Spencer Lee, Austin DeSanto and Jaydin Eierman all posted bonus-point victories for an early spark and their Iowa teammates stoked the flames.
The top-ranked Hawkeyes scorched No. 15 Minnesota, winning nine of 10 bouts for a 35-4 Big Ten Conference dual triumph Friday night at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis. Iowa recorded five total bonus-point decisions, improving to 2-0.
Two-time NCAA champion Lee built a 14-0 lead before decking No. 9 Patrick McKee in just 1:55 at 125 pounds. DeSanto followed with 12 nearfall points for a 21-2 technical fall over Boo Dryden at 133. Top-ranked Eierman (141) continued the blitz with 10 takedowns in a 22-9 major decision over Marcos Polanco.
Seventh-ranked Kaleb Young claimed another battle of ranked foes. Young used an escape and a ride out in the first overtime tiebreaker to beat No. 6 Brayton Lee 4-3 at 157. Top-ranked Michael Kemerer (174) and 197-pounder Jacob Warner added major decisions.
The Hawkeyes owned a 34-7 takedown advantage and held a 24-0 edge in nearfall points, outscoring the Gophers 115-44 in total match points.
Top-ranked heavyweight Gable Steveson earned the lone win for Minnesota (2-2). Steveson defeated No. 3 Tony Cassioppi 14-6.
Iowa returns to the mat with a home double-dual Jan. 31 against Illinois and Michigan at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
AT MINNEAPOLIS
Iowa 35, Minnesota 4
(Individual takedowns in parentheses)
125 pounds – Spencer Lee (I) pinned Patrick McKee, 1:55 (1,0)
133 – Austin DeSanto (I) tech. fall Boo Dryden, 21-2 (4,0)
141 – Jaydin Eierman (I) major dec. Marcos Polanco, 22-9 (10,0)
149 – Max Murin (I) dec. Michael Blockhus, 5-1 (2,0)
157 – Kaleb Young (I) dec. Brayton Lee, 4-3 TB1 (1,0)
165 – Alex Marinelli (I) dec. Andrew Sparks, 8-4 (3,0)
174 – Michael Kemerer (I) major dec. Jake Allar, 12-3 (4,0)
184 – Nelson Brands (I) dec. Isaiah Salazar, 10-6 (4,1)
197 – Jacob Warner (I) major dec. Garrett Joles, 13-2 (5,0)
Hwt. – Gable Steveson (M) major dec. Tony Cassioppi, 14-6 (6,0).
MEET STATISTICS
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Takedowns – Iowa 34, Minnesota 7. Reversals – Iowa 0, Minnesota 0. Escapes – Iowa 15, Minnesota 28. Nearfall points – Iowa 24, Minnesota 0. Penalty points (awarded) – Iowa 5, Minnesota 1. Riding-time points – Iowa 3, Minnesota 1. Total match points – Iowa 115, Minnesota 44.
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