tech (3-0). Iowa has never faced Pitt or Duke in a dual.
MIDLANDS REMATCH
Monday’s dual features four rematches from the 2015 Midlands Championships. Sammy Brooks defeated Pete Renda, 8-7, in the 184 pound consolation semifinals, and Nathan Burak defeated Michael Boykin, 8-2, in the 197-pound quarterfinals. N.C. State’s Tommy Gant defeated Edwin Cooper, Jr., 17-6 in the 157-pound quarterfinals, and Nick Gwiadowski defeated Sam Stoll, 10-1, in the 285-pound semis.
DUAL DOMINANT
Iowa is 16-0 with an average margin of victory of 32.1 points per dual. The Hawkeyes have scored 50 or more points four times, the most in a single season since the 1990-91 Hawkeyes did it six times. Iowa has shutout six opponents, the most since recording six shutouts in 2010-11. The Hawkeyes were 9-0 in the Big Ten, outscoring their opponents by an average of 29.3 points per dual. The Hawkeyes have combined for an individual record of 135-25 (.844) in 16 duals.
HOME COOKING
The Hawkeyes are 9-0 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season. Since moving to Carver in 1983, Iowa has had 20 undefeated seasons at home, the most recent in 2012-13 (9-0). Iowa was 11-0 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 2014-15 before falling to Missouri, 18-12, in the finals of the NWCA National Duals. Junior Alex Meyer (14-0) and redshirt freshman Sam Stoll (9-0) are undefeated in their careers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes host the 2016 Big Ten Championships on March 5-6. Meyer (9-0) and Stoll (9-0) both finished the Big Ten regular season unbeaten.
BATTLE TESTED AT 149
Sophomore Brandon Sorensen is 7-0 against ranked opponents, and 5-0 against top 10 foes, including two wins against No. 4 Jason Tsirtsis, and two wins against No. 5 Jake Sueflohn. Sorensen is 22-0 overall with five major decisions, three technical falls, and three pins at arguably the toughest weight class in the Big Ten. According to Intermat rankings, five of the top seven wrestlers in the country are in the Big Ten. Sorensen is ranked No. 2 by Intermat, one spot behind Penn State’s Zain Retherford, and ahead of Sueflohn (4), Tsirtsis (6), and Michigan’s Alex Pantaleo (7). Sorensen is 11-2 all-time against the Big Ten’s top-rated wrestlers. He has never faced Retherford.
LAST OF THE UNBEATENS
Thomas Gilman (20-0) and Brandon Sorensen (22-0) enter the fourth week of February with unbeaten records. There are 16 Division I wrestlers without a loss (minimum 10 matches). North Carolina State has two of the 16, including Tommy Gantt (21-0) and Nick Gwiadowski (26-0). Gilman is one of two unbeaten 125-pounders, Ohio State’s Nathan Tomasello is 17-0. Sorensen is one of three unbeaten 149-pounders. Penn State’s Zain Retherford (25-0) and Missouri’s Lavion Mayes (24-0) are also undefeated. The last time Iowa had two wrestlers undefeated this late in the season was 2012-13. Derek St. John was 22-0 at 157 before losing to No. 19 Kyle Brady (Missouri) at the NWCA National Duals, 4-3. He went on to win the NCAA title with a 31-2 record. Tony Ramos was 26-0 at 133 before falling in the Big Ten finals. He finished runner-up to Logan Stieber at both Big Tens and nationals. In the history of Iowa wrestling, 15 wrestlers have finished the season with a perfect record (minimum 20 matches). Four of those wrestlers were able to perform the feat twice. They include Mark Ironside, Lincoln McIlravy, T.J. Williams and Jim Zalesky. Iowa coaches Tom Brands and Terry Brands are among the 15 wrestlers. Tom went 45-0 in 1990-91 and Terry went 35-0 in 1991-92.
