5 Hawkeyes Advance to Quarterfinals

March 17, 2016

NEW YORK CITY — Five Hawkeyes advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2016 NCAA Wrestling Championships following second round action Thursday night in Madison Square Garden.

Thomas Gilman (125) won by major decision and Cory Clark (133), Brandon Sorensen (149), Sammy Brooks (184), and Nathan Burak (197) all advanced with decisions.

Iowa is in a three-way tie for fifth place with Missouri and Virginia Tech. The Hawkeyes have 17.5 points, 10 behind tournament leader Penn State. Ohio State and Oklahoma State are tied for second with 24 points, and Nebraska is in fourth with 20.

Iowa has two wrestlers still alive on the back side of the bracket. Alex Meyer, who dropped a 10-9 decision in the opening round, rebounded with a 6-2 win over the fourth-seeded Ethan Ramos of North Carolina at 174. Edwin Cooper, Jr. won his opening round bout but was dropped to the consolation bracket after getting pinned in round two.

The Hawkeyes lost Patrick Rhoads at 165 and Sam Stoll at 285. Rhoads lost his final match as a Hawkeye, 6-3, and Stoll medically forfeited from the tournament.

“There was some good, there was some bad,” said UI head coach Tom Brands. “We are focusing on the good because it’s what’s going to keep us in the team race, and it’s what’s going to keep us in the accolades race. That’s what we have to do.”

Gilman is in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. He scored bonus points in both of his opening bouts, and has scored bonus points in all five of his postseason wins.

“The game plan is always being aggressive,” Gilman said. “Have to keep that dogfight there.”

Brooks is also in the quarterfinals for the second straight year. He won by technical fall in the opening round and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 10-8 win in the second round.

“I am just trying to stay with my stuff, not over thinking it,” Brooks said. “Keep wrestling hard, trusting my condition, my coaches, and my skills.”

Sorensen is in the quarterfinals for the first time. He lost in the second round a year ago before running off five consecutive wins on the backside of the bracket to earn All-America honors. Clark and Burak are both two-time All-Americans, and both are making their third straight appearance in the quarterfinals.

All five Hawkeye quarterfinalists are the favorite on paper to advance to the semis.

“It’s the first day, we’re a third of the way through it. We have a long road to go and we’re excited for what’s in front of us,” Brands said.

The NCAA quarterfinals and consolation rounds begin Friday at 10 a.m. (CT). ESPNU and ESPN3 will provide television and online coverage.

SESSION II RESULTS
125 — #4 Thomas Gilman (IA) major dec. #13 Tim Lambert (NEB), 12-4
133 – #2 Cory Clark (IA) dec. #15 Josh Alber (UNI), 6-2
149 – #2 Brandon Sorensen (IA) dec. Victor Lopez (BUCK), 3-1
157 – #4 Ian Miller (KENT) pinned #13 Edwin Cooper, Jr. (IA), 1:11
184 – #2 Sammy Brooks (IA) dec. Jordan Ellingwood (CMU), 10-8
197 – #4 Nathan Burak (IA) dec. #13 Jacob Smith (WVU), 8-2

CONSOLATION ROUND RESULTS
165 – Casey Fuller (EDIN) dec. Patrick Rhoads, 6-3
174 – #13 Alex Meyer (IA) dec. #4 Ethan Ramos (UNC), 6-2

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
125 – #4 Thomas Gilman (IA) vs. #5 Ryan Millhof (OU)
133 – #2 Cory Clark (IA) vs. #7 Eric Montoya (NEB)
149 – #2 Brandon Sorensen (IA) vs. #7 Jake Sueflohn (NEB)
184 – #2 Sammy Brooks (IA) vs. #7 Timothy Dudley (NEB)
197 – #4 Nathan Burak (IA) vs. #5 Connor Hartmann (DUKE)

CONSOLATION MATCHUPS
157 – #13 Edwin Cooper, Jr. (IA) vs. Austin Matthews (EDIN)
174 – #13 Alex Meyer (IA) vs. #14 Nick Kee (APP)

Attendance: 17,805