With redemption in mind, Upper Iowa’s Tate Murty pulls off thrilling comeback to begin NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships

CEDAR RAPIDS — Tate Murty has waited 365 days for this chance.

Each of those days started and ended with his thoughts centered on redemption. The 2021 All-American may have been a little obsessed with rectifying last year’s finish that left him a win shy of the awards stand.

“It’s been the first thing I think about when I wake up,” Murty said. “The last thing I think about when I go to bed. I’m just hungry for it. I want to make up for what didn’t happen last year.”

Murty overcame a slow start and produced a thrilling comeback to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships on Friday at Alliant Energy PowerHouse. He posted a 5-4 decision over Gannon University’s James Ryan in the first round at 141.

“It was good to get the nerves out of the way,” Murty said. “There was a lot of anxiety and nervousness. Just the excitement leading up to this. It was good to get those emotions out and get back to being me wrestling my style.”

The start rivaled the frustration of last season’s finish. Ryan scored a quick takedown and rode Murty for the final 2:40 of the first period. He added a takedown in the second for a 4-1 lead, increasing his riding time to more than three minutes midway through the match.

Ryan was beating him at his own game, riding with his legs. Murty contemplated what troubles him as a leg-rider and started to apply it.

“Leg-riding is my thing,” Murty said. “Live by the sword, die by the sword.

“It’s just constant movement to get him out of position. I had to be patient and let things happen.”

The game plan worked, resulting in a reversal in the second and shrinking Ryan’s lead to 4-3. The match began to tilt in favor of Murty, who controlled the rest of the match from top.

Murty took the lead with a takedown in the third and then melted riding time to under a minute, eliminating Ryan’s advantage and preventing from an additional point.

“That was a huge point in the match,” Upper Iowa Coach Heath Grimm said about the reversal. “That rideout, too.

“That’s Tate for you.”

Murty has handled adversity. He didn’t falter, despite the early struggles. Murty approached the comeback with the same toughness as the disappointment that ended last year’s tournament run prematurely.

“It was just his calmness,” Grimm said. “His ‘won’t get rattled’ mentality. He’s got the great equalizer with the top game. So, we just have to stay within striking distance and Tate is in every match. He just showed a calmness out there.”

Murty is from Fountain City, Wis., but his roots are entrenched in Iowa. His dad, Earl, wrestled at South Tama. He joked that he was the only one from his family not from the state. Murty expected a large contingent of supporters as he attempted to improve last year’s finish.

“I feel very grateful to be back with this opportunity,” Murty said. “I want to capitalize on it.”

Murty was one of two Peacocks to reach the quarterfinals. Former Monticello prep and third-seeded 165-pounder Chase Luensman dropped Nebraska-Kearney’s Kaden Hart, 7-2, in the first round. Luensman used three takedowns en route to the opening win. He also moved a win away from All-America status.

Central Oklahoma took the lead after the first session, tallying 16 1/2 points and leading Lander (S.C.) University and West Liberty (W.Va.) University by 5 1/2. The Bronchos qualified all 10 wrestlers and advanced eight in the quarterfinals. Lander and West Liberty each had six quarterfinalists.

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