Iowa stumbles in first tough test of the season

EVANSTON, Ill. - The University of Iowa's first major test of the season didn't go as well as planned.

Flat performances and a lack of toughness for part of the tournament resulted in less than a glowing review for the Hawkeyes, who managed just one wrestler to place in the top four.

Iowa's Matt McDonough was runner-up and the Hawkeyes placed fourth at the 48th Midlands Championships at Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena. Iowa State's Jon Reader passed the test, winning his first Midlands crown and Missouri claimed the team title with 103.5 points.

It was the first time since Jan. 2008 that the Hawkeyes weren't victorious in competition and snapped Iowa's string of three straight Midlands team titles.

“We didn't wrestle well,” Hawkeyes Coach Tom Brands said. “Now we have to go find out why.”

Brands later added, “We know we have work to do. We have different work to do and that's between the ears emotionally.”

The Hawkeyes were inconsistent, winning in spurts and dropping matches in longer ones.

The Hawkeyes pushed seven wrestlers into the quarterfinals, but advanced only three into the semifinals on Day 1.

They bounced back early in the consolation rounds before losing 9 of 12 matches and eight straight, including two semifinals and all six consolation semifinals.

“It got rolling the wrong way and it spelled doom,” Brands said. “When things start rolling the wrong way it can't effect every individual.”

Brands said it's up to each individual to stem the tide by succeeding at their own job. Toughness may have come into play.

“I didn't learn anything,” Brands said about the team's resolve. “I'm trying to search and find some toughness.”

Tyler Clark avenged a loss to teammate Tony Ramos for fifth place at 133. Aaron Janssen (165), Ethen Lofthouse (174) and Grant Gambrall (184) also placed fifth, while 141-pounder Mark Ballweg was sixth and Luke Lofthouse was seventh at 197.

Brands said the tournament was won in the consolation bracket - Missouri won without a finalist. Iowa didn't meet the challenge.

“We showed weakness,” Brands said. “This was our first test.”

McDonough's toughest test thus far didn't go as well either. Northwestern's Brandon Precin topped the defending 125-pound Midlands and NCAA champion, 3-1, for the 125-pound title.

“It's upsetting,” said McDonough, who is 11-1. “It pisses me off.”

It was a perfect storm of sorts. McDonough said he didn't wrestle his best and Precin wrestled well, dictating the action.

“Credit to him for wrestling his match and there's the problem right there,” McDonough said. “I need to make it my match.”

Precin was effective slowing the match down, getting out to an early lead with a takedown with 44 seconds to go in the first period and riding McDonough the remainder of the period. Precin added an escape in the second. McDonough escaped in the third but never really threatened with a takedown.

Precin kept McDonough at bay with handfighting and stiff-arms. McDonough said he needed to work through that and impose his style.

“That was not my pace,” McDonough said. “The only reason I would have been tired in that match is from forcing things I didn't need to force. I think if I would have been wrestling my pace things would have been a lot different.”

It was just McDonough's second loss after redshirting his freshman year. and the setback doesn't influence his motivation. He's still chasing another national title.

“I'm moving forward from here,” said McDonough, who lost to Indiana's Angel Escobedo in the Big Ten finals last year, “working as hard as I can to improve on each and every match.”

According to the tournament program, Reader had reached the finals three previous times, but never captured. gold until beating Central Michigan's Ben Bennett, 9-4.

Reader needed just 13 seconds to score the opening takedown which he quickly locked up a tilted for three back points. It was the perfect boost to propel him to victory.

“This is a title that has really eluded me over the years,” Reader said. “It feels great to win at a tournament that is this difficult. I felt really confident that I would win and the quick takedown and back points helped me set the tone to the match.”

Chris Drouin placed fourth at 141 and Chris Spangler reached the semifinals before injury defaulting to sixth at 165 for the Cyclones, who placed eighth with 63.5 points.

Wartburg was represented in the finals by former Clinton state champion Byron Tate, who was the lone Division III finalist. Tate entered seeded fourth and marched to finals, losing a tough 5-4 decision on riding time to Matt Wilps of Pittsburgh.