Iowa finishes 3rd with 3 individual runners-up at Big Ten Wrestling Championships

EVANSTON, Ill. – University of Iowa Coach Tom Brands has quickly set his sights on the NCAA Championships.

The Hawkeyes would probably want to put the national qualifier in their rearview mirror.

For the second straight year, second-ranked Iowa did not crown a champion at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships on Sunday at Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena. Hawkeye trio of Drake Ayala, Michael Caliendo and Stephen Buchanan all earned runner-up finishes in their first conference finals and Iowa toted home a third-place finish.

The page is getting turned to the national tournament March 20-22 in Philadelphia, Pa.

“I think you have to be looking forward,” Brands said. “You evaluate, you look for it and you get better.

“You really have to look forward to the competition. Not just looking forward because the date is on the calendar. You're looking forward to the competition. Like, I'm excited to compete in the national championships.”

The Hawkeyes suffered a hit at the start of the finals round. Top-seeded Ayala faced Illinois’ Lucas Byrd in the 133 final. Ayala (16-2) defeated Byrd, 4-2, in the regular season. Byrd was able to exact some revenge this time.

Byrd chose down to start the second after a scoreless first. As he was coming up for an escape, he stayed engaged, laced the arm across Ayala’s back and hit a cowcatcher for a reversal. Byrd whipped Ayala to his back and recorded the pin in 3:16.

Like Ayala, Caliendo placed third here last year and earned runner-up honors this time. No. 2 Caliendo looked to avenge his only loss of the season against Penn State’s No. 1 Mitchell Messenbrink.

Caliendo (20-2) fared much better this time around but Messenbrink’s takedown at the end of the first period was good for a 4-1 decision for the 165-pound title.

Buchanan, seeded No. 1, suffered his first loss in the finals and the difference was a single takedown as well. Michigan’s Jacob Cardenas scored a takedown on the edge in the second period and held on for a 4-2 victory.

What will the Hawkeyes have to change by the time they take the mat at NCAAs?

“Score takedowns,” Brands said.

Freshman heavyweight Ben Kueter was a bright spot Sunday. He was the lone Hawkeye to wrestle above his seed. He entered his first postseason as the No. 7 seed. After losing by fall to Penn State’s No. 2 seed and defending NCAA champion Greg Kerkvliet in the quarterfinals, Kueter rebounded with four straight wins to place fourth, using an escape and ride out for a 2-0 win over Ohio State All-American and No. 4 seed Nick Feldman. He used a ride out and escape to beat Michigan’s No. 3 Josh Heindselman for bronze.

“One thing this weekend did for me is just realize how hard call dressing is,” Kueter said. “If you step out there every time and you're not ready, you're going to get beat or you're not going to wrestle as good as you should.”

Kueter moved to 18-6 this season and claimed his first NCAA tournament berth. This performance could propel him into the national tournament but it also showed what he needs to improve.

“I'm pretty confident in myself,” Kueter said. “Maybe get better at attacking the last two matches today. I mean, I didn’t get a takedown. Yeah, I came out with the win. I’m more focused on my performance, and today I was not. I was more focused on winning. I won but I looked like (crap).”

Senior Patrick Kennedy (13-5) capped his Big Ten tournament experience on an odd step, defeating Maryland’s Branson John for the second time this weekend. Kennedy, who was a U23 World Team member in the offseason, built a 6-1 lead before pinning John in 1:59 to place fifth. He captured his third straight national tournament berth.

The Hawkeyes finished with eight automatic NCAA qualifiers. Joey Cruz (125) finished 10th and one spot from an automatic berth. He could be eligible for an at-large bid.

Iowa City High boasts a quarter of Iowa’s qualifiers. Former Little Hawk Gabe Arnold joined Kueter. Arnold placed fifth at 184.

Penn State won its third straight Big Ten team title and ninth overall since the tournament was last hosted by Northwestern in 2011. The Nittany Lions crowned five champions with 181½ points.

“It feels great,” Cael Sanderson said during a BTN interview after the tournament. “A very exciting tournament, a lot good competition (and) nationals in two weeks, so we’ll sharpen our sticks a little bit and get ready for the nationals.

“We’re very happy, right now.”

Nebraska finished second, coming in at 137. The Hawkeyes closed with 112.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com