Lofthouse caps career with a win

The long collegiate wrestling journey for Luke Lofthouse ended with his arm held high.

The University of Iowa 197-pounder defeated Zack Giesen, 5-2, for fifth place Saturday at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. It was the win in his final match in his Hawkeye career which started in the fall of 2004.

He imagined winning his last match but it was for the top step on the awards stand.

“It's hard, because it wasn't my goal to come here and win my last match (for fifth),” Lofthouse said. “It's good to win. That sends you off into the next step and you can feel OK about yourself. You can't really feel great about yourself because of the way you didn't wrestle or the way you could have wrestle and the opportunities you missed."

A win in a wrestler's final match can bring a satisfactory close to a competitive chapter in their life.

“It gives you something to build on,” Lofthouse said. “It gives you something to work on, and that's what is positive coming out of this.”

Lofthouse, 25, ended his senior season with a 25-7 record. Lofthouse been one of the most improved wrestlers on the Hawkeyes team, especially in the last half of this season. Lofthouse usually could get to an opponents legs, but much of his improvement came when he started to finish takedowns consistently.

“There's been a big change,” Lofthouse said. “It got me to where I am now.”

Lofthouse, who reached the NCAA tournament for the first time this season, plans to stay in Iowa City and continue his wrestling career. He has goals of a world championship.

“They have a good thing going in Iowa City,” Lofthouse said. “Great partners there and a lot of opportunities.”