Ramos crowned 'NCAA CHAMP'

OKLAHOMA CITY – Tony Ramos has never displayed a lack of confidence.

The Iowa senior seemed sure of his chances with talk of storming through the field before the national tournament. It was his brother, Frankie, who knew Ramos wouldn't be denied, creating a black-and-gold hat that read 'NCAA CHAMP' and crowning him with it last night.

Ramos (32-2) donned the hat after he claimed his crown. He scored two nearfall points in an overtime tiebreaker to beat Wisconsin's Tyler Graff, 3-1, for the 133-pound title in front of 16,217 spectators at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

'It's awesome,' Ramos said. 'I'm excited. I can't wait to get out of here, go take that drug test, and then celebrate with my family, get my bracket, and go home and put it on the wall.'

Ramos wasted little time getting to his family and friends, bolting off the stage to climb a guard rail and celebrate with them in the front rows of the crowd. He emerged with the hat that was waiting for him.

'You always have something planned,' Ramos said. 'They're the closest people to me other than the wrestling team, (Iowa Coaches) Tom and Terry (Brands), the other coaches, and I wanted to see them as quick as I could.'

The post-match theatrics came after another match filled with dramatics and heroics. He fought through three two-point wins in the tournament, including one in overtime, and hit a decisive five-point move in the final minute for a semifinal win.

Ramos and Graff exchanged escapes in regulation and didn't score in sudden victory overtime. Things looked bleak in the first tiebreaker period when Ramos couldn't escape and Graff would start down in the next.

As Graff looked to escape, he resorted to funk and Ramos caught him, lacing an arm and leaning back to expose Graff for a quick two-count.

'I knew he liked to roll,' Ramos said. 'As soon as he hit that roll, I was just finding some way to score. I caught that arm and I was like, you know, if I just fall back a little bit, did a quick count. Just glad I got it this year, unlike last year. That's why you don't roll. For you young kids, never roll. Solid wrestling always wins.'

The pair has wrestled five times and none have been decided by more than two points, including a one-point win by Ramos for this year's Big Ten title. He rode Graff out there for the win, and was ready to catch Graff again.

'He does a good job of feeling that,' Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. 'He packs guys pretty tight.'

The celebration was delayed briefly when Wisconsin coaches asked for a video review of the nearfall count. The situation was similar to last year's runner-up finish to Ohio State's Logan Stieber, when a video review did not award him crucial back points. Ramos remained calm. The referee returned to center mat and announced the original score was confirmed.

"This year, the review was to see if I won the match or not," Ramos said. "Then when I actually had time to wrestle, you know, I knew in my head I had it, but you never know what's going to happen with those refs. They can do whatever they want.

"But I was ready to go if I had to go another minute. I got through his legs in that first period, didn't finish. The next time I just had to finish it."

Brands hoisted him on his shoulder after the post-match interview and carried him to the training room. Ironically, Ramos' ride on Brands' shoulders came after he took a figurative load off his coach's shoulders by earning the Hawkeyes only title.

Brands emerged from a hallway wearing the "NCAA CHAMP" hat.

'It feels good,' Brands said. 'I kept saying he's the king, so I had to go back in there and get the king's hat.'

Ramos was confident before the match started, as the two were locked in one of his famous stare downs. He said Graff dropped is head and broke the glare.

"He gave it away right away," Ramos said. "You can fake it all you want. He knows when he made the mistake."

That confidence will be missed, and so will the three All-American finishes, including two straight finals appearances. Brands has always said Ramos has been that way since his first day in the practice room. He walked the walk on Saturday night.

'He has a unique way of expressing it and displaying it,' Brands said. 'It's real. That's every day. He's beautiful for our program.'

Senior Derek St. John entered the tournament trying for a second national title. He suffered losses in the quarterfinals and consolation semifinals, finishing fifth at 157. In doing so, he became just the Hawkeyes' 18th four-time All-American and the first since Mark Perry (2005-08).

'It stings,' St. John said of the lowest NCAA finish of his career. 'You have to come ready to go and you have to be ready to go every match. You get what you deserve.'

St. John (30-6) was a two-time finalist, getting second as a sophomore and fourth as a freshman. He admitted there had been a lot of big wins of the national tournament but his run through the 157-pound bracket last year will be his top memory.

'It's as high as you can go,' St. John said. 'Two would have been nice, but I still got one. I guess being a four-time All-American is kind of an accomplishment in itself.'

St. John lost four times in his last nine matches leading into the tournament, going 5-2 here. He refused to use any physical ailments as an excuse, but his perseverance to overcome injury is part of his legacy.

'He's probably one of the tougher guys I've seen as far as dealing with adversity, ligaments being detached and significant injuries that would maybe sideline somebody for a career,' Brands said. 'He's been very diligent that he's back on the mat as quick as he can. There is a lot of positive in that. I don't think his best wrestling was realized because of that.'

The Hawkeyes had six All-Americans, including freshman Cory Clark, who placed fifth. Clark will simply move forward from this performance. While some are satisfied with a medal, Clark doesn't find solace in reaching the top five at 125.

'I guess I have to use it as motivation to push me in the right direction,' Clark said. 'It's good experience and a good lesson for next year.'

Sophomore 197-pounder Nathan Burak reached the awards ceremony for the first time, placing eighth at 197. Juniors Mike Evans (174) and heavyweight Bobby Telford were All-Americans for the second time.

Telford (26-7) finished fourth and Evans (28-7) was sixth.

Iowa finished a somewhat lackluster fourth for the second straight year. The Hawkeyes scored 78 1/2 points, which is more than last year's 73-point team total.

Penn State won its fourth straight NCAA team title with 109 1/2 points, receiving titles from two-time NCAA champion and four-time national finalist David Taylor (165) and Ed Ruth (184). Taylor was named Outstanding Wrestler. Minnesota, who went 0-2 in the finals, was second with  104. Oklahoma State was third with 96 1/2. The Cowboys' Chris Perry (174) and 157-pound Alex Dieringer won titles.

Iowa State knocked on the door of the top 10 again this year, but missed it. The Cyclones did have three All-Americans, including juniors Michael Moreno and Kyven Gadson. The duo earned a higher step on the awards stand this year after both placing sixth in 2013.

Gadson (30-4) placed fourth at 197 pounds. Moreno, who made one of the biggest turnarounds last year, continued to improve with a fifth-place finish at 165 and a 31-9 record.

'Moved up a peg,' Moreno said. 'I'm going to have to work a little harder to make sure I jump a few spots, but it feels good to end a tournament on a win.'

As a freshman, Moreno won only four matches, but had 31 wins as sophomore. Now, he has all-America honors for the second straight year. He said mental toughness and a positive attitude were important. He praised his coaches and family for their impact during rough times.

'I have a great support system,' Moreno said. 'I would have fallen apart two years ago and walked away if it wasn't for that support system.'

Sophomore Earl Hall placed eighth at 125 for the Cyclones. Sophomore 174-pounder Tanner Weatherman was a win away from placing. Iowa State returns all five qualifiers next season.

'We have the groundwork for the foundation of our team,' Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson said.

UNI placed in the top 16 for the second straight season. They tallied 40 points with three All-Americans, led by 133-pound senior Joe Colon, who was third.