Dennis dings Bell for All-Star meet win

Iowa Hawkeyes senior Dan Dennis claimed a victory over Maryland's Steven Bell on Sunday night at the NWCA All-Star Meet hosted by Cal-State Fullerton. A nice victory for Dennis, who dropped a decision to Bell last year.

The tough and scrappy Dennis won the match in the 30 seconds with a takedown and rode out Bell. It looked like Bell scored the majority of his points of two flurries that resulted in 7 points (a takedown that led to nearfall points and an escape that was followed by a takedown). It's a good way to kick off the season for Dennis.

Other notable results were ISU hwt. David Zabriskie losing a 4-3 decision to Cal-State Bakersfield's Mitch Monteiro. Due to lack of offense at Hwt., upsets are bound to happen. Monteiro isn't a slouch, after a 29-8 record and going 1-2 at nationals I didn't expect this.  Monteiro, who replaced Mizzou's national champ Mark Ellis, scored a takedown in the final 10 seconds to win. Read about it here.

In a rematch of last year's 197-pound national final, Jake Varner of ISU beat Craig Brester of Nebraska, 5-3. Eight total points...That definitely made the people who better the over on match points a winner.

Below is the University of Iowa news release

FULLERTON, CA -- University of Iowa senior Daniel Dennis scored two takedowns in the third period to beat Maryland's Steve Bell, 9-8, in the 133-pound match at the 44th annual NWCA All-Star Classic Sunday in Fullteron, CA. A standing room only crowd of 4,000 filled Cal State Fullerton's Titan Gymnasium for the event.

After no scoring in the first period, Dennis put the first point on the board with an escape to start the second period. Bell was warned for stalling, and Dennis scored a takedown to go up 3-0. Bell responded with a reversal and two nearfall points to take a 4-3 lead, but Dennis escaped before the end of the second period to tie the score at 4-4. Bell chose the down position to start the third period and scored an escape and a takedown to take a 7-4 lead. Dennis responded with three points of his own on an escape and takedown to tie the score at 7-7. Bell escaped to take an 8-7 lead, but Dennis scored a takedown with 25 seconds left in the match to secure the 9-8 victory.

The NWCA All-Star Classic served as a major fundraiser for the Cal State Fullerton wrestling program, which must fund itself. The Titans must raise $200,000 in funds by April 2010 and another $200,000 in pledges by August 2010 to survive.

Top-ranked Iowa will take its 5-0 dual record and 43-dual match winning streak on the road next week. The Hawkeyes will head to Lewisburg, PA, Friday to face Bucknell (1-2) at 3 p.m. (CT) and Rutgers (3-1) at 4:30 p.m. at Bucknell's Sojka Pavillion. Fans can listen to both duals live on AM-800 KXIC or www.hawkeyesports.com using the All-Access subscription. Bucknell is also providing a live video broadcast of the Iowa-Bucknell dual at www.bucknellbison.com through the All-Access subscription.

125 - Zach Sanders (Minnesota) dec. James Nicholson (Old Dominion), 7-5

133- Daniel Dennis (Iowa) dec. Steve Bell (Maryland), 9-8

141 - Alex Krom (Maryland) maj. dec. Adin Duenas (Cal State Fullerton), 8-0

149 - Kyle Borshoff (American) dec. Lance Palmer (Ohio State), 3-2

157 - Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) dec. Matt Moley (Bloomsburg), 10-4

165 - Jonathan Reader (Iowa State) maj. dec. Andrew Rendos (Bucknell), 11-2

174 - Stephen Dwyer (Nebraska) dec. Chris Henrich (Virginia), 7-6

184 - Max Askren (Missouri ) maj. dec. Josh Patterson (Binghamton), 14-7

197 - Jake Varner (Iowa State) dec. Craig Brester (Nebraska), 5-3

Hwt. - Mitch Monteiro (Cal State Bakersfield) dec. David Zabriskie (Iowa State), 4-3