Hawkeyes win third straight Midlands title

EVANSTON, Ill. - The finals of the Midlands Wrestling Championships were simply perfect for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes swept all three of their championship matches, claiming a third straight Midlands team title last night at Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena. Iowa tallied 168.5 points, distancing itself from runner-up Iowa State which ended with 144.5.

Red-shirt freshman Matt McDonough, former national champion Brent Metcalf and Jay Borschel each won individual crowns for Iowa, exactly who Tom Brands was referring to as highlights.

“Three champs,” Brands said responding to the performances that stood out.

Brands said he liked how the team competed for the most part, showing its strength and durability through the long, grinding competition. The individual toughness led to the team accomplishment.

“I think team titles are important,” Brands said. “team titles are taken care of when you have individuals that are motivated and they wrestle hard and wrestle to win.”

McDonough had to show that motivation to wrestle to win after dropping in a hole to Iowa State's Andrew Long in the 125-pound championship.

In the only head-to-head title match between the top two teams, McDonough stormed back, overcoming a 5-2 first period deficit to win 9-7 in overtime.

After giving up the first two, McDonough earned the last three takedowns with one in the second, third and overtime periods. McDonough overcame a very slow start.

“Just coming out stronger and I would have had that in the beginning,” McDonough said about his offensive leg attack. “Throughout the match I felt more comfortable and I felt I could get to his legs.”

The win padded Iowa's lead and allowed them to almost seal it with Metcalf's title at 149.

Metcalf was dominant through the semifinals, scoring three pins, a technical fall and a major decision. He topped a Dan Gable Outstanding Wrestler Award performance with a 9-2 decision over Kyle Ruschell of Wisconsin.

“It's a positive,” said Metcalf, who won his third straight Midlands title. “I wrestled well (and) smart.”

Borschel stepped to the top of the Midlands podium for the first time after placing third and second the last two years.

he used a four-point move in the first period and cruised to a 6-1 win over Ben Bennett of Central Michigan at 174.

He was anticipating a big move from Bennett and capitalized.

“I just caught him with a little half and got some back points out of it,” Borschel said. “I was kind of waiting for something like that.”

Iowa used a strong showing in the wrestlebacks to help build its lead.

Ryan Morningstar (165) and Chad Beatty (197) each placed third. Beatty suffered a foot injury at the end of his final match and hobbled onto the awards stand. senior Phil Keddy was fourth at 184.

“The biggest part of winning a team championship is those wrestlebacks,” Metcalf said. “If it's going to happen you're going to get guys fighting back to place.”

As the Hawkeyes soared in the finals, the Cyclones faltered, winning just three of eight placing matches and two in the final session.

“I think they have some tougher wrestlers right now,” ISU Coach Kevin Jackson said about Iowa. “We got to get tougher. We have to get better.”

Top-ranked Jake Varner, making his third straight finals appearance, captured the only Cyclone title. He beat Wynn Michalak of Chippewa Wrestling Club, 6-1, in the 197 championship.

The Cyclones settled for even placings, including second-place finishes from Long, Jon Reader at 165 and heavyweight David Zabriskie. Iowa State's Mitch Mueller was fourth at 149 and Duke Burke sixth at 174.

“We have to figure out how we're going to win the tough matches,” Jackson said. “and not concede points.”

Steve Fittery of American University was received the Champion of Champions Award and Iowa's Nate Moore had the fastest pin (46 seconds).