Marion, Gambrall avenge losses to secure All-American honors

PHILADELPHIA - University of Iowa's Montell Marion and Grant Gambrall earned a little sweet revenge.

The Hawkeye duo avenged a pair of losses suffered at the Big Ten Championships to assure All-American honors Friday during the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Center.

“Two big matches there,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “They were close.”

Marion stormed back from a 4-0 deficit in the second period to beat Jimmy Kennedy of Illinois, 8-7, with a takedown as time expired. Kennedy defeated Marion for third place at the conference meet.

Marion scored a point for stalling and followed it immediately with a takedown on the edge of the mat inside 1:10 left in the match. He released Kennedy, who led 6-5 and had a riding time point locked up for riding time. Marion kept pressing forward receiving another stall call in the final five seconds. Marion continued wrestling and spun around Kennedy on the edge getting the decisive takedown with less than two seconds remaining.

Brands said it was a good example of hustle, but Marion needed to increase his pace.

“I don't think he had a choice,” Brands said. “It's 4-0 you've got to go. He's pretty good when he wants to.”

Marion rushed back to the center after the final score and thought the score was tied. He then turned to his coaches, who were celebrating the victory. Marion asked Brands and assistant Mike Zadick if he had won, and after confirmation he flexed intensely and yelled in excitement.

“I think he was ready to go for the overtime,” Brands said. “I don't think he realized he got the stall call."

Gambrall was pinned by Wisconsin's Travis Rutt in the Big Ten consolation semifinals at 184. Gambrall won when the most was at stake, beating Rutt, 4-2, in second tiebreaker in overtime.

The two exchanged escapes in regulation and then again in the first tiebreaker sandwiched between two sudden victory periods. Gambrall rode Rutt in the first 30-second period of the second tiebreaker before scoring a reversal in the second to win.

After Gambrall's rideout, he heard the Wisconsin coaches instruct Rutt to ride him and win.

“I was planning on getting away anyway," Gambrall said, "but that's added incentive right there."

Marion, a 2010 runner-up, earned his straight All-American honor, while Gambrall reached the awards stand in his first appearance. Gambrall wasn't distracted by those thoughts when he scored the decisive reversal.

“That added focus to it, knowing I was that close," Gambrall said. "Just focused in and get it done.

“It's a big step to be an All-American for the first time, but that's not the goal. The goal is to win it all.”

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