Austin DeSanto dominates in first wrestling match back in the lineup for Iowa

COLUMBUS, Ohio — After a two week hiatus, All-American Austin DeSanto returned to the Iowa wrestling lineup.

The third-ranked 133-pounder came back in dominant fashion.

DeSanto posted a 19-4 technical fall over Dylan Kuntz, helping the second-ranked Hawkeyes to a 21-12 Big Ten Conference dual victory over No. 6 Ohio State in front of 4,400 fans at the Covelli Center.

DeSanto (12-0) earned his first victory since Jan. 7.

“Feeling good and getting better every day,” DeSanto said. “The approach is getting better every time I get out there. It feels good going out there and competing.”

DeSanto needed just 4:21 for his team-high eighth technical fall this season. He scored two takedowns in the first and six nearfall for a 10-1 lead after one. DeSanto tallied four more takedowns before it was stopped, giving Iowa its first lead at 5-3.

“Good for him and good for us,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “It feels good to have him back in there and we have to keep him going, though.

“I think he went back to the basics in a couple different things.”

Jaydin Eierman followed with a 4-0 decision at 141 that began a series of alternating wins between the teams.

Ohio State won at 149, 165 and 184 before Jacob Warner at 197 and heavyweight Tony Cassioppi cemented the victory.

Warner scored a point for riding time to beat Gavin Hoffman, 6-5. Cassioppi recorded a takedown and two nearfall as time expired to cap his 13-4 major decision over 12th-ranked Tate Orndorff.

“Cassioppi ended with an exclamation mark,” Brands said. “Gets some bonus points. Gets the major decision. That was big.”

Kaleb Young (157) and 174-pounder Michael Kemerer added decisions for the Hawkeyes, who lost two matches in sudden victory and two other one-point matches.

The Buckeyes (5-2, 1-2) won two thrillers. Second-ranked Sammy Sasso used a late reversal to edge No. 10 Max Murin, 3-2, at 149. Seventh-ranked Carson Kharchla scored a takedown in the third for a 3-2 upset of No. 1 Alex Marinelli.

“Tough sport,” Brands said. “You can’t have surprises, though. You can’t have surprises on issues guys are having or whatever, and then the other thing is surprises when you’re out there. You can’t come off the mat and say ‘I know the guy does this’ and you got burned with it. That’s just more holding, waiting and those types of things.

“Work sharp. We were not sharp.”

The Hawkeyes won six bouts, improving to 11-0 overall and 5-0 in the conference. They extended the current longest NCAA Division I dual win streak to 29 in a row and claimed their 28th straight victory against Big Ten opponents.

Iowa hosts top-ranked Penn State Friday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, beginning at 8 p.m.