Iowa’s Gilman fights way to quarterfinals

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The day revealed the character of many wrestlers.

While upsets defined a crazy and unpredictable day, University of Iowa sophomore Thomas Gilman proved his mettle.

'I'm a fighter,' Gilman said. 'My personality is a fighter, so you can never count me out.'

Gilman scored a takedown in overtime to defeat Penn State's Jordan Conaway, 3-1, last night during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at the Scottrade Center. He was one of five Hawkeyes to advance to the quarterfinal round today at 10 a.m.

He overcame a stiff challenge, beating the Nittany Lion for the third time this season, because of the hard-nosed traits instilled in him by his family.

'It's just the way I grew up,' Gilman said. 'My dad is a fighter. My grandfather is a fighter.

'They are tough on me. You don't take anything from anybody. It's just the way my family is.'

The pair exchanged escapes in regulation. The sixth-seeded 125-pounder scored with 21 seconds left in the sudden-victory overtime period, moving within a win of All-America status in his national tournament debut.

'I'm a scrapper,' Gilman said. 'It doesn't matter what's going on. I keep my focus and if it comes down to overtime, it comes down to overtime.'

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Gilman learned his lesson in previous matches, dictating the movement instead of reacting to Conaway's use of misdirection. He said he couldn't explain the sequence of events, but knew he earned the takedown.

'To me that was a perfect takedown, where you really don't know what happened,' Gilman said. 'My instincts and 18 years of wrestling took over.'

Gilman was part of a group of younger wrestlers that powered Iowa to second place after the first day of the tournament, scoring 21 points and trailing first-place Ohio State by two points.

Five Hawkeye seniors went 1-4 in the opening round, including losses by two seeded wrestlers.

'It shows the potential we have,' Gilman said. 'A lot of times you say the veterans are going to lead us through. Sometimes you look up to the veterans. Sometimes you have to pick it up and run without them.

'We have to take the lead, take the charge. Sometimes your leader goes down, you just can't stop. You have to keep going.'

Gilman and 133-pounder Cory Clark shared a brief congratulatory handshake after Clark followed with a 12-4 major decision over Michigan's Rossi Bruno to reach the quarterfinals.

'I felt a lot better than this morning,' Clark said. 'Just going to build throughout the tournament. Usually, I get better as the tournament goes on. Hopefully, that continues.'

Clark pulled away later in the match and recorded a crucial bonus point. He said a combination of him opening up and a tired foe led to the eight-point win.

'It's a good feeling to feel your opponent wear (down),' Clark said. 'Everyone wants to feel that, so that is good.'

They provided a boost to Iowa at the start of the second session, which was needed after a tough second half of the opening session that saw them close 3-3. They knew the team needed them, but that wasn't the primary focus.

'We're looking to do our jobs, regardless of how the team thing is going. No matter what happens you have to stay focused on what you're here for.'

Iowa's Nathan Burak contributed some extra points with two major decisions, including a 12-2 win over SIU-Edwardsville's Jake Trindle at 197. He placed an emphasis on scoring early and often, avoiding a tendency to wrestle reserved in the first period.

'I let it fly,' Burak said. 'I was trying to get those bonus points.'

Mike Evans (174) and Sammy Brooks (184) also moved into the quarterfinals for Iowa.

Evans, seeded third, recorded two decisions, advancing to the quarterfinal with a 4-1 win over Wyoming's No. 14 Andy McCulley. Eighth-seeded Brooks dropped Michigan's No. 8 seed Domenic Abounader, 4-2, in the second round. He opened with a major.

Iowa has eight wrestlers remaining, including third-seeded heavyweight and two-time All-American Bobby Telford and fifth-seeded 141-pounder Josh Dziewa.

Dziewa and Telford bounced back with a major decision and pin, respectively, for three extra points.

'Bonus points are important,' Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. 'That is what you need to do. The things we can control keep controlling them,' Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. 'When you get the chance to put the clamps on somebody, put the clamps on them, and it doesn't matter what side of the brackets it is on.'

Iowa State and University of Northern Iowa each pushed two through to the quarterfinals.

The Cyclones' Kyven Gadson was dominant in two matches, opening with a technical fall over UNI's Basil Minto and pinning Eastern Michigan's Anthony Abro.

Earl Hall moved a win away from his second straight All-American finish, beating Purdue's Danny Sabatello, 11-5.

The Cyclones still have three in the consolation competition. Second-seeded Michael Moreno rebounded from an opening-round upset with a fall on the backside of the 165-pound bracket.

Dante Rodriguez (141) added a fall and Lelund Weatherspoon (184) won in overtime to remain alive for Iowa State, which jumped to 12th in the team standings.

UNI's Cooper Moore contributed to the upset-themed day. After an enthusiastic fall to open the tournament, the 13th-seeded 165-pounder avenged a loss with his second pin of the day, decking Virginia's No. 4 Nick Sulzer in 2:19. He built on the momentum he created.

'Any time you go out and get a pin it is fun,' Moore said. 'You create energy and I was coming off that. It definitely helped me get energized for this match and I was able to come away with another pin.'

Moore said he has thrown caution into the wind and embraced taking more risks. He has capitalized on opportunities for big moves. This was no difference, coming out on top in a scramble.

'I found myself in a position,' Moore said. 'I just wrestled through it and found a way to finish it.

'I kind of fell into that position and it happened.'

UNI's seventh-seeded heavyweight Blaize Cabell reached the quarterfinal with two hard-fought wins, including a 3-1 overtime win against Virginia Tech's Ty Walz.

'There are few matches where you can look back and say I wrestled well,' Cabell said. 'The main thing I'm taking away from this is I ground out two wins that counted.'

Cabell, a former Independence prep, faces Northwestern's No. 2 Mike McMullan next. He would like to add to the wackiness that watched highly-seeded wrestlers, NCAA champions and national finalists drop to the loser's bracket like flies.

'Anything can happen here,' Cabell said. 'I'm going to go out, wrestle my game plan and go hard with leg attacks and try to get the win.'

UNI finished the first day tied for 16th.

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