The #3 Iowa Hawkeyes were able to defend their home mat vs the #4 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, winning 21-13 over their Big Ten opponent. The win ended a two dual losing streak for Iowa, which tied the longest such “streak” in the Tom Brands head coaching era. Iowa picked up key victories at 149 and 184 pounds and also got bonus points at 125 and 157 pounds.
Things got started off at 125 pounds where #1 Thomas Gilman was able to move to 19-0 on the season with a 23-8 over #18 ranked redshirt freshman Jose Rodriguez. The win was Gilman’s 17th bonus point victory on the season and it got the Hawkeyes off to a 5-0 start. Gilman notched three takedowns and picked up two near fall points to get things going in the first. With the match well in hand Gilman was able to pour it on for the technical fall.
Things took an unexpected turn at 133 pounds where the Hawkeyes did not send Cory Clark out to the mat, and instead we saw junior Phil Laux make his third dual start on the season against #1 ranked Nathan Tomasello. After two takedowns in the first period by Tomasello it looked as though the Ohio State wrestler was off to a fast start, but Laux put on a good second period ride and was able to counter Tomasello’s shots when it mattered to hold the match to a regular decision. Tomasello won the match 10-3, cutting Iowa’s team lead to 5-3.
Coming off a rough come from behind defeat last week, #15 Topher Carton taking on #14 Luke Pletcher set up the first swing match in the dual. It was a scoreless first period in the match, but Carton took the second period by picking up an escape and immidatley reversing Pletcher after surrendering a takedown. Pletcher knotted things at three in the third period, and then added another takedown midway through the final period to seal the match, winning by the final score of 5-4.
With Clark out of the lineup the top matchup of the night switched to the 149 pound bout where #3 Brandon Sorensen took on #5 Micah Jordan. There wasn’t a lot of scoring in the match, with Sorensen’s points coming by way of an escape and riding time. Despite only winning 2-0, Sorensen rode Jordan the entire third period, and was close to scoring back points after a suck back attempt. The match also put Iowa back in the lead for team score, 8-6.
The first half closed out with a 14-3 win from #2 ranked Michael Kemerer as he picked up his 20th victory during his freshman season. The major decision, which featured five takedowns by Kemerer, put the Hawks up 12-6 midway through the dual.
Things tightened up at 165 pounds where the only scores in the match came from Gunther’s second period takedown and third period escape. The 3-0 decision put the Hawks up 15-6 leading into the night’s next big matchup between #11 Alex Meyer and #1 Bo Jordan. It was there Ohio State was able to get back in the win column with Jordan’s last second takedown being the deciding factor in the 3-2 decision for the Buckeye.
In the night’s final highlight bout, #5 Sammy Brooks faced off with returning NCAA champion and #10 ranked Myles Martin and it was Brooks that put the Iowa crowd on their feet scoring a third period takedown to take a 4-3 lead over Martin. Brooks would go on to win 5-3 with riding time.
Ohio State got their last win of the night at 197 pounds where #5 Kollin Moore picked up a 19-7 major decision against Cash Wilcke, but Steven Holloway was able to close things out for the Hawkeyes with his 6-1 win over Josh Fox.
#3 Iowa 21, #4 Ohio State 13
125 — #1 Thomas Gilman (IA) tech. fall #18 Jose Rodriguez (OSU), 23-8; 5-0
133 — #1 Nathan Tomasello (OSU) dec. Phillip Laux (IA), 10-3; 5-3
141 — #14 Luke Pletcher (OSU) dec. #15 Topher Carton (IA), 5-4; 5-6
149 — #3 Brandon Sorensen (IA) dec. #5 Micah Jordan (OSU), 2-0; 8-6
157 — #2 Michael Kemerer (IA) major dec. Jake Ryan (OSU), 14-3; 12-6
165 — Joey Gunther (IA) dec. Cody Burcher (OSU), 3-0; 15-6
174 — #1 Bo Jordan (OSU) dec. #11 Alex Meyer (IA), 3-2; 15-9
184 — #7 Sammy Brooks (IA) dec. #10 Myles Martin (OSU), 5-3; 18-9
197 — #4 Kollin Moore (OSU) major dec. Cash Wilcke (IA), 19-7; 18-13
285 – Steven Holloway (IA) dec. Josh Fox (OSU), 6-1; 21-13
[…] Hawkeyes are coming off a big victory over #4 ranked Ohio State the previous weekend, downing the Buckeyes 21-13 on their home mat. Both squads were without one of […]