TULSA, Okla. – The University of Iowa wrestling team won eight of 10 matches, including three bonus point victories, during Session I of the 2023 NCAA Championships on Thursday at the BOK Center.
“We have two on the back side and we have another round today,” said Iowa head coach Tom Brands. “If they came out slow, (they need to) make adjustments. If they are where they want to be, we have to keep getting better as the tournament goes on. It’s a simple philosophy; we have a lot of wrestling left.”
The Hawkeyes got bonus point victories from top-seeds Spencer Lee and Real Woods and fourth-seeded Tony Cassioppi during the opening round.
Lee was dominant in his opening match, needing just 36 seconds to pin Air Force’s Tucker Owens at 125. It was the third-fastest fall of his career, the 35th career fall (29 in the first period and 12 in under one minute) and it ran his winning streak to 56 matches – tying Lincoln McIlravy for the seventh-longest streak in Iowa history.
In 18 matches this season, Lee has 16 bonus point victories (nine falls, four tech falls and three majors) and is outscoring his opposition, 189-32.
𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 … ready for No. ✌️!#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/lBGxouoCnS
— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) March 16, 2023
Woods cruised to a 13-1 major decision over Maryland’s No. 32 seed Kal Miller in his first NCAA appearance as a Hawkeye. The New Mexico native had more than four minutes of riding time to improve to 17-0 with four majors, four tech falls and two falls.
Cassioppi notched his 22nd win, blanking Maryland’s 29th-seeded Jaron Smith by a 10-0 major decision. Cassioppi is 22-3 this season with 15 bonus point wins.
Iowa posted decisions in its other five victories.
No. 8 seed Max Murin won a 6-3 decision over SIU Edwardsville at 149, No. 6 seed Patrick Kennedy had two first-period takedowns and reversal in a 7-2 decision over Appalachian State’s Will Formato at 165 and No. 11 seed Nelson Brands had a late takedown and two near-fall points in a 6-3 come-from-behind win over No. 22 seed Alex Faison of NC State at 174.
The Hawkeyes also got decisions from No. 12 seed Abe Assad and No. 14 seed Jacob Warner at 184 and 197. Assad downed Buffalo’s Giuseppe Hoose, 6-2, and Warner won 5-1 over Michigan State’s Cameron Caffey.
“We have to keep winning tough matches,” said Brands.
Iowa fell to the consolation bracket at 133 and 157 pounds. No. 23 Brody Teske couldn’t overcome a six-point first period move in a 13-10 loss to Illinois’ 10th-seeded Lucas Byrd and Siebrecht got caught in a cradle in a 10-5 loss to Wisconsin’s 19th-seeded Garrett Model.
Iowa is third in the team standings heading into the second session with 12 points. Penn State is leading the team race with 16 points, while NC State is second with 12.5 points.
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
125 – #1 Spencer Lee (UI) pinned #33 Tucker Owens (USAFA)), 0:36
133 – #10 Lucas Byrd (Ilinois) dec. #23 Brody Teske (UI), 13-10
141 – #1 Real Woods (UI) major dec. #32 Kal Miller (MD), 13-1
149 – #8 Max Murin (UI) dec. #25 Caleb Tyus (SIUE), 6-3
157 – #19 Garrett Model (WIS) dec. #14 Cobe Siebrecht (UI), 10-5
165 – #6 Patrick Kennedy (UI) dec. #27 Will Formato (APP), 7-2
174 – #11 Nelson Brands (UI) dec. #22 Alex Faison (NCST), 6-3
184 – #12 Abe Assad (UI) dec. #21 Giuseppe Hoose (BUFF), 6-2
197 – #14 Jacob Warner (UI) dec. #19 Cameron Caffey (MSU), 5-1
285 – #4 Tony Cassioppi (UI) major dec. #29 Jaron Smith (MD), 10-0
SECOND ROUND MATCHUPS
125 – #1 Spencer Lee (UI) vs. #16 Jack Medley (MICH)
141 – #1 Real Woods (UI) vs. #17 Dylan D’Emilio (OSU)
149 – #8 Max Murin (UI) vs. #9 Jaden Abas (STAN)
165 – #6 Patrick Kennedy (UI) vs. #11 Cameron Amine (MICH)
174 – #11 Nelson Brands (UI) vs. #6 Ethan Smith (OSU)
184 – #12 Abe Assad (UI) vs. #5 Marcus Coleman (ISU)
197 – #14 Jacob Warner (UI) vs. #3 Rocky Elam (MIZZ)
285- #4 Tony Cassioppi (UI) vs. #13 Tyrell Gordon (UNI)
CONSOLATION MATCHUPS
133 – #23 Brody Teske (UI) vs. #26 Connor Brown (MIZZ)
157 – #14 Cobe Siebrecht (UI) vs. #30 Jared Hill (OU)/#33 Nathan Lukez (ARMY)
UP NEXT
Session II of the 2023 NCAA Championships will begin at 6 p.m. (CT) and it will be televised live on ESPN . The pigtail and consolation matches will be on mats one, two, seven and eight. The championship matches will take place on mats 3-6.
