Iowa beats Northwestern in Big Ten Conference wrestling dual

IOWA CITY — Real fast. Real loud. Real good.

Simply, Real Woods.

Iowa’s 141-pound senior needed just 10 seconds to score, ignite the Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd and roll to a 17-2 technical fall over No. 6 Frankie Tal-Sharar, helping second-ranked Iowa to a 27-9 victory over No. 11 Northwestern Friday night.

“It felt great,” Woods said. “It was very exciting to be out there with all the fans.”

The dual was Iowa’s 300th at CHA, giving the Hawkeyes a 274-26 all-time record here. Iowa won seven matches, including top-ranked Spencer Lee’s pin over No. 3 Michael DeAugustino to close the dual at 125. Lee scored two takedowns, cinching up a cradle on the last one to end it in 2:01.

“That’s what it’s supposed to look like,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said about Lee’s third straight pin.

⧉ Related article: Photos: Iowa wrestling beats Northwestern in Big Ten dual, 27-9

Woods (7-0) captured an individual title at the Soldier Salute in December, but did not compete in Iowa’s two duals last weekend. He went right to work, taking down Tal-Sharar and going to work on top, riding him for the remaining 2:50 of the first period.

“I’ve been doing that since before college since I was little,” Woods said. “I absolutely look for it. My top game, I feel like, is top-tier and I want to take advantage of that every time. So, immediately when I get a takedown, what I’m looking for is getting my turns.”

Woods nearly had the technical fall by the end of the first, securing three tilts for 12 nearfall points and a 14-0 lead before the first break.

Things slowed down a bit in the last two periods. Woods had two escapes and a point for riding time was enough to give the Hawkeyes an early 5-3 edge.

“We’re better with him in our lineup,” Brands said. “He’s an important part of our lineup. We’ve got to bring him back up to where his best game is out there.

“He’s a competitor, I know that. He stepped up. That’s big.”

The All-America transfer from Stanford received a welcome reception from Hawkeye fans when he was introduced. He felt their energy before, during and after the bout.

“I feel appreciated,” Woods said. “It feels really good that all these fans are behind me.

“How I harness that? It’s natural. I just feel the love. The core of my being comes from love. Love for the sport and everything. I feel the love from the fans and that’s how I harness it.”

Woods learned earlier in the week that he would take the mat against the Wildcats.

“I’m trying to wrestle as often as possible,” Woods said. “In and out of the lineup, it’s not like it is anything not a part of the journey that I’m on, so just going with the flow and continuing to do what I do best when the time comes.”

Iowa (10-0, 3-0) received consecutive wins from Cobe Siebrecht at 157 and 165-pounder Patrick Kennedy. Siebrecht was impressive, racking up two takwdowns with exactly one minute of riding time and dropping No. 9 Trevor Chumbley, 6-3.

“I felt that my handfighting and moving my feet was better this match,” Siebrecht said. “I could feel him fading and when I got an opportunity to get in on a shot I put it down hard.”

Last week’s loss to Illinois’ Michael Carr was humbling, according to Siebrecht. He reset his mental approach and regained some confidence.

“It sucked but just that short (memory) and on to the next mindset,” Siebrecht said. “It’s behind me now. We have Nebraska next Friday, so that’s what I’m focused on now.”

Nelson Brands continued Iowa’s streak after intermission. Brands led throughout, tallying a takedown in the first and two in the final minute for an 8-2 decision over Ankhaa Enkhmandakh. Iowa extended its lead to 14-6 with four weights left.

Abe Assad provided another bonus-point victory. He notched four takedowns in a 10-2 major decision over Evan Bates at 184.

Iowa’s Tony Cassioppi won a battle between ranked heavyweights. Third-ranked Cassioppi converted a high-crotch takedown with a little more than a minute to go and fended off a late scoring attempt to beat No. 4 Lucas Davison, 3-2.

Cassioppi showed his agility and athleticism, fending off a couple Davison shots and getting a finish

Northwestern (2-1, 1-1) won one of the marquee matchup. The Wildcats’ No. 4 ranked Yahya Thomas and Iowa’s Max Murin, who is ranked as high as fourth in national polls, exchanged escapes before a late flurry.

Thomas was able to score a takedown. Murin answered immediately with an escape, but suffered a 3-2 loss.

AT IOWA CITY

Iowa 27, Northwestern 9

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

133 pounds – Chris Cannon (N) dec. Cullan Schriever, 4-1 (1,0); 141 – Real Woods (I) tech. fall Frankie Tal-Sharar, 17-2 (1,1); 149 – Yahya Thomas (N) dec. Max Murin, 3-2 (1,0); 157 – Cobe Siebrecht (I) dec. Trevor Chumbley, 6-3 (2,0); 165 – Patrick Kennedy (I) dec. Maxx Mayfield, 4-2 (1,0); 174 – Nelson Brands (I) dec. Ankhaa Enkhmandakh, 8-2 (3,0); 184 – Abe Assad (I) major dec. Evan Bates, 10-2 (4,0); 197 – Andrew Davison (N) dec. Zach Glazier, 7-6 (3,1); Hwt. – Tony Cassioppi (I) dec. Lucas Davison, 3-2 (1,0); 125 – Spencer Lee (I) pinned Michael DeAugustino, 2:01 (2,0)

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – Iowa 15, Northwestern 6. Reversals – Iowa 0, Northwestern 0. Escapes – Iowa 14, Northwesterm 15. Nearfall points – Iowa 12, Northwestern 0. Penalty points (awarded) – Iowa 2, Northwestern 0. Riding-time points – Iowa 3, Northwestern 1. Total match points – Iowa 61, Northwestern 28. Attendance – 14,905.