Top-ranked Iowa tops No. 2 ISU in wrestling

AMES - The latest installment of the University of Iowa and Iowa State wrestling rivalry promised to be entertaining.

It lived up to the hype.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes and No. 2 Cyclones each won five matches, but three tossup wins nd athree bonus points from Brent Metcalf powered the Hawkeyes past the Cyclones, 18-16, last night at Hilton Coliseum in front of 11,137 fans.

The Hawkeyes' former national champion came through with an important pin, building an eight-point lead and then decking Mitch Mueller in 5 minutes, 50 seconds at 149 pounds.

“That's the difference,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “Those bonus points when it's five to five.”

Metcalf gave up a takedown to trail 2-0 early, but quickly regained control, scoring a takedown and using a turk to score back points before the end of the first.

The big move came in the third after scoring a takedown for an 11-3 lead. Metcalf tried to release Mueller, but Mueller remained head down on the mat. Metcalf pressed hard and when Mueller raised his head up, Metcalf hit a perfectly executed cow-catcher for the pin.

Strategy paid dividends. Constant pressure on an opponent, provides chances for big moves.

“It's about scoring points, Metcalf said. “continuing to score points and then those opportunities will present themselves.”

Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson seemed frustrated toward the end of the match and said a fall is unacceptable.

“He had a mental lapse that ended up costing him the match,” Jackson said. “Costing the team a fall. Costing us six points.

“The fall was huge. You can't give six points in a 10-match dual.”

Metcalf said he felt Mueller relax a little before catching Mueller for nearfall points, opening up his lead in the first.

“You score points and you put pressure on them and then they open up.” Metcalf said. “You separate yourself little bit from those guys and they'll give up. If it's a close match, they feel like they have a chance.”

The fall allowed Iowa to improve to 8-0 this season and extended its overall school record win streak to 46 duals. The Hawks set a school record at the Cyclones' expense, claiming their 32nd straight road dual win. Neither were on the minds of the Hawkeyes.

“Any time you want to win on the road you want to do it in an atmosphere like this,” Metcalf said about the crowd last night. “It was hostile for sure. It got more hostile as the meet went on.”

Metcalf's win was one of four in the first five weights.

Matt McDonough ignited the Hawkeyes, racking up five takedowns in 12-7 win over Andrew Long.

It was a match expected to set the tone for the meet, and it did lead to Iowa winning the tossup matches.

“McDonough is a natural sparkplug for the team because of the way he wrestles and because of the energy he has,” Brands said.

In a second straight key match, Daniel Dennis scored a decision over Nick Fanthorpe at 133. Dennis scored a takedown in overtime for the victory.

Dennis said he was too passive at times during the bout.

“I don't really remember,” Dennis said of his winning takedown. “I'm not really happy with the way I wrestled. I don't think our coaches are either.”

Winning in overtime has it's pros and cons.

“Overtime wins are always good because you're in a tough situation and you're able to pull it out but it's not where I wanted to be,” Dennis said.

Aaron Janssen capped a the first half of the meet with a key win at 157, giving Iowa a 15-3 lead. In a match, fans from neither side knew who'd wrestle, Janssen used a takedown with a little more than a minute left for an 8-6 win over Andrew Sorenson.

Iowa's only win in the second-half was from Jay Borschel at 174, extending Iowa's lead to 18-6.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Brands said. “We wrestled sloppy.”

Iowa State (1-1) wrestled strong in the last half of the meet, highlighted by Jerome Ward's 5-3 upset over Iowa's Phil Keddy at 184.

Ward scored a takedown to open the scoring in the first and added another in the third,

“We're proud of Jerome, the way he competed,” Jackson said, adding “I thought he brought his heart and soul and mental attitude to the mat.”

One of the tossup matches that went the Cyclones' way was at 165.

Jon Reader used an early takedown and 1:45 of riding time for a 4-3 victory over Ryan Morningstar.

It was Reader's first win over Morningstar in four tries, but he wasn't overly thrilled.

“A win's a win, but I'm disappointed with the way (competed),” Reader said. “I know I'm capable of more.”

Top-ranked Jake Varner scored a major decision at 197, giving ISU a chance to win with a pin at heavyweight. David Zabriskie used an overtime takedown to beat Blake Rasing, 3-1. Nick Gallick (141) also used an overtime takedown to beat Dan LeClere.

“You've got to win those matches,” Jackson said with some excitement as his voice raised during the news conference. “You can't lose those matches and it's kind of the same scenario that happened the last couple years”

“We're going to let this motivate us to get better, because I believe these guys are capable.”