Iowa fifth-year senior Patrick Rhoads caps home career with victory

IOWA CITY — Patrick Rhoads sat in bed Saturday night and realized this was his last opportunity to perform at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

He wanted to deliver for the University of Iowa crowd, which included his mom, Linda Sperry, who never missed a meet, and his teammates.

The fifth-year senior, who stepped in as the 165-pound starter this season, finished his career at home with a victory. Eighth-seeded Rhoads used a takedown in sudden victory to beat Penn State's Geno Morelli, 4-2, to place seventh at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships on Sunday.

Rhoads contemplated his final home match the previous night.

'You just have to lay it all out there, put it all out there,' said Rhoads, who finished 7-4 at CHA and has 38 career wins. 'I know I haven't had as much success as I've wanted in my career, but to be able to give the fans, my family, my coaches and teammates something — a win — is huge, because I haven't been able to do that the last four years as much.'

Rhoads raised both arms in the air to recognize the appreciative crowd. He hasn't been the recipient of much fanfare during his time as a Hawkeye.

'Enjoyment and just enjoying the environment,' Rhoads said about the moment after the match. 'I think I get real focused into my matches and I block everything out, but it's been said time and time again, and it will continue to be said, that we have the best fans in the world.

'They are definitely a piece to the Iowa wrestling puzzle. I'm just kind of giving thanks.'

Rhoads' victory came at a crucial time where Iowa was trying to stay in mathematical contention of first place and fending off pushes from Nebraska and Ohio State for second. It also had ramifications for any possibility of an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships, since the conference earned six automatic berths, He still is eligible, but a continued postseason is in limbo.

'You prepare and wrestle the match the same,' Rhoads said. 'It definitely feels good to beat Penn State.

'Leave it in the committee's hands and made a good case for myself. We'll see what happens. I'm definitely going to stay ready. Just keep battling and training, like I already have that spot.'

The benefit off the mat is more prevalent than the accomplishments on it. He is a civil engineering major. The tough curriculum and his five years working in the Hawkeyes program have set the foundation for future success.

'I don't think I'd be the civil engineering student I am today if it wasn't for Iowa wrestling, and vice versa,' Rhoads said. 'Both kind of play off each other. They teach me the amount of necessary work to be successful in both. I think that is one of the things that will carry me through life.'

Iowa Coach Tom Brands compared Rhoads to senior Brody Grothus, who devoted five years to the program. Rhoads' last home match had with a more positive result.

'Those guys have stuck with it,' Brands said. 'He ended on a little bit of a high for himself. Winning is big, even though it's for seventh.'

STOLL FINISHES EIGHTH

The status of University of Iowa heavyweight Sam Stoll seemed uncertain after suffering an apparent knee injury during the National Wrestling Coaches Association Dual Series meet against North Carolina State.

Iowa Coach Tom Brands said he was well and entered in the tournament. Stoll went 2-2 before medical forfeiting the final match to place eighth.

The conference was allotted six automatic berths at heavyweight, but Stoll remains a strong candidate for an at-large bid. The national tournament is March 17-19 in New York City.

ODDS AND ENDS

In just its second Big Ten Wrestling Championships, Rutgers has crowned a conference champion. The Scarlet Knights' third-seed sophomore Anthony Ashnault defeated Penn State's Jimmy Gulibon, 9-0, in the 141-pound final. ... For the second straight year, Wisconsin's Isaac Jordan owns family bragging rights. Jordan beat his cousin, Bo Jordan, of Ohio State, 3-1, for the 165-pound title. Last season, Isaac won, 3-2, in the 165 final. ...

Attendance for Saturday surpassed 23,000 fans during the first two sessions of the tournament. Announced attendance for the opening session was 11,783. The second session reached 11,901.

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