Sorensen knocks off top-ranked foe

IOWA CITY - Less than a month ago, Brandon Sorensen was still vying to be his team's best wrestler at his weight.

In the few short weeks he had that spot to himself; Sorensen has made a case as one of the top 149-pounders in the country.

Sorensen recorded his third victory over an opponent ranked in the top-five, defeating Northwestern's top-ranked defending NCAA champion Jason Tsirtsis, 3-2 in overtime, and leading top-ranked Iowa to a 38-3 win last night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Sorensen escaped in the first period of the second tiebreaker and ignited the Hawkeye crowd when he rode Tsirtsis for the next 30 seconds to claim the win. The fourth-ranked red-shirt freshman has wins over Ohio State All-American Hunter Stieber, was ranked No. 5 then, and 2014 NCAA finalist and then-second ranked Josh Kindig of Oklahoma State since the start of January.

'It's definitely good but I knew all along,” Sorensen said. 'I mean you can beat anybody you want to when you put your mind to it. We've been training hard. I've got the best coaches, who push me.”

The only points came from escapes, including one each in regulation and again in the first tiebreaker. Sorensen earned the advantage with more riding time, but added an exclamation mark by elevating and returning Tsirtsis to the mat on a late standup attempt.

'That's a big win,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. 'I liked the fact that at the end we have it won because of riding time ...

and he's on his feet and instead of kicking him away we pick him up and return him to the mat.

'That's how you win big matches. There's no question. Pick him up (and) put him down on the mat.”

Not many people have been able to ride Tsirtsis in similar situations against top wrestlers. Sorensen stayed in good position and remained in control.

'Really staying heavy,” Sorensen said the key to riding Tsirtsis. 'Keep my hips behind his, keeping the pressure forward and return him to the mat at the end.”

Iowa fans were loud during his match, rising to their feet on occasion. They roared when he secured the upset, but the cheers had little impact with his mind solely on competition.

'You hear it a little bit, but you don't really hear it much,” Sorensen said. 'I've got bad hearing to begin with and got a headgear on top of it. I'm focused on the match.”

Tsirtsis has proved successful in winning long, tight matches. Sorensen came out on top this time, but he and Brands said it didn't have to play out that way, utilizing a strong offense for earlier takedowns.

'I think Sorensen can get to the guy,” Brands said. 'Just a little bit more combination type stuff or more changing speed, angle and level. I think he can get to him.”

Sorensen had been battling Brody Grothus for the starting spot through Midlands. Interestingly, Grothus was injured during an overtime loss to Tsirtsis that allowed Sorensen to take control.

'When you get an opportunity you seize it and that's what he's done,” Brands said. 'Good for him and the weight class. That doesn't reflect anything on Brody Grothus.”

Nick Moore returned to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 4, adding some overtime excitement of his own. He avenged an earlier loss to No. 6 Pierce Harger with a 4-2 sudden-victory win at 165.

'It's always good to get back on the winning train and move forward,” Moore said. 'Coach always says it's easier to move forward when you're winning.”

Moore had stressed before the dual that wrestling at a high pace for seven minutes was important. He refocused throughout the match, getting the winning move with 20 seconds left in the one-minute period. Moore said he could have been more offensive, despite wrestling Harger multiple times dating all the way back to high school.

'It was not as many attempts as there should have been and has been in the past,” Moore said. 'That is something I have to build on. I got to the leg in that second hold, hid my ankles and finished strong.”

The win could be crucial for postseason seeding and rankings. Brands seemed to like Moore initiated the offense that led to the winning move with 20 seconds left of the one-minute period.

'It was on his shot late and we score,” Brands said. 'I think we got in one other time. We were basically 1-for-2 or 1-for-3. Our snaps are strong. He's strong.”

In the third marquee match, Northwestern's Mike McMullan prevented a shutout, getting a takedown in the second sudden-victory period for a 3-1 win over Bobby Telford. It overturned Telford's win in the finals of the Midlands Championship.

The Hawkeyes (10-0, 5-0 Big Ten) dominated the dual, allowing just two takedowns with the first coming at 197. Despite Alex Polizzi's opening takedown, Iowa's Nathan Burak came back with a takedown in the final 20 seconds for a 4-3 win.

Iowa tripled the amount of match points from the Wildcats (9-5, 1-4), receiving technical falls from Thomas Gilman (125), Mike Kelly (157) and a fall from 133-pounder Cory Clark at 133. Sammy Brooks added a major decision at 184.

There are probably some mismatches there in the rankings,” Brands said. 'You're supposed to roll like that. There were three matches that we pointed toward and we won two of them.”

AT CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA

Iowa 38, Northwestern 3

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

125 pounds - Thomas Gilman (I) tech. fall Garrison White, 21-6 (7,0); 133 - Cory Clark (I) pinned Dominic Malone, 2:56 (1,0); 141 - Josh Dziewa (I) dec. Jameson Oster, 6-0 (1,0); 149 - Brandon Sorensen (I) dec. Jason Tsirtsis, 3-2, tiebreaker 2 (0,0); 157 - Mike Kelly (I) tech. fall Ben Sullivan, 18-3 (5,0); 165 - Nick Moore (I) dec. Pierce Harger, 4-2 SV1 (1,0); 174 - Mike Evans (I) won by forfeit; 184 - Sammy Brooks (I) major dec. Mitch Sliga, 18-6 (8,0); 197 - Nathan Burak (I) dec. Alex Polizzi, 4-3 (1,1); Hwt. - Mike McMullan (N) dec. Bobby Telford, 3-1 (1,0)

MATCH STATISTICS

Takedowns - Northwestern 2, Iowa 24; Reversals - Northwestern 1, Iowa 0; Escapes - Northwestern 19, Iowa 10; Nearfall points - Northwestern 0, Iowa 16; Penalty points awarded - Northwestern 0, Iowa 0; Riding-time points - Northwestern 0, Iowa 3. Total match points - Northwestern 25, Iowa 77. Attendance - 8,104.

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