Hawkeyes Win Pair of Duals

HANNIBAL, Mo. – The fourth-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team won a pair of duals Friday night, defeating Chattanooga, 37-6, before downing Utah Valley, 33-7, in Korf Gymnasium at Hannibal High School during the Journeymen Wrestling “Uncivil War.”

“If you are ready to score when the opportunity arises you are going to be fine,” said head coach Tom Brands. “You saw that tonight. Adjustments from one match to another, good adjustments. I think Utah Valley was a better team than Chattanooga and I think we got sharper, and guys were more ready, but we need to be ready ready.”

The Hawkeyes won eight of 10 bouts against Chattanooga in the night’s first dual and scored bonus points in seven of those matches.

At 125 pounds, No. 6 Dean Peterson opened the night with a ranked win, defeating No. 18 Cooper Flynn by technical fall, 20-4.

The Mocs got on the board at 133 pounds when Bryce Luna defeated Joey Cruz, 4-1.

No. 9 Nasir Bailey earned a 4-1 decision over Hunter Mason at 141 pounds before No. 8 Ryder Block added bonus points with a 20-5 technical fall over Yuta Otero at 149.

Victor Voinovich III scored an 11-3 major decision over Cavarius Liddie at 157, and No. 3 Michael Caliendo pinned Tabian Camper in 1:55 at 165.

No. 4 Patrick Kennedy and No. 1 Angelo Ferrari each recorded technical falls, with Kennedy defeating Kamdyn Munro, 21-5, at 174 and Ferrari topping Landon Jones, 20-4, at 184.

Gabe Arnold bumped up to 197 and earned a 17-4 major decision over Kade Rule.

“I love to wrestle,” said Arnold. “I love having fun. I just do what I do best and that is compete. I am a competitor. I love it. Good to be in here, a good environment.”

Chattanooga closed the dual with Ethan Vergara defeating Easton Fleshman, 4-2.

In the nightcap, the Hawkeyes won eight matches and recorded bonus points in five.

“We had three guys out,” said Brands. “Kueter, Endene and Ayala. We always say next guy in, you’ve got to go. Whatever our best team is, we will put it together. That’s what you do. It doesn’t matter if our best team is out there or not. I remember last year Ayala sat out against Ohio State and he really wanted to wrestle for the team, but we aren’t going to lose because Ayala doesn’t wrestle. There are 10 weight classes; everybody do your job and we are in good shape. We’ve got guys going forward the right way and that is what I like.”

Peterson won a 7-2 decision over Bridger Ricks at 125 before Geronimo Rivera evened the score for Utah Valley with an 8-3 decision over Cruz at 133.
At 141, Bailey earned a ranked win with a 12-1 major decision over No. 17 Haiden Drury, and at 149 Block needed only 53 seconds to pin Kayd Craig.

“I dug his wrist on his back,” said Block. “I used to do that all the time. Once I got it on his back and got my arm snaked through, I pretty much thought it was wraps if I could get it up. So, once I got it I felt pretty good there.”

Voinovich III picked up his second win of the night, defeating Mark Takara, 10-3, at 157. Caliendo notched his second fall of the night at 165, pinning Zyon Trujillo in 1:52, and Kennedy recorded his second tech fall, defeating Tanner Lofthouse, 20-5, at 174.

“I was a little pumped up to get a pin,” said Caliendo. “I can’t remember the last time I got a pin, and then I got two today. I put on a dominant performance that I would say I am proud of. Like I said, I was just happy to get a pin. I can’t remember the last time. I get a lot of tech falls, but I don’t usually put guys to their backs and get a lot of back points, so that was a good refresher.”

Ferrari remained undefeated on the year with a 4-1 decision over Caleb Uhlenhopp at 184. Arnold again wrestled up a weight at 197 and used a third-period takedown to defeat Kael Bennie, 4-2.

Utah Valley closed the dual with Jack Forbes earning a 17-4 major decision over Fleshman at heavyweight.

#4 Iowa 37, Chattanooga 6
125 – #6 Dean Peterson (I) tech. fall #18 Cooper Flynn (C), 20-4
133 – Bryce Luna (C) dec. Joey Cruz (I), 4-1
141 – #9 Nasir Bailey (I) dec. Hunter Mason (C), 4-1
149 – #8 Ryder Block (I) tech. fall Yuta Otero (C), 20-5
157 – Victor Voinovich III (I) major dec. Cavarius Liddie (C), 11-3
165 – #3 Michael Caliendo (I) pinned Tavian Camper (C), 1:55
174 – #4 Patrick Kennedy (I) tech. fall Kamdyn Munro (C), 21-5
184 – #1 Angelo Ferrari (I) tech. fall Landon Jones (C), 20-4
197 – Gabe Arnold (I) major dec. Kade Rule (C), 17-4
285 – Ethan Vergara (C) dec. Easton Fleshman (I), 4-2

Officials: Matt Zeitz, J.R. Blose

#4 Iowa 33, Utah Valley 7
125 – #6 Dean Peterson (I) dec. Bridger Ricks (U), 7-2
133 – Geronimo Rivera (U) dec. Joey Cruz (I), 8-3
141 – #9 Nasir Bailey (I) major dec. #17 Haiden Drury (U), 12-1
149 – #8 Ryder Block (I) pinned Kayd Craig (U), 0:53
157 – Victor Voinovich III (I) dec. Mark Takara (U), 10-3
165 – #3 Michael Caliendo (I) pinned Zyon Trujillo (U), 1:52
174 – #4 Patrick Kennedy (I) tech. fall Tanner Lofthouse (U), 20-5
184 – #1 Angelo Ferrari (I) dec. Caleb Uhlenhopp (U), 4-1
197 – Gabe Arnold (I) dec. Kael Bennie (U), 4-2
285 – Jack Forbes (U) major dec. Easton Fleshman (I), 17-4

Officials: J.R. Blose, Matt Zeitz