No. 2 Iowa blanks Bellarmine, 49-0, with barrage of bonus-point victories

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Iowa men’s wrestling displayed its dominance in its first dual against Bellarmine University.

The second-ranked Hawkeyes won all 10 matches, including six by technical fall, and blanked the Knights, 49-0, Friday night in front of a crowd of 2,285 fans packed Knight Hall.

It was the most points in a dual by Iowa since putting 55 on Iowa Central at the Iowa City Duals in 2016.

“A lot of bonus points. That’s good,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said in a news release. “We got Iowa State coming up, and we got to keep a good thing going. We got to keep rocking and rolling.”

Kale Petersen (125), Ryder Block (141), 149-pounder Kyle Parco, Michael Caliendo at 165 , Nelson Brands (174) and top-ranked 197-pounder Stephen Buchanan all record match termination victories for Iowa (3-0).

No. 1 Jacori Teemer (157) and heavyweight Ben Kueter added pins, while Drake Ayala won by major decision at 133.

“I should have been here my whole career,” Arizona State transfer Jacori Teemer said. “Just the past two duals have been amazing. The fans have been electric. They follow Iowa everywhere they go. The atmosphere they bring and the aura around Iowa wrestling is huge; it’s nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

Kueter notched his first pin of the season and his second as a Hawkeye.

“I’m comfortable when guys get in on my legs,” said Kueter. “You can be as deep as you want, but I still feel comfortable no matter what. I knew that’s what he wanted to do, come out and attack like that, and that benefits me.”

At 174, Brands faced Grant O’Dell in a battle of former Iowa City West wrestlers. They were not high school teammates. O’Dell was a four-time state medalist, placing fourth as a senior 138-pounder in 2022. Brands won the last of his three state titles in 2018.

Brands posted six takedowns for a 20-5 triumph.

Iowa’s Gabe Arnold (184) faced Devan Hendricks in a rematch of last year’s Soldier Salute tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Arnold won that 174-pound bout, 12-2, but this one was closer.

Arnold scored a takedown in the first and added an escape in the third for a 4-3 decision.

Iowa didn’t trail in any of the 10 matches. The Hawkeyes didn’t allow an offensive points, limiting the Knights points to 32 escapes and three penalty points.

Bellarmine (0-1) is in a unique situation. The Knights have completed their transitional period to NCAA Division I and are in their first season with postseason eligibility.

Former Hawkeye Ned Shuck is Bellarmine’s head coach. Organizers set up a festive atmosphere with smoke, pyrotechnics and tall, lighted pillars on the corner of the mats.

Shuck, who wrestled at Iowa from 2000-05, had legendary Iowa Coach Dan Gable provide a pre-game speech and had other World and Olympic champions at the dual.

The Hawkeyes were undaunted and earned the decisive win.

Iowa returns to action against No. 11 Iowa State (1-1) in the Cy-Hawk Series dual on Nov. 23 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, beginning at 6 p.m.

The Cyclones won seven matches to beat Navy, 29-9, Friday night at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.

AT LOUISVILLE, KY

Iowa 49, Bellarmine 0

(Individuals takedowns in parentheses)

125 pounds - Kale Petersen tech. fall Jack Parker, 26-6 (7-0); 133 - Drake Ayala major dec. Trayce Eckman, 14-6 (4,0); 141 - Ryder Block tech. fall David Mayora, 19-4 (6,0); 149 - Kyle Parco tech. fall Zac Gowan, 21-4 (5,0); 157 - Jacori Teemer pinned Gary Ortis, :24 (1,0); 165 - Michael Caliendo tech. fall Cole Nance, 21-6 (7,0); 174 - Nelson Brands tech. fall Grant O’Dell, 20-5 (6,0); 184 - Gabe Arnold dec. Devan Hendricks, 4-3 (1,0); 197 - Stephen Buchanan tech. fall Andrew Liber, 16-1 (3,0); Hwt. - Ben Kueter pinned Daulton Mayer, :32 (1,0)

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns - Iowa 41, Bellarmine 0. Reversals - Iowa 1, Bellarmine 0. Escapes - Iowa 6, Bellarmine 32. Nearfall points - Iowa 14, Bellarmine 0. Penalty points (awarded) - Iowa 2, Bellarmine 3. Riding time points - Iowa 0, Bellarmine 0. Total match points - Iowa 147, Bellarmine 35. Attendance - 2,285.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com