A LITTLE EXTRA ON TOP
Junior Thomas Gilman has delivered bonus points in 17 of 20 matches this season. He has opened 13 of Iowa’s 16 duals, picking up seven pins, four technical falls, and one major decision in those 12 outings. His 82 dual points scored lead the team, his eight falls are a career best, and his five technical falls tie his career best set in 2014-15.
GILMAN BATTING .854
Junior Thomas Gilman has scored 82 of a possible 96 points in 16 duals. He has two major decisions, five technical falls, and seven pins.
FALLS BIG AND SMALL
Junior 125-pounder Thomas Gilman and redshirt freshman 285-pounder Sam Stoll have combined for 17 falls this season. Seven of Gilman’s eight falls have occurred in the first period, with his quickest coming in 56 seconds. The eight falls are a new career high; he had five pins in 2014-15. Four of Stoll’s team-high nine falls have been against Big Ten opponents. Stoll finished his high school career with a national record 63 consecutive pins. He pinned every opponent he faced his senior season. As a true freshman in 2014-15, Stoll was 18-5 with 11 pins competing unattached.
BURAK FINISHING WITH TECHNICALITY
Senior Nathan Burak has a team-high four technical falls, one more than his career total entering the season. He is 19-1 overall with 11 wins by bonus points, including five major decisions, four technical falls, and two falls. The five major decisions are a career best, and the two falls match his single-season career high. Burak opened the season with a career-high 17 straight wins. His only loss was to Minnesota’s fourth-ranked Brett Pfarr, 6-5, on Jan. 29.
CLARK WARMS UP
Junior Cory Clark has posted two shutouts and two falls his last four times out. He defeated Luke Welch (Purdue) 12-0 on Jan. 22, and No. 14 Eric Montoya (Nebraska) 2-0 on Jan. 24. He pinned Minnesota’s Sam Brancale in 4:59 on Jan. 29, and Montana State Northern’s Blake Ivie in 3:30. Clark is 18-1 overall, including a 5-1 mark against ranked opponents. He defeated No. 7 Earl Hall of Iowa State, 9-2, on Nov. 29, earned a decision against No. 15 Brance Simms of SDSU on Dec. 4, scored a major decision over Rutgers’ No. 17 Anthony Giraldo on Dec. 10, won by 7-3 decision against Wisconsin’s No. 7 Ryan Taylor, and shutout No. 14 Montoya, 2-0. His only loss this season was to Illinois’ No. 7 Zane Richards, 5-3, on Jan. 8. Clark is 27-10 all-time and has won nine of his last 11 matches against ranked opponents. He has a career record of 25-1 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
HAWKEYES HIT CAREER LONGS
Junior Thomas Gilman, sophomore Brandon Sorensen, and redshirt freshman Sam Stoll are riding career-best winning streaks. Sorensen has won 22 straight and Gilman has won 20 in a row to open the season. Stoll has won 10 in a row for the second time this year. He dropped the season opener before winning 10 in a row. That streak was snapped by top-ranked Nick Gwiadowski in the Midlands semifinals on Dec. 30. Stoll has won 10 in a row since, with four wins over ranked opponents.
IOWA VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
Iowa is 8-0 against ranked opponents, with five wins at home and three on the road. Individually, Iowa’s probable lineup is 39-25 against ranked opponents. Two Hawkeyes — Thomas Gilman (6-0), Brandon Sorensen (6-0) — are undefeated against ranked opponents.
DOMINANT SINCE NO. 1
Gary Kurdelmeier led Iowa to its first NCAA Championship in 1975, and in the 41 years since, the Hawkeyes have accumulated 23 team titles, more than any other school — Oklahoma State (7), Penn State (4), Minnesota (3), Iowa State (2), Ohio State (1) and Arizona State (1).
ALL-AMERICAN STREAK
Iowa has four 2015 All-Americans in its lineup — Thomas Gilman (125), Cory Clark (133), Brandon Sorensen (149), and Nathan Burak (197). The Hawkeyes had a tournament-high six All-Americans in 2015. Mike Evans (6th/174) and Bobby Telford (5th/285) won All-America honors for the third time, Nathan Burak (7th/197) and Cory Clark (2nd/133) became two-time All-Americans, and Thomas Gilman (4th/125) and Brandon Sorensen (4th/149) are first-time All-Americans. The Hawkeyes crowned at least one All-American for the 44th consecutive season, a stretch dating back to 1972. Iowa has totaled 267 All-America honors during that stretch.
