University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
Iowa Wrestling Win Midlands, Crown Three ChampionsIowa Down Northern Iowa, 30-12Iowa Beat Iowa State, Set Attendance RecordIowa Wrestling Go 4-0 At Journeymen/Brute Northeast DualsIowa-Iowa State Tickets AvailableIowa Wrestling - Tom Brands Signs Contract ExtensionIowa Wins Three At NWCAFour Iowa Hawkeyes Win Kaufman-Brand Open TitlesIowa City Duals ResultsTime & Matchup Changes for Iowa City Duals Iowa Fans Pack Room For Wrestle-OffsIowa Set Wrestle-Off MatchesUniversity of Iowa Wrestling Media Day Set for Nov. 12Terry Brands Named Iowa Wrestling Assistant CoachBrands was one of the nation's greatest freestyle wrestlers, winning World gold medals in 1993 in Toronto, Canada, and in 1995 in Atlanta, GA, at 125.5 pounds (57 kg). As a member of the 1993 and 1995 U.S. World Teams, he was on the only two U.S. teams to win World Team Titles in freestyle.
In 1993, he won his world title with Tom, who was the World champion at 136.5 pounds (62 kg). Terry and Tom were named 1993 USA Wrestling Athlete of the Year, 1993 John Smith Freestyle Wrestler of the Year and 1993 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year. The Brands brothers became the first U.S. brothers to win a World title during the same year.
Brands placed second at in the 1996 U.S. Nationals and the 1996 Olympic Team Trials, falling just short of making the U.S. Olympic Team. He qualified for the 1997 and 1999 U.S. World Teams, but did not compete due to injury. In 2000, he made a comeback and won the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 127.75 pounds (58 kg). He earned a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Brands earned a bachelor of science degree in Human Development from the University of Iowa in 1992. He and his wife, Michelle, have a son, Nelson, and a daughter, Sydney.
Iowa Hawkeyes Top W.I.N. Pre-Season Rankings
IOWA CITY, IA -- The defending Big Ten and NCAA champion University of Iowa wrestling team has secured W.I.N. magazines top pre-season national ranking. The Hawkeyes were ranked first in W.I.N.'s pre-season dual rankings, as well as in the magazine's pre-season tournament power index. The second ranking is based on how a school's individual ranked wrestlers would finish at the NCAA Championships and the point total listed is what those competitors would accumulate at the national meet.
The rankings, which were released Tuesday, also list six Hawkeyes in the top 10 in their respective weight classes. Hawkeye juniors Joe Slaton (133) and Brent Metcalf (141) are both earned a number one ranking. Iowa senior Charlie Falck (125) and junior Jay Borschel (174) are each ranked second, while junior Phillip Keddy (184) is ranked fifth and senior Alex Tsirtsis is ranked eighth (141).
The Hawkeyes are scheduled to open the 2008-09 season Nov. 21 when they host the Iowa City duals.
W.I.N. Division I Top 20 Pre-Season Dual Rankings
Rank School
1. Iowa
2. Ohio State
3. Iowa State
4. Cornell
5. Missouri
6. Oklahoma State
7. Illinois
8. Nebraska
9. Penn State
10. Michigan
11. Minnesota
12. Northwestern
13. Boise State
14. Central Michigan
15. Wisconsin
16. Indiana
17. Maryland
18. Edinboro
19. West Virginia
20. Oklahoma
Top 20 Pre-Season Tournament Power Index
Rank School Points
1. Iowa 91
2. Iowa State 90
3. Cornell 77
4. Missouri 61
5. Ohio State 54
6. Nebraska 53
7. Illinois 50
8. Michigan 44
9. Penn State 35
10. Boise State 34.5
11. Oklahoma State 34
12. Wisconsin 32
13. Northwestern 31.5
14. Indiana 28
15. Minnesota 24.5
16. Edinboro 23
17. Maryland 22.5
18. Central Michigan 19
Northern Iowa 19
20. Hofstra 17.5
Iowa Release 2008-09 Schedule
IOWA CITY, IA -- The defending Big Ten and NCAA champion University of Iowa wrestling team has announced its schedule for the 2008-09 season. The Hawkeyes are set to host seven home events, including intrastate rival Iowa State.
