The #1 Hawkeyes were handed their first loss of the dual season today as the #2 ranked Missouri Tigers won four of the first five weights to come out on top 18-12 in the National Dual finals. For the Hawkeyes this was their second straight loss to the Tigers, going back to a previous meeting at the National Duals.
#2 Alan Waters led things off with a 5-4 decision over Thomas Gilman at 125. The match was tied 1-1 in the final period and wen through a scoreless tiebreak period. Gilman suffered a locked hands and reversal in his rideout, which provided him a three point deficit to overcome. Gilman wound up losing 5-4 to Waters, who should be the consensus #1 125 after this weekend.
Cory Clark responded with a 7-2 win at 133 for the Hawkeyes. With a 5-2 lead in the third Clark picked up two stalling calls to make it the 7-2 final.
From there Missouri strung together three wins over Josh Dziewa (141), Brandon Sorensen (149), and Mike Kelly (157). The only upset in that trio was Brandon Sorensen, who took his first loss since the Midlands semifinals in December. Houdashelt won 2-1, with his two points coming by riding time and escape.
Nick Moore got Iowa back in the win column with his 3-2 decision over former Centerville, Iowa wrestler Mikey England at 165. Mike Evans then made it back-to-back wins with his 4-1 over #6 John Eblen at 174, which made the team score 12-9.
Alex Meyer took the mat at 184 for the Hawkeyes and went up against Willie Miklus, his former high school teammate at Southeast Polk, “We went on the recruiting trip together. We still keep in touch.” Miklus said on his familiarity of Meyer. When asked who won the matches in the room he replied, “Which time? He was my workout partner my senior year..we know each other in and out.” The advantage went to Miklus on the day as he scored a 6-5 win on riding time to put Missouri up 15-9.
That led to #1 J’den Cox getting a win at 197 to seal the dual for Missouri over #6 Nathan Burak, to clinch the National Dual title. Bobby Telford then went out at heavyweight scoring the Hawks first offensive score in the first period with his takedown. First period takedowns was something stressed that his team needed to do earlier in the season, and today it would be the Hawkeye’s undoing.
Up next the Hawkeyes will prepare for the Big Ten conference championships in Columbus, Ohio as they prepare for the final season run.
#1 IOWA 12, #2 Missouri 18
125 – #2 Alan Waters (MIS) dec. #5 Thomas Gilman (IA), 5-4 TB1; 0-3
133 – #6 Cory Clark (IA) dec. Zach Synon (MIS), 7-2; 3-3
141 – #5 Lavion Mayes (MIS) dec. #6 Josh Dziewa (IA), 13-6; 3-6
149 – #4 Drake Houdashelt (MIS) dec. #2 Brandon Sorensen (IA), 2-1; 3-9
157 – #12 Joseph LaVallee (MIS) dec. #16 Michael Kelly (IA), 6-1; 3-12
165 – #9 Nick Moore (IA) dec. Mike England (MIS), 3-2; 6-12
174 – #3 Mike Evans (IA) dec. #5 John Eblen (MIS), 4-1; 9-12
184 – #14 Willie Miklus (MIS) dec. Alex Meyer (IA), 6-5; 9-15
197 – #1 J’Den Cox (MIS) dec. #6 Nathan Burak (IA), 4-3; 9-18
285 – #4 Bobby Telford (IA) dec. #16 Devin Mellon (MIS), 6-3; 12-18
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