Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy powers into semifinals of Big Ten Wrestling Championships

University of Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy posted an impressive postseason debut.

The sophomore 165-pounder was an offensive dynamo in securing a national tournament berth.

Kennedy tallied 33 total points in back-to-back major decisions in the opening session of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships on Saturday at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. He was one of six Iowa semifinalists, joining top-seeded duo Spencer Lee (125) and Real Woods (141), seniors Max Murin (149) and Jacob Warner at 197 and heavyweight Tony Cassioppi.

Third-seeded Kennedy rolled in his opening-round match against Maryland’s John Best. He was powered by nine takedowns, including four in the final period for a 22-8 victory. Kennedy added four takedowns in his 11-3 win over Northwestern’s Maxx Mayfield to reach Saturday night’s semifinal against Michigan’s Cameron Amine. The quarterfinal victory secured an NCAA berth for the former Kasson-Mantorville (Minn.) prep.

The Hawkeyes were tied with Penn State after the first two rounds, despite the Nittany Lions advancing seven to the semifinals. Both teams were locked at 63.5 points, leading third-place by 12 before the second session.

Iowa received a boost with 6 1/2 bonus points during its 6-4 quarterfinal round.

Three-time NCAA champion and two-time Hodge Award winner Spencer Lee started the round with a 17-0 technical fall over Michigan’s Jack Medley. Real Woods followed with a pin over Purdue’s Parker Filius and No. 3 Cassioppi capped the round with a 2:54 pin over Rutgers’ No. 6 Boone McDermott, a former Dubuque Wahlert state champion and NJCAA champion at Iowa Central.

Most of the matches went according to seeds for the Hawkeyes. The lone exception was at 197 with No. 5 Warner reaching the final four of the winner’s bracket. Warner scored a second-period escape and nearly rode out Michigan State’s No. 4 Cam Caffery in the third, using a penalty point, escape and riding-time point for a 3-2 decision.

Iowa’s Brody Teske (133), Cobe Siebrecht at 157, Abe Assad (184) and 174-pounder Nelson Brands won first-round matches but lost in the quarterfinals. They competed in consolation matches Saturday night.

Former New Hampton and Crestwood state champion and University of Northern Iowa wrestler Michael Blockhus reached the 149 semifinals for Minnesota. He beat Northwestern’s third-seeded Yahya Thomas, 6-4, in sudden victory to advance.