Iowa will kick off the season by hosting the Iowa City Duals Friday, November 21 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Coe and Mankato State are currently scheduled to compete in the single-day event. The remainder of Iowa's home schedule includes Iowa State (Dec. 6, 7 p.m.), Wisconsin (Jan. 23), Illinois (Jan. 25), Bucknell (Jan. 30, 7 p.m.), Purdue (Feb. 13) and Minnesota (Feb. 15).
The Hawkeyes will face Northern Iowa (Dec. 11, 7 p.m.), Oklahoma State (Jan. 18), Michigan State (Feb. 6), Penn State (Feb. 8, 2 p.m.) and Indiana (Feb. 20, 6 p.m.) in road duals. The team will also make its annual trek to the Midlands Championships (Dec. 29-30) in Evanston, IL, and the Cliff Keen/N.W.C.A. National Duals (Jan. 10-11) in Cedar Falls, as well as the Journeyman Duals in Albany, NY, Nov. 29. Binghampton, Maryland, Central Michigan and Bloomsburg are scheduled to compete at that event. The 2009 Big Ten Championships are scheduled for Mar. 7-8 in State College, PA, while the 2009 NCAA Championships will return to St. Louis, MO, Mar. 19-21.
Wrestling season tickets can be ordered from the UI Athletics Ticket Office, at (319) 335-9327, or online at www.hawkeyesports.com.
2008-09 UNIVERSITY OF IOWA WRESTLING SCHEDULE
Date Meet Location Time
Nov. 21 Iowa City Duals (Coe, Minnesota State-Mankato) Iowa City, IA TBA
Nov. 29 at Journeyman Duals Albany, NY TBA
(Binghamton, Maryland, Central Michigan, Bloomsburg)
Dec. 6 Iowa State Iowa City, IA 7 p.m.
Dec. 11 at Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA 7 p.m.
Dec. 29-30 at Midlands Championships Evanston, IL
Jan. 10-11 at Cliff Keen/N.W.C.A. Duals Cedar Falls, IA
Jan. 18 at Oklahoma State Stillwater, OK TBA
Jan. 23 Wisconsin Iowa City, IA TBA
Jan. 25 Illinois Iowa City, IA TBA
Jan. 30 Bucknell Iowa City, IA 7 p.m.
Feb. 6 at Michigan State East Lansing, MI TBA
Feb. 8 at Penn State State College, PA 2 p.m.
Feb. 13 Purdue Iowa City, IA TBA
Feb. 15 Minnesota Iowa City, IA TBA
Feb. 20 at Indiana Bloomington, IN 6 p.m.
Feb. 22 at Northwestern Evanston, IL 2 p.m.
Mar. 7-8 at Big Ten Championships State College, PA
Mar. 19-21 at NCAA Championships St. Louis, MO
All times are Central. All dates and times are subject to change.
Brands & Barta Statements Regarding Colby Covington
TOM BRANDS STATEMENT REGARDING COLBY COVINGTON
"We are very disappointed to hear the news of another arrest of one of our student-athletes. Colby Covington has been suspended indefinitely from all UI athletic program activities. I am extremely disappointed with all that has been going on the last couple weeks."
Tom Brands is currently out of state with his family and is unavailable for further comment at this time.
GARY BARTA STATEMENT
"This is an unfortunate situation that will be taken seriously. We will be looking into the matter further once we have obtained all the details of this incident."
Iowa Wrestler Metcalf Named Jesse Owens Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year
Park Ridge, Ill. - Iowa wrestler Brent Metcalf and Northwestern lacrosse standout Hannah Nielsen were respectively named the Jesse Owens Male and Suzy Favor Female Athletes of the Year, the Big Ten Conference announced on Thursday. The Big Ten Athletes of the Year are selected by a panel of conference media members from nominations submitted by each institution.
