ON THE MAT
The second-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team wrestles No. 10 Nebraska on Sunday at the Bob Devaney Sports Complex in Lincoln, Nebraska. The dual begins at 6 p.m. (CT) and is televised live on BTN.
IOWA VS. NEBRASKA
Iowa leads the all-time series 34-10-1 and has won the last 12 meetings overall. Iowa won the last meeting, 31-6, on Jan. 15, 2021 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Nebraska’s last win in the series was a 24-13 victory at the National Duals on Nov. 19, 2005. Iowa is 14-6-2 all-time in Lincoln and has won four straight at Nebraska. The Hawkeyes are 12-0 against the Huskers under Tom Brands. Nebraska and Iowa are meeting for the fourth straight time as top 10 opponents. Iowa has won all four duals by a combined score of 104-34.
2017: #3 Iowa 27, #6 Nebraska 9
2019: #3 Iowa, 20, #9 Nebraska 13
2020: #1 Iowa 26, #7 Nebraska 6
2021: #1 Iowa 31, #6 Nebraska 6
DEFEATING RANKED OPPONENTS
Nebraska is the 13th ranked opponent and the fifth top 10 opponent Iowa has faced this season. The Hawkeyes are 11-1 against the top 25 and 3-1 against the top 10. In the most recent NWCA Coaches Poll (Feb. 15), second-ranked Iowa has wins over No. 4 NC State, No. 5 Iowa State, No. 6 Ohio State and No. 8 Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes’ lone loss is to No. 1 Penn State.
TECHNICAL FALL LEADER
Senior Austin DeSanto is 13-2 with a team-high nine technical falls. The nine technical falls ties Doug Schwab (1999-2000) for the most technical falls in a single season by any Hawkeye since 1999. DeSanto has 36 career technical falls, 25 at Iowa. The 25 technical falls as a Hawkeye is the most by any Iowa wrestler since 1999. DeSanto has scored 20 points or more in six of his 13 wins and has 27 career matches of scoring 20 points or more.
BRANDS ON THE EDGE OF WIN #250
Iowa head coach Tom Brands has a career record of 249-24-1 (.910) as Iowa’s head coach. He is the second winningest coach in Iowa wrestling history, trailing only Dan Gable in dual wins and dual winning percentage. Gable won 355 duals in 21 seasons as Iowa’s head coach. Brands is in his 16th season at Iowa. He has a 249-24-1 (.910) overall and 119-11 (.915) Big Ten coaching record at Iowa. He has a 266-44-1 (.856) career mark.
TOP 10 MATCHUPS
Iowa and Nebraska have four top 10 matchups in their respective 10-man lineups. They include 141, 149, 174 and 197.
Senior Jaydin Eierman is ranked No. 2 at 141 and Nebraska senior Chad Red, Jr. is ranked No. 10. Eierman defeated Red 8-4 in his first ever match as a Hawkeye on Jan. 15, 2021 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. He later defeated Red in the semifinals of the Big Ten Championships, 7-1. Eierman is 42-14 all-time against ranked opponents.
Iowa senior Max Murin is ranked No. 10 and scheduled to face Nebraska junior Ridge Lovett, who is ranked seventh at 149 pounds. Murin and Lovett has split two previous meetings. Lovett defeated Murin 11-6 in the first round of the 2021 Big Ten Championships. Murin returned the favor with a 5-2 decision over Lovett in the second round of the NCAA Championships. Murin is 22-19 all-time against ranked opponents.
Iowa senior Michael Kemerer is ranked No. 2 at 174. Nebraska junior Mikey Labriola is ranked seventh. Kemerer won the only previous meeting between the two, a 3-1 decision on Jan. 18, 2020 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Kemerer is 49-9 all-time against ranked opponents.
The 197-pound matchup features Nebraska’s third-ranked Eric Schultz and Iowa’s fourth-ranked Jacob Warner. Warner and Schultz have split four career meetings. Warner won the first two by decision in 2019 (4-1, 7-5 SV1). Schultz has won the last two meetings by 3-1 and 3-2 decision. Warner is 34-14 all-time against ranked opponents.
DUAL DOMINANT
The nine All-Americans in Iowa’s lineup have a combined record of 339-56 (.858) in career duals, including a 209-31 (.870) mark in Big Ten duals. Senior Michael Kemerer has 52 career dual victories, including a 35-2 mark in Big Ten duals. Kemerer is 52-2 all-time in duals. Senior Alex Marinelli is 51-2 all-time in dual meets, including a 32-2 mark in Big Ten duals. Senior Austin DeSanto is 47-6 all-time in duals, including a 21-2 mark in the Big Ten. Senior Jaydin Eierman is 55-6 all-time in dual competition, including a 16-1 record at Iowa. He is 28-1 all-time in conference duals. He was 19-0 at Missouri from 2016-19 and is 9-1 since joining the Big Ten in 2020.
