RAPID RECAP: Hawkeyes Take Down Illini, 31-8

Tom Brands maintained perfection against Big Ten foe the Illinois Illini with the Hawkeyes coming away with a 31-8 victory. The team victory improved Brands record to 9-0 against his border rival. Iowa came away with four bonus victories, and picked up an upset at 133 pounds to fuel their victory.

Leading things off at 125 pounds was Spencer Lee, who blitzed out to a 6-0 lead against Travis Piotrowski in the first period off the strength of a takedown and four point near fall trapped arm tilt. Lee tacked on another takedown in the second and third periods, before putting away the #15 ranked Illini in the final period for an early team lead.

No Austin DeSanto, no problem for for Iowa at 133 pounds tonight. It was Paul Glynn who took to the mat to face the #17 ranked Dylan Duncan. The two wrestled a scoreless first period and after Glynn accumulated over a minute’s worth of riding time Duncan was the first to get on the board with an escape. Glynn picked neutral in the third, but with neither able to score the match went to Sudden Victory. With the first overtime period winding down Glynn got in on a single leg that he was finally able to finish for the upset victory.

That led us into the matchup of the night at 141 pounds where Hawkeye freshman Max Murin took on the #5 ranked Mike Carr. After a scoreless first period, Murin went to work on top in the second period trying to accumulate riding time against Carr. Murin managed to ride Carr for over a minute, but just over midway through the second period Murin was warned for stalling when he failed to return Carr to the mat and had to surrender an escape.

In the final period, Murin managed to get out, but not fast enough to keep his riding time in tact. Late in the period Carr initiated a shot which Murin was able to funk roll through. During the roll through Carr was caught on has back and after a review the refs awarded Murin a takedown. Off the restart, Carr got an escape, takedown, and two point near fall to pull ahead for the final score 6-3.

Pat Lugo was able to respond in strong fashion at 149 pounds as he dominated Mousa Jodeh in the 149 pound bout. Thanks to a seven point second period Lugo was able to pull away from Jodeh and pick up a bonus point on the way to his 14-4 major decision.

It was a slow seven minutes in the 157-pound bout between #5 Kaleb Young and #16 Eric Barone. Through regulation the only two points scored were escapes by both wrestlers. With things knotted at 1-1, the match went to Sudden Victory where this time it was the Illini who managed to earn an overtime upset as Barone cradled Young for the 3-1 win.

In the battle of former teammates it was all Iowa, as #2 Alex Marinelli’s pace was just too much for Joey Gunther. Marinelli picked up a pair of takedown and a stall point to take a 5-2 lead in the first period. After picking up two more stalling point in the secon d period Marinelli took the match in the third when Gunther was hit for stalling again, which terminated the match as Gunther was disqualified.

Iowa had another surprise wrestler in their lineup as it was junior Keegan Shaw that took the mat at 174 pounds to take on Nick Gasbarro instead of Mitch Bowman. After spending the first half of the season at 157 pounds, Shaw jumped up two weight classes and came away with his first ever dual victory. Shaw scored takedowns in both the second and third period, and also scored by way of riding time and an escape.

Looking for another Hawkeye upset was junior Cash Wilcke taking on the undefeated and #2 ranked Emery Parker at 184 pounds. Wilcke managed to keep the score close, with things tied 1-1 in the third period. Parker then earned a stall point against Wilcke to take the lead and despite Wilcke managing to get in on Parker’s legs late it was the Illini who managed to come away with a takedown to seal the match.

Winding things down was Jacob Warner, who picked up a 5-1 win over Andre Lee in the 197-pound bout. The first period takedown by Warner was the difference as the Hawkeye freshman came away with his win with ease.

The dual ended the same way it began, with a Hawkeye pin, this time from senior heavyweight Sam Stoll. Leading the match 1-0, Stoll was able to work Rachel over for a fall in the second period which was the Hawk’s second straight dual bonus win.

Iowa continues their Illinois road trip taking on the Northwestern Wildcats this Sunday.

Dual Recap (TOM Rankings)
#4 Iowa 31 – #19 Illinois 8
125 #2 Spencer Lee fall #15 Travis Piotrowski, 6:03
133 Paul Glynn dec #17 Dylan Duncan, 3-1 SV
141 #5 Mike Carr dec #13 Max Murin, 6-3
149 #12 Pat Lugo maj dec Mousa Jodeh, 14-4
157 #16 Eric Barone dec #5 Kaleb Young, 3-1 SV*
165 #2 Alex Marinelli win by DQ Joey Gunther
174 Keegan Shaw dec Nick Gasbarro, 6-2
184 #2 Emery Parker dec #11 Cash Wilcke, 4-1
197 #6 Jacob Warner dec Andre Lee, 5-1
285 #1 Sam Stoll fall Deuce Rachel, 4:37
*Illinois deducted a team point following the 157-pound match