Metcalf led the Iowa wrestling program to its 21st overall NCAA Championship in 2008, scoring 23 team points to be named the event's Outstanding Wrestler. The sophomore earned the individual national title at 149 pounds by defeating Bubba Jenkins of Penn State, 14-8, in the finals. At the conclusion of the season, Metcalf took home the Dan Hodge Trophy, given each year to the nation's best wrestler, and was also named the NCAA Wrestler of the Year by RevWrestling.com. The Davison, MI, native was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year and the Outstanding Wrestler of the Big Ten Championships, becoming just the fourth grappler in school history to earn both awards in the same season. In 2008, his first year with the Hawkeyes, Metcalf finished with a 35-1 record, ending the season on a 35-match winning streak, posting a 21-1 dual record and a perfect 8-0 mark in Big Ten competition. He was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week on Jan. 16 and Jan. 23, becoming first wrestler in conference history to earn the honor in consecutive weeks. Metcalf also picked up weekly accolades from TheMat.com on Jan. 16 and Mar. 12. An academic all-Big Ten honoree and NWCA all-academic team member, Metcalf was named Division I Outstanding Wrestler at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in January. He is the fourth male Hawkeye to be named Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year and the first since Chuck Long in 1986. He is the third Iowa wrestler to receive the top conference distinction.
"It is a great honor for me to be recognized as the Jesse Owens Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year," said Metcalf. "Not only is it good for me, it's good for the entire Iowa wrestling program. It shows that we are headed in the right direction as a program."
"This award is another outstanding accomplishment for Brent Metcalf and the Hawkeye wrestling program," said University of Iowa Head Wrestling Coach Tom Brands. "The Big Ten recognized his achievements from the past season, and we look forward to exceeding expectations again this year."
A junior on the 2008 NCAA Champion Northwestern lacrosse team, Nielsen is already one of the most decorated players in program history. The Adelaide, Australia, native captured the 2008 Tewaaraton Trophy, given to the nation's best collegiate lacrosse player. She also earned the 2008 Honda Lacrosse Sports Award and earned Player of the Year accolades from Inside Lacrosse, the American Lacrosse Conference, Women's Lacrosse and WomensLax.com. The midfielder was an integral part of NU's fourth-straight national championship in 2008, leading her squad in scoring with 114 points (51 goals, 63 assists), to become the first Wildcat to record back-to-back 100-point seasons. Since arriving in Evanston, Nielsen has helped the Wildcats to three of the team's four consecutive NCAA Championships on the strength of a 62-3 combined record during her three seasons on the field. Nielsen becomes the third female Wildcat to take home the Suzy Favor award and the first since 1987 when Jennifer Averill, a two-sport athlete in field hockey and lacrosse, was honored. Nielsen and Averill stand as the only two lacrosse players to earn the top Big Ten accolade.
The Big Ten Conference has recognized a Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year since 1982 when Indiana's Jim Spivey earned the inaugural award. The following year, a women's award was created. In 1991-92, as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of women's athletics in the conference, the women's award was renamed in honor of former Wisconsin track standout and three-time recipient Suzy Favor.
A complete list of this year's Big Ten Conference Jesse Owens and Suzy Favor Athletes of the Year nominees and all-time winners follows.
