Iowa takes third straight Big Ten wrestling crown, but questions remain

University of Iowa Coach Tom Brands said the upcoming days will show the toughness of his wrestlers.

After suffering a rough final round, persevering tough tests, an upset and injury, the next test will be how the team responds in preparing for the NCAA Championships.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes withstood the latest challenge to claim their third straight team title at the Big Ten Championships on Sunday at University of Michigan's Crisler Arena. Iowa tallied 156½ points, 37 more than runner-up Minnesota. Iowa point total was its highest since 1995 (185), and the Big Ten's highest since Minnesota scored 174 in 2002.

“You don't always get your way in this sport and you don't always get your way in life no matter who you are,” Brands said. “When things get out of your control a little bit and go against you, your character is going to get you back on track and then some.”

Each Hawkeye will get a chance to show their mettle because all 10 wrestlers qualified for the national tournament March 18-20 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. They were led by champions in Jay Borschel at 174 and heavyweight Dan Erekson. It was Erekson's second straight conference title.

“They did what they were supposed to do,” Brands said. “One guy wrestled a pretty good match and the other guy wrestled a great match in the first five minutes.”

Borschel handled Minnesota's Scott Glasser, 8-1, in the finals, beating him for the third time this season.

Borschel used takedowns in all three periods, improving on two straight third-place conference finishes with his first title. Even with the win Borschel's focus is on the national meet.

“It was the next event on the calendar,” Borschel said. “We had a lot of focus on it, but I can't really think about anything else the next two weeks. That's what your career and everything is defined by is winning the championship.”

Borschel stopped a stretch of tough outcomes, including three championship losses and a knee injury to All-American Ryan Morningstar that caused him to default from his 165-pound consolation final. He wasn't affected by the previous results.

“No, I'm real calm,” said Borschel, who improved to 32-0. “I saw it. You just have to put that behind you.”

Erekson didn't waste any time jumping to an early lead, posting a five-point move and holding on for the 9-6 victory over top-seeded Nathan Everhart of Indiana.

“That first period is huge,” Erekson said. “That first takedown and to turn him like that was really big.”

Erekson (12-0) scored a takedown in the first 20 seconds and then cinched a cradle up for back points.

“That shot was open. I took it right off the bat,” Erekson said. “He stood up with his head right next to his knee ... I saw an opening and took it.”

The biggest blow to the Hawkeyes was delivered by Ohio State's Lance Palmer, who beat Brent Metcalf for the first time in five meetings in the 149-pound championship.

Palmer kept the match close and then scored a takedown in the final 20 seconds, adding back points and riding time, to beat the former national champion and two-time NCAA finalist, 9-3.The score was tied 3-3 when Metcalf was in on a shot. He was close to finishing when Palmer rolled and left Metcalf in a bad position. Palmer scissored his hips and came out on top.

“I'm in a bad position and all I can really do is hold on,” Metcalf said. “I tried to adjust my hips to try and score.”

It was just the third career loss in college for Metcalf (32-1), who had his string of two Big Ten titles with two Outstanding Wrestler awards.

“Losing sucks,” Metcalf said. “You don't want to do it.”

Matt McDonough (125), Daniel Dennis (133) and 184-pounder Phil Keddy each placed second. Chad Beatty (197) placed sixth, injuring defaulting out after Saturday's semifinal loss to avoid further injury risks.

McDonough fell to top-seeded and former national champion Angel Escobedo of Indiana, 6-4. Dennis lost 9-6 ion the finals to Minnesota's Jayson Ness, who was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. John Dergo of Illinois topped Keddy, 5-3.

Montell Marion was the only other Hawkeye to win in the final round, placing third at 141.

“We weren't ready,” Brands said of the final round. “You think you're ready, but you think and funny things happen when you're thinking. You have to know you're ready and you have to go out there and execute.”

Iowa will be moving on and the goal is to peak in 10 days at the NCAAs.

“This doesn't mean anything,” Brands said. “Whatever is in the books for the Big Ten is in the books and now we go to the national tournament.”