Iowa Hawkeyes top Illinois to open Big Ten Conference wrestling dual schedule

IOWA CITY — Patrick Kennedy had no choice but to be tough.

He had to learn how to fight for himself, surviving five siblings including older sister, Cori, who was a member of Minnesota State’s 2017 NCAA Division II national champion softball team.

Imposing his will on the mat might seem like light work compared to childhood battles.

“Between three older sisters and two brothers, we fought all the time,” Kennedy said. “We fought for scraps at the table.”

Kennedy displayed some of his toughness, posting a major decision over No. 11 Danny Braunagel and helping second-ranked Iowa beat Illinois, 25-19, in the Big Ten Conference dual opener Friday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Kennedy has one of four bonus-point wins for the Hawkeyes, which included pins from Spencer Lee and Max Murin and a win by disqualification for Cassioppi. Kennedy, ranked 12th at 165, dropped Braunagel, 15-4.

“I learned at a younger age that you’re better off putting more points on the board,” Kennedy said. “Put as many as you can. … I just try to score points.”

Kennedy took the mat after an intermission and Illinois owning a surprising 13-12 lead at the midway point. Kennedy won in convincing fashion and the Hawkeyes didn’t trail again.

“Come out to a cold arena you’ve got to do some business,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “He did a good job.”

Kennedy has a relentless and aggressive style, which allowed him to avoid the Illini’s straegy of tying up and slowing down Hawkeye wrestlers that frustrated Brands.

Kennedy controlled the match from the start, tallying two takedowns in the opening period and adding another in the second for a 7-1 advantage.

“I think when a dude tries to slow you down you’ve got to beware but slowing a guy down or not, you have to wrestle how you want to wrestle the whole time,” Kennedy said. “Even if it’s a fire fight, you still wrestle the same. If he tries to slow down, you pick it up.”

Braunagel cut into the lead, countering a shot for a takedown of his own. When he made one more attempt at a shot, Kennedy stuffed him, getting his own takedown and holding Baunagel on his back until time expired.

“I was running around him and he threw an arm up,” Kennedy said. “I punched right through. Other than that, hit it and hit it hard.”

Lee and Murin were dominant, giving Iowa a lead through four bouts.

Lee built a 12-0 lead about midway through the first. He finished off Maximo Renteria, sinking in a deep half with a bar arm and rolling to put Renteria on his back for a pin in 2:21.

Murin was energized from the start and bullied Kevon Davenport all over the mat. Murin tallied four takedowns in the first and added another in the second. He felt Davenport break early.

“I started cutting him and got to my offense,” Murin said. “That’s how I want to wrestle every match, so I felt good. Keep on moving forward, getting better.”

Murin maintained the pressure as Davenport lagged getting to his feet when being released. He forced two penalty points from stalling. On a restart, Davenport hung his head and Murin cinched up a cradle for a pin in 3:34.

Murin couldn’t recall his last pin at CHA, noting it may have been his very first match here as a Hawkeye.

“It was long overdue,” Murin said. “It felt good. Keep moving forward. Keep getting better. Don’t really dwell on that. On to Purdue.”

Despite the big wins, the match wasn’t decided until heavyweight. Tony Cassioppi closed the dual, amassing two takedowns, four nearfall and four penalty points before Matt Wroblewski was stalled out of the match.

Abe Assad aded a a 3-1 decision over No. 29 Dylan Connell at 184, scoring a third-period takedown with a rideout.

The Hawkeyes won their 10th straight dual, improving to 8-0 this season. They lost two close matches and another winnable match by decision. Edmond Ruth escaped in tiebreaker-1 overtime for a 2-1 win over Nelson Brands at 174, while Zac Braunagel scored a takedown late in the third for a 3-1 decision over Jacob Warner at 197.

Illinois dictated the pace of those close bouts and the Hawkeyes have to change that going forward.

“We cannot get caught up in strategy,” Brands said. “There is a concerted effort in the sport of wrestling to keep things close when you’re out-matched or just because you like to wrestle that way.

“If we let that happen, then we’ll be in these situations all year because that’s reality, that’s wrestling, but we don’t have to be in it like we were tonight.”

Iowa will wrestle Sunday at Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., starting at 1 p.m.

AT IOWA CITY

Iowa 25, Illinois 19

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

125 pounds - Spencer Lee (Iowa) pinned Maximo Renteria, 2:22 (1,0); 133 - Lucas Byrd (Ill) pinned Cullan Schriever, 2:59 (1,0); 141 - Danny Pucino (Ill) major dec. Drew Bennett, 20-8 (9,0); 149 - Max Murin (Iowa) pinned Kevon Davenport, 3:34 (5,0); 157 - Michael Carr (Ill) dec. Cobe Siebrecht, 12-7 (5,0); 165 - Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) major dec. Danny Braunagel, 15-4 (4,1); 174 - Edmond Ruth (Ill) dec. Nelson Brands, 2-1 tiebreaker-1 (0,0); 184 - Abe Assad (Iowa) dec. Dylan Connell, 3-1 (1,0); 197 - Zac Braunagel (Ill) dec. Jacob Warner, 3-1 (1,0); Hwt. - Tony Cassioppi won by disqualification over Matt Wroblewski (2,0).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns - Iowa 13, Illinois 17. Reversals - Iowa 1, Illinois 0. Escapes - Iowa 19, Illinois 10. Nearfall points - Iowa 18, Illinois 0. Penalty points - Iowa 6, Illinois 1. Riding-time points - Iowa 1, Illinois 2. Total match points - Iowa 72, Illinois 47. Attendance - 14,905.