2008 BIG TEN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
School
Male Nominee
Female Nominee
Illinois
J Leman (football)
Angela Bizzarri (cross country/track)
Indiana
Ben Hesen (swimming)
Haley Exner (field hockey)
Iowa
Brent Metcalf (wrestling)
Diane Nukuri (cross country/track)
Michigan
Kevin Porter (ice hockey)
Tiffany Ofili (track)
Michigan State
Jeff Lerg (ice hockey)
Sara Brown (golf)
Minnesota
Jayson Ness (wrestling)
Heather Dorniden (track)
Northwestern
Dustin Fox (wrestling)
Hannah Nielsen (lacrosse)
Ohio State
Andras Horanyi (fencing)
Teresa Meyer (pistol)
Penn State
Casey Sandy (gymnastics)
Shana Cox (track)
Purdue
Dustin Keller (football)
Maria Hernandez (golf)
Wisconsin
Travis Beckum (football)
Jolene Anderson (basketball)
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
1982 - Jim Spivey, Indiana, track and field/cross country
1983 - Ed Banach, Iowa, wrestling
1984 - Sunder Nix, Indiana, track and field
1985 - Barry Davis, Iowa, wrestling
1986 - Chuck Long, Iowa, football
1987 - Steve Alford, Indiana, basketball
1988 - Jim Abbott, Michigan, baseball
1989 - Glen Rice, Michigan, basketball
1990 - Anthony Thompson, Indiana, football
1991 - Mike Barrowman, Michigan, swimming
1992 - Desmond Howard, Michigan, football
1993 - John Roethlisberger, Minnesota, gymnastics
1994 - Glenn Robinson, Purdue, basketball
1995 - Tom Dolan, Michigan, swimming
1996 - Eddie George, Ohio State, football
1997 - Blaine Wilson, Ohio State, gymnastics
1998 - Charles Woodson, Michigan, football
1999 - Luke Donald, Northwestern, golf
2000 - Ron Dayne, Wisconsin, football
2001 - Ryan Miller, Michigan State, ice hockey
2002 - Jordan Leopold, Minnesota, ice hockey
2003 - Amer Delic, Illinois, tennis (co)
2003 - Matt Lackey, Illinois, wrestling (co)
2004 - Damion Hahn, Minnesota, wrestling
2005 - Luis Vargas, Penn State, gymnastics
2006 - Peter Vanderkaay, Michigan, swimming
2007 - Cole Konrad, Minnesota, wrestling
2008 - Brent Metcalf, Iowa, wrestling
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
1983 - Judi Brown, Michigan State, track and field
1984 - Lisa Ishikawa, Northwestern, softball
1985 - Cathy Branta, Wisconsin, cross country/track
1986 - Stephanie Herbst, Wisconsin, cross country/track
1987 - Jennifer Averill, Northwestern, field hockey/lacrosse
1988 - Suzy Favor, Wisconsin, track and field/cross country
1989 - Suzy Favor, Wisconsin, track and field/cross country
1990 - Suzy Favor, Wisconsin, track and field/cross country
1991 - Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse, Michigan State, diving (co)
1991 - Joy Holmes, Purdue, basketball (co)
1992 - MaChelle Joseph, Purdue, basketball
1993 - Lara Hooiveld, Michigan, swimming
1994 - Kristy Gleason, Iowa, field hockey
1995 - Laura Davis, Ohio State, volleyball
1996 - Olga Kalinovskaya, Penn State, fencing
1997 - Kathy Butler, Wisconsin, track and field (co)
1997 - Gretchen Hegener, Minnesota, swimming (co)
1998 - Sara Griffin, Michigan, softball
1999 - Stephanie White-McCarty, Purdue, basketball
2000 - Lauren Cacciamani, Penn State, volleyball
2001 - Katie Douglas, Purdue, basketball
2002 - Christie Welsh, Penn State, soccer
2003 - Perdita Felicien, Illinois, track and field
2004 - Kelly Mazzante, Penn State, basketball
2005 - Jennie Ritter, Michigan, softball
2006 - Tiffany Weimer, Penn State, soccer
2007 - Jessica Davenport, Ohio State, basketball
2008 - Hannah Nielsen, Northwestern, lacrosse
Iowa's Schwab Makes Olympic Team
LAS VEGAS, NV -- University of Iowa Assistant Wrestling Coach Doug Schwab earned a spot on the 2008 United States Olympic Freestyle Wrestling team by winning the 145.5-pound bracket at the Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, NV, last weekend. Schwab defeated former Hawkeye Bill Zadick in the championship match (1-0, 1-0; 1-0, 1-1, 2-1) to earn his first Olympic berth. In all, 10 wrestlers with ties to the University of Iowa competed at the three-day tournament.
