Jacob Warner extends Iowa’s streak of NCAA wrestling finalists

DETROIT — Jacob Warner figured out how to close victories.

The Iowa senior needed to do just that to be able to close his season on Saturday night.

Warner posted a pair of tight decisions over higher seeds, including a 6-4 triumph over Wyoming’s No. 2 Stephen Buchanan in the 197-pound semifinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Friday night at Little Caesars Arena. Warner extended the Hawkeyes’ streak of having at least one finalist that dates back to 1990.

“I don't know if I would call it a Cinderella run, I knew I was going to be here, I knew I could win this tournament and obviously I'm in the national finals for a reason,” Warner said. “I've got to wrestle hard, score the whole time, don't give up easy points, and finish in matches. I know if I do that I can win this tournament.”

That is exactly how he earned his fourth All-America honor and a shot at a national title. He battled for six minutes each match, was stingy most of the time and closed like Richard Roma from “Glengarry Glen Ross.” Something that was missing in some of the matches he lost this season.

“For him, it was a matter of finishing matches,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “When you correlate that, I guess, it’s finishing a wrist tilt today. Good job. And, he finished the match. Good job. Now, we have to finish the tournament.”

Warner and Buchanan were scoreless after the first. Warner opened the scoring with an escape, but surrendered a takedown late in the second. His hustle resulted in a crucial escape right before time expired in the second, tying it at 2 apiece.

A strong ride helped Warner beat Nebraska’s third-seeded Eric Schultz, 2-0, in the quarterfinals. He did more damage on top. He executed a tilt and was able to secure it for nearfall after a brief scramble, getting four points for a 6-2 lead.

Warner turned Buchanan in a victory at last year’s NCAA tournament. It gave him confidence and he was working on the exact maneuver with former Hawkeye Nathan Burak.

“My last two matches were won by being able to ride so I knew it was going to be a big factor in this match,” Warner said. “All week, all last week, I was working on getting that wrist tight. We were working on it at the hotel and focusing on it and I got that wrist and I knew, as soon as I got the seat belt into his hip, I could do something with it, I knew I could get it, didn't get it, I had to stick with it, keep elevating and going into him and made the difference.”

This season has had its share of ups and downs. He said he has learned a lot from the setbacks and it has paid dividends — a national finals berth.

“This season was a lot of letdowns and all the matches I lost I felt like I could have won and that hurt,” said Warner, who is 21-5. “It hurts me a lot but I'm not grateful I lost but I'm grateful for the lessons I learned, right?”

Warner is one of five All-Americans for Iowa. Austin DeSanto lost a hard-fought bout with Penn State’s top-seeded Roman Bravo-Young in the 133-pound semifinals. Bravo-Young scored an escape and late takedown to beat DeSanto, 3-2.

DeSanto was assured of a top-six finish. He was joined by Alex Marinelli (165) and Michael Kemerer at 174. Both had to rebound from heartbreaking quarterfinal losses. Both posted consecutive consolation wins. Kemerer became a five-time All-American, while Marinelli returned to the podium after injury ended his 2021 national tournament prematurely.

“Two tough wins (for) each guy,” Brands said. “There is no gimme round. There is no slouch. You’ve got to be ready.

“When you come back after that, especially when it’s an upset, you’ve got to even out the emotions. The thing that sucks is what sucks. The thing you can control is to compete at your best the next time out.”

Heavyweight Tony Cassioppi earned All-America status for the second straight season. He will wrestle for seventh Saturday.

The Hawkeyes are in fourth place with 62 points, trailing third-place Arizona State by 1 1/2 and leading fifth-place Nebraska by eight. Penn State leads the way with 108, while Michigan is second with 84 1/2 points.

Iowa State pushed three to the awards stand. David Carr (157) and Yonger Bastida (197) added two more consolation victories and moved into the top six. Marcus Coleman went 1-1 Friday night and will wrestle for seventh at 184.

Their performance bumped Iowa State to 19th with 28 1/2 points, which is one spot and 4 1/2 points in front of Northern Iowa.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com