No. 2 Hawkeyes Fall to No. 1 Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania – The second-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team was defeated by No. 1 Penn State, 30-8, on Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.

“We have to get the first takedown, we have to get the last takedown,” said head coach Tom Brands. “We got run out of this arena in some matches, and what are you going to do coming back. We go to Maryland, Sunday. That’s where we are at.”

 The teams traded technical falls to open the dual with Penn State’s No. 7 ranked Luke Liledahl defeating Joey Cruz at 125, 22-6, before Drake Ayala bested Kurt McHenry at 133, 19-4.

Penn State notched the next three bouts as third-ranked Beau Bartlett won a decision over Cullan Schriever at 141, 7-3. No. 4 Shayne Van Ness won a major decision over Kyle Parco, 17-6, at 149 and at 157 No. 3 Tyler Kasak defeated Jacori Teemer, 5-2.

 The Nittany Lions won three straight out of intermission. No. 1 Mitchell Messenbrink defeated Michael Caliendo at 165 via a 17-6 technical fall. Second-ranked Levi Haynes defeated Patrick Kennedy, 10-3, at 174 and No. 2 Carter Starocci defeated Angelo Ferrari, 2-1.

Stephen Buchanan II got the Hawkeyes back on the board and won a top five matchup at 197 pounds defeating No. 4 Josh Barr, 5-1.

“Buchanan won a tough match,” said Brands. “He won it with tough riding.”

Penn State closed out the dual with a major decision win at heavyweight from No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet over Ben Kueter, 12-2.