"There were some tough times," explained Schwab about his development as a wrestler. "I came out for the U.S. Nationals five or six times, and I was fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh. Not until last year did I really have my break through. I always believed in hard work. Now it's just confidence. I can feel it out there. I'm just a more confident wrestler."
Iowa strength and conditioning coach Mike Zadick also won the 132-pound tournament bracket, but since the United States did not qualify that weight class for the Olympics he will have to wait for a wild card berth, which could be announced later this week. Zadick defeated Shawn Bunch of Gator Wrestling Club in the finals (3-1, 1-0; 0-3, 0-3; 0-2, 3-0, 1-0).
The rest of the freestyle Olympic squad includes Henry Cejudo (121), Ben Askren (163), Andy Hrovat (185), Daniel Cormier (211.5) and former Hawkeye Steve Mocco (264.5).
Hawkeye sophomore Brent Metcalf went 2-2 at the tournament, competing at 145.5. Former Hawkeyes Joe Williams (185, 1-2), Joe Johnston (145.5, 0-2), Eric Luedke (163, 0-2) and Lee Fullhart (185, 0-2) all competed in the freestyle tournament. Former Hawkeye David Spangler went 0-2 at 185 in the Greco-Roman competition.
The wrestling events for the 29th Olympic Games will be held August 12-21 at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium in Beijing.
U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Freestyle Championship Results
132 - Mike Zadick (Gator WC) dec. Shawn Bunch (Gator WC), 3-1, 1-0
132 - Shawn Bunch (Gator WC) dec. Mike Zadick (Gator WC), 3-0, 3-0
132 - Mike Zadick (Gator WC) dec. Shawn Bunch (Gator WC), 0-2, 3-0, 1-0
145.5 - Doug Schwab (Gator WC) dec. Bill Zadick (Gator WC), 1-0, 1-0
145.5 - Doug Schwab (Gator WC) dec. Bill Zadick (Gator WC), 1-0, 1-1, 2-1
264.5 - Steve Mocco (New York AC) dec. Tommy Rowlands (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 1-0
264.5 - Tommy Rowlands (Sunkist Kids) dec. Steve Mocco (New York AC), 3-0, 1-0
264.5 - Steve Mocco (New York AC) dec. Tommy Rowlands (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-0
U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Freestyle Challenge Results
132 - Mike Zadick (Gator WC) dec. Michael Lightner (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 1-0
132 - Mike Zadick (Gator WC) dec. Coleman Scott (Gator WC), 0-1, 1-0, 6-0
145.5 - Bill Zadick (Gator WC) dec. Joe Johnston (Hawkeye WC), 4-1, 2-0
145.5 - Bill Zadick (Gator WC) dec. Brent Metcalf (Gator WC), 1-0, 4-2
145.5 - Bill Zadick (Gator WC) dec. Chris Bono (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 1-1, 3-0
145.5 - Zach Roberson (Sunkist Kids) dec. Joe Johnston (Hawkeye WC), 2-0, 3-0
145.5 - Brent Metcalf (Gator WC) dec. Jerrod Sanders (Wolfpack WC), 1-0, 1-2, 2-0
145.5 - Brent Metcalf (Gator WC) dec. Trent Paulson (Sunkist Kids), 0-3, 2-0, 2-0
145.5 - Jared Frayer (Gator WC) dec. Brent Metcalf (Gator WC), 6-0, 0-6, 1-0
163 - Keith Gavin (New York AC) dec. Eric Luedke (Hawkeye WC), 0-1, 6-0, 3-1
163 - Donny Pritzlaf (New York AC) TF Eric Luedke (Hawkeye WC), 7-0, 0-1, 7-0
185 - Chris Pendleton (Gator WC) dec. Lee Fullhart (Gator WC), 3-0, 4-2
185 - Tyrel Todd (New York AC) won by FF over Lee Fullhart (Gator WC)
185 - Joe Williams (Sunkist Kids) dec. B.J. Padden (Sunkist Kids), 4-1, 3-1
185 - Andy Hrovat (New York AC) dec. Joe Williams (Sunkist Kids), 3-0, 3-0
185 - Tyrel Todd (New York AC) won by injury over Joe Williams (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Greco Roman Challenge Results
185 - Jake Plamann (Gator WC) pinned David Spangler (U.S. Air Force), 1:22
185 - Jacob Clark (Minnesota Storm) dec. David Spangler (U.S. Air Force), 5-0, 4-0
Four Iowa Hawkeyes Named to NWCA All-Academic Team
IOWA CITY, IA -- The national champion Hawkeye wrestling team is proving that it can have success in the class room, as well as on the mat. Four Hawkeye wrestlers have been named to the 2008 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division I all-academic team. Senior Matt Fields and sophomores Jay Borschel, Dan LeClere and Brent Metcalf were named to the team for the first time in each of their careers. It was also the first time Iowa has had four honorees in one season. The previous best was two in 1995 and 2004.
