3 Hawkeyes Move on to Consi Finals

UNIVERISTY PARK, Pa. — University of Iowa wrestlers Nelson Brands, Jacob Warner and Tony Cassioppi advanced to the consolation finals of the 2021 Big Ten Wrestling Championships on Sunday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Hawkeyes went three-for-three in the consolation round, outscoring their opponents 9-0 and picking up 12.5 team points. Iowa leads the team race with 139 points.

Brands advanced to the consolation finals with a 2-0 decision at 184 pounds. Warner followed with a 5-0 shutout at 197, and Cassioppi led 2-0 before nailing the fall in two minutes, 22 seconds. It was his second fall of the tournament.

Warner is making his third straight trip to the consolation finals. He placed third in 2019 and 2020. Cassioppi placed third as a redshirt freshman last season. Brands is competing in his first Big Ten tournament. He is 4-1 as the No. 9 seed.

All three wrestlers return to the mat for the medal round this afternoon. Session IV begins Sunday at 3 p.m. (CT) and is televised live on BTN. The third-place matches will be contested during the title match of each corresponding weight class. Those matches are streamed online at BTN Plus.

Iowa has a tournament-best six wrestlers competing in the Big Ten finals. They include Spencer Lee (125), Austin DeSanto (133), Jaydin Eierman (141), Kaleb Young (157), Alex Marinelli (165) and Michael Kemerer (174).

Iowa is 23 points clear of second-place Penn State (116) heading into the final session. Nebraska (102.5), Michigan (86) and Michigan State (72.5) round out the top five.

CONSOLATION RESULTS
174 – #9 Nelson Brands (IA) dec. #2 Christopher Weiler (WIS), 2-0
197 – #3 Jacob Warner (IA) dec. #5 Lucas Davison (NU), 5-0
285 – #3 Tony Cassioppi (IA) pinned #8 Tate Orndorff (OSU), 2:22

FINALS MATCHUPS
125 – #1 Spencer Lee (IA) vs. #7 Devin Schroder (PU)
133 – #2 Austin DeSanto (IA) vs. #1 Roman Bravo-Young (PSU)
141 – #1 Jaydin Eierman (IA) vs. #2 Nick Lee (PSU)
157 – #2 Kaleb Young (IA) vs. #1 Ryan Deakin (NU)
165 – #1 Alex Marinelli (IA) vs. #3 Ethan Smith (OSU)
174 – #1 Michael Kemerer (IA) vs. #3 Carter Starocci (PSU)

THIRD-PLACE MATCHUPS
184 – #9 Nelson Brands (IA) vs. #5 John Poznanski (RUT)
197 – #3 Jacob Warner (IA) vs. #4 Cameron Caffey (MSU)
285 – #3 Tony Cassioppi (IA) vs. #7 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU)

TEAM STANDINGS

1. IOWA 139
2. Penn State 116
3. Nebraska 102.5
4. Michigan 86
5. Michigan State 72.5
6. Minnesota 71.5
7. Purdue 71
8. Northwestern 68
9. Ohio State 64.5
10. Rutgers 49
11. Illinois 31
12. Wisconsin 26.5
13. Indiana 22
14. Maryland 2