HAWKEYE WRESTLING HISTORY
Iowa’s overall dual meet record is 974-225-31 (.799) in 104 seasons. The Hawkeyes have won 23 national titles and 35 Big Ten titles. Iowa’s 53 NCAA Champions have won a total of 81 NCAA individual titles, crowning six three-time and 16 two-time champions. The Hawkeyes’ 109 Big Ten champions have combined for 195 conference titles. There have been seven four-time, 18 three-time, and 29 two-time Iowa winners. Iowa’s 152 All-Americans have earned All-America status 313 times, including 18 four-time, 34 three-time and 40 two-time honorees.
HAWKEYES AT HOME
The Hawkeyes are 233-22 all-time at Carver-Hawkeye Arena since moving from the UI Field House in 1983. The Hawkeyes have recorded 20 undefeated season in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the most recent in 2012-13 (9-0). Carver-Hawkeye Arena has hosted three Big Ten Championships (1983, 1994, 2005) and four NCAA Championships (1986, 1991, 1995, 2001). The Hawkeyes have won five tournament titles on their home mat, including the 1983 and 1994 Big Ten Championships, and the 1986, 1991 and 1995 NCAA Championships. Carver-Hawkeye Arena is hosting the Big Ten Championships for the fourth time March 5-6.
BIG TEN DUAL CHAMPIONS
Iowa defeated Indiana 45-0 on Feb. 5 to finish the conference schedule 9-0 and share Big Ten regular season title with Penn State. The Hawkeyes have won or shared eight of the last nine Big Ten dual championships, and have won or shared the regular season title nine times since the conference started recognizing a dual meet champion in 1999. Iowa won the title outright in 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015, and shared the title in 2003 and 2014.
STREAKING THROUGH THE BIG TEN
The Hawkeyes finished the Big Ten regular season 9-0 with a 75-15 record in individual conference matches. The Hawkeyes have won 21 consecutive Big Ten duals, the longest conference winning streak since winning 39 straight from 2007-2012. Iowa has not lost a Big Ten dual since falling at home to Minnesota, 19-15, on Jan. 25, 2014. Iowa’s 21-dual win streak ties for the third longest in program history. The Hawkeyes won 21 in a row from 1989-92, 39 in a row from 2007-2012, and 98 in a row from 1974-1989.
ALL-AMERICAN DOMINANCE
Iowa’s four returning All-Americans — Thomas Gilman (125), Cory Clark (133), Brandon Sorensen (149), and Nathan Burak (197) — are a combined 79-2 with 52 wins by bonus points. Gilman, Sorensen, and Burak each won their respective brackets at the 2015 Midlands. Clark was 3-0 before withdrawing prior to the semifinals. The group is 21-2 against top 20 wrestlers, with two technical falls and four major decisions.
A PERFECT (BIG) 10
Thomas Gilman, Brandon Sorensen, Alex Meyer and Sam Stoll finished the regular season 9-0 in conference duals. Since 2007, Tom Brands‘ first season as Iowa head coach, a wrestler has navigated a perfect Big Ten regular season 17 times. Gilman did it last year to become the first Hawkeye to go 9-0 in conference duals (last season was the first year the Big Ten schedule included nine regular season duals). Sorensen was 8-0 in the Big Ten last year, but did not wrestle against Michigan State. He is 17-0 all-time in Big Ten duals. Stoll is 9-0 all-time, and Meyer is 13-0 all-time in Big Ten duals.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to the 2016 Big Ten Championships hosted by the University of Iowa are now on sale. All-Session tickets are $50 for adults, $40 for youth. Visit hawkeyesports.com or call the UI Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS for ticket information.
