McDonough reaches NCAA finals for second straight year

PHILADELPHIA - University of Iowa's Matt McDonough said a key to winning is being comfortable with what you know best.

He had to have been right at home at Wells Fargo Center, because he knows how to win in the national semifinals and he knew how to beat Northwestern's Brandon Precin.

McDonough defeated Precin for the third time this season and advanced to the 125-pound championship match for the second straight year Friday night during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Jon Reader also reached the finals at 174.

Second-seeded McDonough scored a takedown in the second period for a 3-1 victory over the No. 3 seed in their fourth meeting this year. Precin won the first match, but McDonough has won the last three. Precin's win and the last two by McDonough were all 3-1 decisions. McDonough knew exactly what he was facing in the semifinals.

“It (was) just going to be a hard fight,” McDonough said. “He's not going to give me nothing. I'm not going to give him nothing.

“You've got to make your own breaks because that's not a guy whose going to give them to you."

McDonough made his break about midway through the second period. After a scoreless first, Precin opened the scoring with an escape. McDonough struck about halfway through the period scoring a takedown. It was the first takedown initiated in their four bouts, and a takedown between the two determined the winner in each match except for McDonough's fall over Precin at the end of January.

McDonough said the move was a result of a persistent offense and creating an opportunity by being the aggressor.

“It took four matches but I got my own single leg off,” McDonough said of the decisive score. “I hit it hard. I got the takedown. That's just what you've got to do every single match.

“You've got to make an improvement and that's what I was working for.”

McDonough, who won the 125-pound title last year as a red-shirt freshman, improved to 27-1 with a 64-2 mark the last two seasons. He will face top-seeded Anthony Robles of Arizona State (35-0) in the finals. Robles, a two-time All-American, has caught the attention of many due to the fact that he was born without his right leg.

“It's no secret the way he wrestles you've got to adjust what you're doing a little bit,” McDonugh said. “It doesn't mean you're adjusting your're aggressiveness, pressure or anything else. You're more aware of the positions you're in and you've got to know where you're at at all times.

"He's a dangerous wrestler. You can't let him be dangerous. You've got to close him off and wrestle your match.”

Iowa Coach Tom Brands described McDonough as one of the smartest wrestlers he's been around with a strong ability to adjust in a match. It could be key Saturday night.

“We've got to be smart,” Brands said. “We're not going to change everything, but you have to be really, really smart without being too respectful.”

Reader earned all four points in the second period, scoring a reversal and a takedown to defeat Virginia's Chris Heinrich, 4-3, in the semifinal.

"Heinrich's is a great athlete and he was strong," Reader said. "I think I shut down way too early I think I was

a little excited before the match.

"It was a great match and a great fight."

Reader had been dominant for this tournament, winning by major decision in his first two matches and then beating Maryland's Mike Letts, 8-2, in the quarterfinals. He said you have to lay it on the line this time of year.

"I'm just wrestling (and) just competing," Reader said. "I'm having fun."

Reader (38-0) is a four-time national qualifier, placing seventh and fourth as a freshman and sophomore. He failed to reach the awards stand last year, but that's history now that he's vying for national title. Reader hasn't been affected by the lack of success of the Iowa State team, which will only leave with one All-American.

"I worked my tail off all year," Reader said. "You get to this part of the season and it really is about you. You got to be selfish. This isn't just a sport it's a lifestyle and I lived a life and I do all the right things on and off the mat."

Reader faces seventh-seeded Nick Amuchastegui (31-3) for the championship. Amuchastegui beat No. 2 seed Ed Ruth of Penn State by injury default before beating Cornell's third-seeded Mack Lewnes, 5-2, in the semifinals.

They haven't wrestled but Reader won the 174-pound title, which including Amuchastegui at the Midlands Championships in December.

“He didn't make it this far in the bracket for nothing,” Reader said. “It's going to be a battle just like every final. You have to go out and compete.”

Montell Marion joined McDonough in the finals last year, but came up seconds short of a repeat. Marion battled Michigan's top-seeded Kellen Russell for 11 minutes, but after a 3-3 tie Russell won with riding time advantage in the second tiebreaker.

The pair exchanged escapes in regulation and in the first tiebreaker. Marion was close to finishing a shot in the second sudden victory but a flurry by Russell fended off the possible winning takedown.

Iowa knew Russell's ability to scramble, but didn't return him to the mat with enough force to neutralize it. Marion had him down but Russell reacted quickly to avoiding the takedown call.

“You've got to plant him,” Brands said. “You've got to plant that guy and we know that.

“We planted him. It could have been two, but it wasn't by this referee and I don't disagree with the call.”

Marion (12-4) couldn't capture the same dramatic finish like he did to reach the semifinal. Earlier Friday, Marion overcame a 4-0 deficit in the second period, beating Illinois' James Kennedy, 8-7, on a last-second takedown to cap a six-point third. Marion is assured of a second straight top-six finish.

Grant Gambrall (23-8) also saw his run in the winners bracket come to an end. Penn State's Quentin Wright pinned Gambrall in 3 minutes, 53 seconds in the 184-pound semifinal.

The Hawkeyes managed five All-Americans and sit in third place with 74 points in the team race. Derek St. John (157) and Luke Lofthouse (197) each won two consolation matches and will compete for a top six spot in the top eight at their weight. Iowa went 12-8 Friday.

The Hawkeyes trail Cornell for second by one point, but Penn State leads the team race with 92 1/2 points. The Nittany Lions are looking for their first national team title since 1953. Penn State has three finalists, while Cornell has one.

Iowa's hopes for a fourth straight NCAA title are fading, but don't close the door just yet.

“Do your math before you start sending your condolences to the Hawkeyes,” Brands said. “We've got work to do one at a time. That's what it's all about anyways.”

The University of Northern Iowa finished in a tie for 46th with 5 1/2 points. The Panthers' Ryan Loder (30-11) reached the Round of 12 before losing to fourth-seeded Travis Rutt of Wisconsin, 4-2. David Bonin (27-13) was beaten by Harvard's Will Peppelman in his first consolation at 157.

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