PHOTOS: Top-ranked Hawkeye wrestlers extend lead

OMAHA, Neb. – The job isn't done at all, and the University of Iowa wrestlers will continue to tend to their business, which is winning.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes are soaring by extending its lead during the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships today at the Qwest Center. They advanced five to tonight's semifinals with nine still competing. Iowa leads the team score with 73 points. Cornell was second with 54 and Iowa State is tied with Ohio State for third at 46.

“We have to be about business right now going forward, getting ready to wrestle a match,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “Even though we have more matches ahead of us we have to get ready and wrestle the next match in front of us.”

Matt McDonough, Daniel Dennis, Montell Marion and Brent Metcalf opened the round with four straight wins.

McDonough advanced to the semifinals with a 9-0 major decision over Virginia Tech's Jarrod Garnett at 125. Dennis, the No. 2 seed at 133, used a late third-period takedown to drop Iowa State's Nick Fanthorpe, 4-3.

Marion, seeded sixth at 141, scored a takedown 14 seconds into the sudden death overtime period to beat Ohio University's Germane Lindsey, 7-5.

Metcalf was dominant with a 16-4 major decision over Iowa State's Mitch Mueller at 157.

Jay Borschel was the fifth semifinalist, advancing with a 3-0 win over Jordan Blanton of IIllinois.

The Hawkeyes have posted an impressive 26-6 record through the quarterfinals and third-round consolation.

“We can do better a lot of places but we've done well a lot of places, too,” Brands said. “So keep it going.”

Marion is the lowest seeded Hawkeye in the semifinals. Brands said questions on his performance were premature because he still has things to achieve.

“He's in the semifinals, so that's where he wants to be at this point,” Brands said. “Let's get one more (today).”

McDonough is a win away from reaching the finals as a red-shirt freshman. He could be wrestling Iowa State's red-shirt freshman Andrew Long in the 125-pound championship match Saturday night. Long was one of three Cyclone semifinalists, joining top-seeded Jake Varner (197) and heavyweight David Zabriskie.

Long beat fourth-seed Anthony Robles of Arizona State to meet Indiana's former national champ and top-seed Angel Escobedo tonight in the semifinals. Long scored a third-period takedown and rode out Robles for a 5-3 win.

“Long has been doing this all year,” Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson said. “He's a special kid. He's tough and I wouldn't trade him for anybody.”

The Cyclones have six wrestlers alive, including fourth-seed Jon Reader at 165 and Mueller and Fanthorpe in the consolation rounds. Only three are assured of All-American honors, so Jackson said there's a lot more work to do.

“We have to have our focus on those six guys, continuing to talk to them in the right way for them to perform at the highest level to win their next match,” Jackson said. “They have to win their next match and that's the bottom line.”

University of Northern Iowa's Jarion Beets remains one win away from the awards stand. Beets dropped a 4-0 decision to Nebraska's fourth-seed Stephen Dwyer. Beets will wrestle Phil Moricone of Edinboro tonight in the 174-pound consolation for a spot in the top eight.

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