Metcalf was one of three NCAA champions named to the team, while he, Fields and Borschel were three of the 27 all-Americans honored.
A total of 88 wrestlers were named to the academic team, which was a 35 percent increase over the 57 honorees in 2007. Iowa was one of only four schools - and the only Big Ten school - with four individual honorees. The others were American, Duke and Liberty.
"I am really proud of these guys because it is a reflection on their lifestyle," explained Hawkeye Head Coach Tom Brands. "They did a great job rising to expectations on the mat, and this honor shows that they are building themselves to be great ambassadors for life."
To be considered for the NWCA all-academic team, a wrestler must have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average, have been an NCAA qualifier or won 60 percent of his total schedule when he competed in at least 60 percent of said schedule. Wrestlers can also earn a spot on the all-academic team if they were an NCAA all-American and posted a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average.
Iowa Wrestling 2007-08 Team Awards Announced
IOWA CITY, IA - Iowa wrestling's NCAA Champions - senior Mark Perry and sophomore Brent Metcalf - have been named the Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestlers for the 2007-08 season. They received the award at the team's annual awards banquet Sunday in Iowa City.
The Hawkeyes had much to celebrate at the team banquet. The team won its 21st NCAA title and 32nd Big Ten title, which were firsts for second-year Head Coach Tom Brands. Iowa crowned two individual NCAA champions - a first since 1999 - and seven all-Americans - the highest number since 2001. The Hawkeyes posted a 21-1 overall record, ending the season on a 14-match winning streak. Iowa also won the Big Ten regular season title with an unblemished 8-0 mark. Brands was named NWCA and Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Perry won his second national title to become Iowa's 14th two-time NCAA champion. He also captured his fourth all-America honor, becoming the 17th Hawkeye to accomplish the feat in school history. Perry scored 25 team points at the NCAA Championships, the most of any wrestler in the tournament. Despite missing the entire Big Ten dual season due to injury, the Stillwater, OK, native posted a 20-3 season record and led the team in pins (12) and fastest pin (21 seconds). The 165-pounder was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week Dec. 19 and TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week Mar. 25. Perry ends his Hawkeye career with a 96-16 record.
Metcalf stormed through the competition in his first season at 149 pounds with the Hawkeyes, winning his first NCAA and Big Ten titles. He earned the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy, which is annually presented to the nation's top collegiate wrestler. The Davison, MI, native was named Outstanding Wrestler at both the NCAA and Big Ten Championships, and the Division I NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. He also garnered Big Ten Wrestler of the Year honors, becoming only the fourth Hawkeye to earn both in the same season. Metcalf led all point-scorers at the Big Ten tournament with 24, and his 23 points at NCAAs tied for third among all competitors. He posted a 35-1 season record, ending the year on a 32-match winning streak. He was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week twice, becoming the first student-athlete in conference history to earn in the honor in consecutive weeks. He was also named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week twice. Metcalf, who also earned academic all-Big Ten honors, led the team in collegiate wins (35), collegiate winning percentage (.972), dual wins (21), dual winning percentage (.954), dual team points scored (100) and technical falls (6).
