Top-ranked Iowa sticks Northwestern (With video)

The ultimate goal of the sport of wrestling is to pin your opponent.

The University of Iowa showed they have a firm grasp on that concept last night against Northwestern.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes notched their third consecutive shutout, scoring five pins, and hammered the Wildcats, 49-0, in front of 7,125 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“Five pins is a lot of pins in a dual meet,” Iowa coach Tom Brands said. “This sport is about pinning and flexing your muscles.”

Listen to Brands discuss the meet.

That's something the Hawkeyes have been doing a lot lately. Iowa recorded its third straight shutout, giving them a school record eight this season. It also extended the team's school record dual win streak to 58. In dual meet competition, the Hawkeyes have won 32 straight matches.

“When you get thrown on your back you're supposed to fight off your back, but from our perspective good things happening and it does show dominance from a team on a pretty good roll right now,” Brands said. “We have to continue to display that over the next couple duals.”

Ryan Morningstar had one of those pins, stopping Robert Kellogg in 4 minutes, 48 seconds. Morningstar expanded his offensive arsenal in competition, scoring a takedown early and racking up five nearfall points before the first period concluded for a 7-0 lead. He said this was a good start for the stretch run, leading to the postseason.

“It's that time of year where I have to go out there and put points on the board,” Morningstar said. “I haven't done the best job during the year.”

Morningstar hit an inside trip in the second and taking Kellogg, a Sioux City North prep, to his back. He credited a good week of practice and strong tussle with assistant coach Doug Schwab for the performance.

“It's good to go out there and show what I've been doing in the room out here.”

Brands said the only limitations Morningstar has are the ones he enforces on himself when he takes the mat.

“It's been on his mind and he did a good job (Friday night). No doubt,” Brands said. “he knows that's the battle. he knows that's what he has to do and he did it.”

Red-shirt freshman Grant Gambrall received the nod at 184 to give starter Phil Keddy a rest. Gambrall provided a 9-3 decision over Aaron Jones.

“It was a great experience for him for the future,” Brands said. “Now he understands the readiness that he has to put his body thru and his mind to get ready and compete here in Carver-Hawkeye Arena in a dual meet setting.”

Gambrall scored two takedowns and two reversals but did give up a late takedown.

“We were just better than that guy,” Brands said. “It was sloppy. He's (Gambrall) not happy. He's a competitor. He'll iron it out.”

Matt McDonough and Brent Metcalf each scored falls. McDonough built a 10-4 lead, scoring his last takedown with 45 seconds left in the second period and then promptly turning Levi Mele for the fall in 4:32. Metcalf wasted no time decking 14th-ranked Andrew Nadhir in 2:20.

Watch Metcalf's win over Nadhir.

Jay Borschel followed Morningstar with a pin in 2:27 over Brian Roddy, giving Iowa a 37-0 advantage. Heavyweight Dan Erekson improved to 5-0, capping the meet off with a fall over Marcus Shrewsbury in 3:52.

Senior Dan Dennis added a major decision at 133.

125 pounds – Matt McDonough (I) pinned Levi Mele, 4:32 (5,0); 133 – Daniel Dennis (I) major dec. Eric Metzler, 12-3 (5,0); 141 – Montell Marion (I) won by forfeit; 149 – Brent Metcalf (I) pinned Andrew Nadhir, 2:20 (2,0); 157 – Aaron Janssen (I) dec. Kevin Bialka, 6-3 (2,1); 165 – Ryan Morningstar (I) pinned Robert Kellogg, 4:48 (2,0); 174 – Jay Borschel (I) pinned Brian Roddy, 2:27 (1,0); 184 – Grant Gambrall (I) dec. Aaron Jones, 9-3 (2,1); 197 – Luke Lofthouse (I) dec. Josh Schoen, 4-3 (1,1); Hwt. – Dan Erekson (I) pinned Marcus Shrewsbury, 3:52 (2,0)

Takedowns – Iowa 22, Northwestern 3. Reversals – Iowa 2, Northwestern 0. Escapes – Iowa 5, Northwestern 11, Nearfall points – Iowa 16, Northwestern 0. Penalty points (awarded) – Iowa 0, Northwestern 0. Riding time points – Iowa 3, Northwestern 0.