Wrestling Weekend That Was: More on Iowa’s win over Columbia

The Iowa Hawkeyes had a special guest attend their dual victory over Iowa. UNI and Columbia produced a scoring outburst. Upper Iowa opened GLVC duals and much more in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

Iowa dominated Columbia

No. 4 Iowa closed the first month of competition with one of its best performances. The Hawkeyes looked offensive and aggressive in a 38-3 win over Columbia Friday at Carver Hawkeye-Arena. They claimed nine of 10 weights with seven bonus-point wins.

Iowa Coach Tom Brands said the Hawkeyes had to work hard for every point, following the dual win over Penn. He said they needed to resemble a “hot knife through butter” and blow opponents out of the water. Iowa did that to Columbia, tallying 27 total takedowns and 15 nearfall points. Drake Ayala, Real Woods, Patrick Kennedy and heavyweight Bradley Hill won by technical fall.

Among the notable performances, Cullan Schriever returned from suspension to beat No. 11 Angelino Rini, 9-6, in sudden victory-1, Caleb Rathjen posted a major decision for his first win at CHA and Hill also won his first home match.

Fans also turned their attention to the stands. Former Oklahoma State NCAA champion A.J. Ferrari was nestled between super freshmen Ben Kueter and Gabe Arnold. Ferrari was the 197-pound NCAA champion for Oklahoma State in 2021 as a freshman. Ferrari was seen signing items for young fans, including a poster and shoe, and posed for pictures with fans.

The appearance could mean reports that Ferrari and his brother, Anthony, will join the Hawkeyes lineup for the second semester might be more fact than fiction. IAwrestle.com has reported that Anthony said he plans to wrestle as an official Hawkeye in the Soldier Salute on Dec. 29-30.

The Ferrari brothers have had issues off the mat. A.J. won his first 10 matches as a sophomore but was sidelined the rest of the season due to injuries suffered in a car wreck. He was dismissed from the Cowboys’ program later that year and faced sexual battery charges that were later dismissed. Anthony never officially joined Oklahoma State and faced assault battery charges, receiving a deferred sentence earlier this year.

Anthony is projected to wrestle 149, while A.J. could return to 197.

They could be joined next season by younger brother, Angelo, a high school senior in Melissa, Texas. He has signed with Iowa. Angelo won the 165-pound title at the prestigious Walsh Jesuit (Ohio) Ironman tournament, beating Penn State recruit Joe Sealey, of Wyoming Seminary (Pa.), with a ride out in ultimate tiebreaker overtime. It was Angelo’s third Ironman title and he is one of the nation’s top recruits in the Class of 2024.

Columbia sticks UNI

Columbia capped its mini-Iowa tour with a win over Northern Iowa Sunday at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls. The teams combined for a whopping 49 points, 28-21 in favor of the Lions.

Half of the matches were decided by falls. Columbia had an edge, getting pins at 141, 149 and 165. At 141, Kai Owen trailed 4-1 before locking a cradle up on the edge of the mat for a fall. Kyle Mosher (165) scored a defensive fall for the Lions. Both played a difference in the team score.

UNI won four bouts, getting pins from Trever Anderson (125) and heavyweight Tyrell Gordon. NCAA finalist Parker Keckeisen won by technical fall at 184 and Ryder Downey (157) recorded a major decision.

The dual was the first for the Panthers this season.

Upper Iowa opens GLVC schedule with win

Ninth-ranked Upper Iowa won its first dual as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Peacocks (1-0) defeated Davenport University, 44-6, Friday at Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette.

Upper Iowa won eight matches, including pins from All-American Tate Murty (141), Ethen Doty (149), Lawson Losee (174) and heavyweight Jordan Baumler, a former North Fayette Valley prep.

NCAA champion and former Monticello prep Chase Luensman added a technical fall at 165. He is now 6-3 this season.

Luther sweeps Pointer Duals

Luther won both duals Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Pointer Duals. The Norse beat Cornell, 23-12, and UWSP, 30-9.

Four Norse went unbeaten. Ryan Cripe posted two major decisions at 141. Bryce McDonough (165) and heavyweight Walter West recorded a pin and major decision, while Clayton McDonough had a major decision at 157 against UWSP.

Voss, Richardson pace Coe

L.J. Richardson (174) and Jared Voss (184) earned runner-up finishes at the North Central Open Saturday in Naperville, Ill. Coe placed third in the team standings with 138 points, 42 behind champion Augsburg (Minn.) and 10.5 back of runner-up North Central.

Coe had eight wrestlers place sixth or better. Will Esmoil (165) and 197-pounder Mathieu Arsenault each placed third.

Alburnett wins Bobcat Duals

Alburnett won the Cliff Keen Independence Invitational the first weekend of the season and followed it up with a title Saturday at the Western Dubuque Bobcat Duals in Epworth. The Pirates defeated the host Bobcats, 59-18, in the finals.

Alburnett reached the championship dual by winning the Black Pool with a 4-0 mark. The Pirates beat Caledonia-Houston (45-18), Cedar Rapids Kennedy (41-30), DeWitt Central (63-12) and Williamsburg (55-18).

Alburnett will compete in the Battle of Waterloo dual tournament this weekend. The Pirates are the second seed in Bracket C, which includes No. 1 Bettendorf. Alburnett opens with Clarion CGD and will face either Lake Mills or Pleasant Valley in the second round.

Iowa City West’s Alex Pierce wins at CBWC

Iowa City West state champion Alex Pierce claimed the 113-pound title at the Council Bluffs Wrestling Classic on Saturday. Pierce went 6-0 and beat Bennington’s Cadyn Coyle, 3-2, in the final. Pierce is now 11-1 overall.

West’s Kyler Scranton was second at 175 pounds, while Justin Avila was third at 150. Avila’s lone loss was to the eventual champion, Washburn Rural’s Kristjan Marshall, by one in the semifinal.

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