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By Ryan Young
ryan-c-young@uiowa.edu
OMAHA, Neb. — With eight grapplers still in contention for an individual title, Iowa remains ahead in the team race with 34.5 points after the first day of competition at the NCAA championships.
Poised to capture their third straight national title, the Hawkeyes lead second-place Oklahoma State (26 points) and third-place Iowa State (24 points). Ohio State, Oklahoma State, and Wisconsin are in a deadlock for fourth with 23 points apiece.
The results are still too premature for Iowa head coach Tom Brands, though.
“I’m going to sound like a broken record here: We have to keep a good thing going,” Brands said. “We have a lot of work to do.”
For half of Iowa’s tournament roster, that involves widening the margin of victory. Five Hawkeyes won by decision Thursday night en route to Friday’s championship quarterfinals, while three others posted bonus-point wins.
Seniors Brent Metcalf (149) and Jay Borschel (174) tallied major decisions in the second round before heavyweight Dan Erekson notched Iowa’s first fall inside the Qwest Center — a first-period pin against 12th-seeded big man Scott Steele of Navy.
As a team, the Hawkeyes won 12 bouts by eight points or fewer on Thursday, including a pair of four-point triumphs by All-American 133-pounder Daniel Dennis.
But even though Iowa’s individual outcomes haven’t been overwhelmingly decisive, Dennis said he and his teammates have been controlling their matches.
Dominating may be the goal, but creeping closer to the championship finals is the top priority, he noted. And increased alertness is key in the pursuit.
“This is nationals,” the senior said. “This is what our whole year comes down to, and you fall off track for one match, chances are you’re going to be vulnerable. The focus is at an all-time high for every match.”
Only junior Jake Kerr fell out of championship contention Thursday night. The Oskaloosa, Iowa native dropped an 8-1 decision to top-seeded 157-pounder J.P. O’Connor of Harvard in the second round and is slated to face No. 11-seed Robert Erisman of Oklahoma State Friday morning in the consolation second round.
At 197, Chad Beatty is still viable for a third-place finish after losing his first-round matchup earlier on Thursday. Beatty managed a late reversal in the third period against North Carolina’s Dennis Drury to win, 5-4.
Team standings:
1. Iowa: 34.5
2. Oklahoma State: 26
3. Iowa State: 24
4. Ohio State: 23
- Oklahoma: 23
- Wisconsin: 23
7. Cornell: 22
8. Minnesota: 20
9. Missouri: 18.5
10. Central Michigan: 17
Championship second-round results:
125 — No. 3 Matt McDonough (I) dec. Anthony Zanetta (Pitt), 10-6
133 — No. 2 Daniel Dennis (I) dec. Kelly Kubec (Oregon State), 4-0
141 — No. 6 Montell Marion (I) dec. Conor Beebe (Central Mich), 10-5
149 — No. 2 Brent Metcalf (I) major dec. Kyle Borshoff (American), 20-7
157 — No. 1 J.P. O’Connor (Harvard) dec. Jake Kerr (I), 8-1
165 — No. 7 Ryan Morningstar (I) dec. Alex Meade (Ok State), 3-1
174 — No. 2 Jay Borschel (I) major dec. Daniel Rinaldi (Rutgers), 10-0
184 — No. 9 Phillip Keddy (I) dec. No. 8 Louis Caputo (Harvard), 6-2
HWT — No. 5 Dan Erekson (I) pinned No. 12 Scott Steele (Navy), 2:36
Wrestle-back second-round results:
197 — No. 9 Chad Beatty dec. Dennis Drury (NC), 5-4
Championship quarterfinal matches:
125 — No. 3 Matt McDonough (I) vs. Jarrod Garnett (VA Tech)
133 — No. 2 Daniel Dennis (I) vs. No. 10 Nick Fanthorpe (Iowa State)
141 — No. 6 Montell Marion (I) vs. Germane Lindsey (Ohio)
149 — No. 2 Brent Metcalf (I) vs. No. 7 Mitch Mueller (Iowa State)
165 — No. 7 Ryan Morningstar (I) vs. No. 2 Jarrod King (Edin)
174 — No. 2 Jay Borschel (I) vs. No. 10 Jordan Blanton (Illinois)
184 — No. 9 Phillip Keddy (I) vs. No. 1 Kirk Smith (Boise State)
HWT — No. 5 Dan Erekson (I) vs. No. 4 Konrad Dudziak (Duke)
Consolation third round matches:
157 — Jake Kerr (I) vs. No. 11 Robert Erisman (OK State)
197 — No. 9 Chad Beatty vs. Joseph Kennedy (Lehigh)
