IOWA CITY, Iowa – Senior Tony Cassioppi’s 9-2 victory over No. 9 Sam Schuyler propelled the second-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team to an 18-15 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series victory over No. 7 Iowa State on Sunday afternoon in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
With the dual tied 15-15, Cassioppi had three takedowns and piled up 2:46 of riding time to clinch Iowa’s 18th straight victory in the series. The Hawkeyes move to 6-0 this season.
“We have to wrestle better, we took it pace wise from a couple of their guys,” said head coach Tom Brands. “There are always things to work on. I am not going to say we’re going to Chattanooga on Saturday, I am not going to get there. This is an important win for our program.”
The Hawkeyes and Cyclones split the 10 matches in the dual, but the difference was Iowa posted three bonus-point victories – major decisions by Spencer Lee, Cobe Siebrecht and Nelson Brands.
Iowa ended Iowa State’s 18-dual winning streak and improved to 12-0 with the Dan Gable Traveling Trophy on the line.
Lee, the nation’s No. 1 ranked 125 pounder, made his season debut and came out with a flurry with two takedowns and two four-point near falls to build a 12-2 first-period lead. Lee finished with 1:23 of riding time to post a 16-5 major decision victory over Corey Cabanban to give Iowa a 4-0 lead.
“I had intentions to wrestle this dual because I knew it would be a good one,” said Lee, who ran his winning streak to 39. “It was exciting to run into that arena again with fans packing it. I am appreciative of fighting and getting that first match out of the way of my senior year.”
