Hawkeyes in second after opening day at Big Ten tournament

EVANSTON, Ill. - The opening day of the Big Ten Conference Wrestling Championship was a lesson in control.

The University of Iowa Hawkeyes seized it for the most part early, and released it at times later.

The second-ranked Hawkeyes found themselves in second place with four finalists after the semifinal round of the Big Ten tournament Saturday at Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena. Iowa trails Penn State, 110.5-109, after the first day.

“You've got to take control,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “The thing is wrestle to score points so it's not a tight situation.”

The Hawkeyes were winning the tight matches early, posting a 9-0 record in the quarterfinals and gutting out tough last-second wins. Even though the wins slowed in the semifinals, the Hawkeyes had their moments of taking control.

Matt McDonough kicked off the round, advancing to his second straight Big Ten championship bout. The top-ranked 125-pound sophomore decked Michigan's Sean Boyle in 1 minute, 24 seconds. Iowa held a 10-point lead when he took the mat, so he wanted to help the Hawkeyes' total, but pins are his focus each time out.

“For sure. Bonus points are huge,” said McDonough, who had a pin in the quarterfinals and increased his season total to 13. “Bonus points or no bonus points, that's what I',m going out there to do every single time, because that's the ultimate goal in wrestling.”

McDonough was the 125-pound runner-up last year, earning Freshman of the year honors before claiming the NCAA title. He said he feels like he's peaking for the postseason, which is what he trains for, but this tournament is a steppingstone.

“It feels good,” McDonough said. “It's not over yet. It's all working toward the ultimate goal and that's an NCAA title."

Of course, he has a familar and fierce foe in the finals. McDonough (22-1) faces Northwestern's Brandon Precin (30-1) in the championship bout. It's the third time they have met and all three have been at Northwestern. Precin controlled the first match to win the Midlands Championships. McDonough scored a fall in the rematch, after Precin had built a lead in the third. McDonough wouldn't want to face anyone else, and said he needs to force action and wrestle at a high pace.

“That's the reason I wrestle this sport,” McDonough said. “To get the opportunity to wrestle the toughest guys out there. You know there's going to be no holding back.”

Nothing held Luke Lofthouse back. The senior 197-pounder ended the day with a decisive win, which is the same way he started. Lofthouse, seeded No. 2, beat No. 3 seed Logan Brown of Purdue, 9-3, to reach Sunday's finals. Lofthouse went 3-0, scoring a major decision in the first round.

Lofthouse (16-2) was a model for control, creating opportunities to score and widening the gap with his opponents.

“Lofthouse is a real good example of that,” Brands said. “He blew that match open. He had to work unbelievably hard.”

Blake Rasing followed Lofthouse right into the finals, and capping the Hawkeyes' semifinal round on a good note. Rasing used a second-period escape and then rode Michigan State's Joe Rizqallah the entire third period for a 2-0 win at heavyweight.

Rasing (16-5) was going for a fall late when he let up a bit to avoid any big moves, securing his spot in the championship bout. A different type of control.

“I played it safe,” said Rasing. “I knew it was coming down to time and no point of giving up a reversal.”

Brands agreed with Rasing's decision not to chance giving up a big move. He said it was as if Rasing read his mind.

“The ride was big,” Brands said. “He was smart at the end, too."

Brands wasn't set on buying into momentum with the final two matches. The aim is for each individual to take care of themselves and that alone will add to the wins and halt losses.

“I don't look at momentum,” Brands said. “I look at guys getting ready to wrestle their match and that's what Rasing and Lofthouse did.”

The Hawkeyes let a few opponents claim control in the semifinals. hawkeyes' 133-pounder Tony Ramos, after a scoring a last-second win in the quarterfinals, fell to second-seeded Tyler Graff of Wisconsin, 3-1, in sudden victory overtime. Iowa's Montell Marion surrendered a 5-1 lead to Minnesota's Michael Thorn, who scored a takedown late in sudden victory for a 7-5 win at 141.

“We need to create opportunities, because you're not going to win matches eeking them out like that,” Brands said. “You've got to build your leads.”

Aaron Janssen (165) and Ethe Lofthouse (174) lost close 3-2 bouts with top-seeded wrestlers. Wisconsin's Andrew Howe scored a reversal in overtime for the win over Janssen, while Penn State's Ed Ruth used a riding-time point to edge Ethen Lofthouse.

Derek St. John righted the ship briefly between Iowa setbacks. St. John gave up an opening takedown, but battled back to beat Northwestern's Jason Welch, 5-2, at 157. St. John displayed Brands' idea of being tough in tough situations, scoring a takedown in the second and then riding Welch for the third.

“I'd like to think of it that way,” St. John said. “I just really gone out there and kept wrestling. As long as you don't stop wrestling, it's pretty tough to get beat.”

St. John, a red-shirt freshman, improved to 18-3. He will treat the finals like any other.

“It's just another match to get ready to compete,” St. John said. “Go out, compete and get your hand raised.”

St. John faces Penn State's David Taylor (33-0) in the finals. Taylor, who beat St. John by major decision, advanced with a quarterfinal pin and a 12-4 major decision over Indiana's Paul Young in the semifinals. It's one of two Iowa vs. Penn State matches, which includes a rematch between Marion and the Nittany Lions' Andrew Alton. Marion earned a come-from-behind win in their last meeting.

Penn State has five finalists and four in the consolation round.

“We have a huge match tomorrow with Alton at 141,” Brands said. “St. John and Taylor (at 157).”

The Hawkeyes will need to regain control. The plan isn't complicated.

“Take one match at a time," Rasing said, "and come back ready to fight."