Senior heavyweight Matt Fields took home three team awards. He earned the the J. Donald McPike, Sr., Award, which is given annually to the senior with the highest grade-point average, the Most Improved Award and shared the All-American Award with four other teammates. A health and sports studies major from Lowden, IA, Fields earned his first all-America honor this season. He posted a 32-8 record and earned academic all-Big Ten accolades. Fields ends his Iowa career with a 95-38 mark, starting 64 duals.
Fields shared the All-American Award with junior Charlie Falck, and sophomores Jay Borschel, Phillip Keddy and Joe Slaton. Falck earned his second all-America honor at 125, placing sixth at the NCAA Championships and fourth at the Big Ten tournament. His season record of 31-7 included a 21-1 dual mark. A native of Strawberry Point, IA, Falck shared the team lead in dual wins (21) and dual winning percentage (.954) with Metcalf. Keddy, from Vernal, UT, earned his first all-America honor at 184 in his second season in the lineup. His 28-11 record included a third-place finish at the Big Ten Championships and a sixth-place finish at NCAAs. Borschel and Slaton each picked up their first all-America honor in their first season with the Hawkeyes. Slaton placed second at the NCAA Championships and third at Big Tens at 133, posting a 31-5 season record. The Cedar Rapids, IA, native was also named Wrestler of the Week by the Big Ten and TheMat.com after Iowa's win at Iowa State in December. Borschel placed third at both tournaments at 174 with a 32-5 record. The academic all-Big Ten honoree from Marion, IA, led the team in major decisions (11) and ranked second in collegiate wins (32) and dual team points scored (79).
Sophomore Chad Beatty was honored with the Mike McGivern Award, which is annually presented to the team's most courageous wrestler. The Wilton, IA, native moved up two weight classes to compete at 197 pounds after the season started. His season record of 13-15 included key dual wins against Indiana and Michigan late in the season to help the Hawkeyes earn the conference regular season title. Beatty was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week Feb. 20 for his efforts in those matches.
Sophomore Illinois natives Rick Loera and Daniel Dennis earned the team's Coaches Appreciation Award. Loera, who also moved up to compete at 197 pounds, posted a 7-9 record. Dennis was injured at the start of the season, but came back at 133. Loera is from Park Ridge, and Dennis is a native of Ingleside.
2007-08 University of Iowa Wrestling Team Awards
Mike Howard Award (Most Valuable): Mark Perry, Brent Metcalf
Mike McGivern Award (Most Courageous): Chad Beatty
J. Donald McPike, Sr. Award (Highest GPA for graduating senior): Matt Fields
All-America Award: Jay Borschel, Phillip Keddy, Charlie Falck, Matt Fields, Joe Slaton
Most Pins Award: Mark Perry (12)
Most Improved Award: Matt Fields
Coaches Appreciation Award: Rick Loera, Daniel Dennis
Iowa Head Wrestling Coach Tom Brands To Throw Out Corridor Classic First Pitch
IOWA CITY - - Iowa Head Wrestling Coach Tom Brands will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the fifth annual Corridor Classic presented by Cedar Rapids Toyota-Scion Wednesday, April 30 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids. The Corridor Classic pits the Iowa Hawkeyes against the Northern Iowa Panthers in baseball.
Brands, who was named the National and Big Ten Coach of the Year, led the Hawkeyes to their 21st national championship last month. In addition, the Big Ten and NCAA Championship trophies will be on display on the concourse at the event.
Iowa coach Tom Brands Named Coach of the Year
University of Iowa coach Tom Brands said he’s “fanatical” about a standard and has brought that standard back to his alma mater. Just finished with his second season in Iowa City, Brands’ Hawkeyes have climbed back to the top of the college wrestling world for the first time since 2000.
For this year’s NCAA title and their 21-1 record, Brands has been named W.I.N.’s Dan Gable Coach of the Year.
All-American Phil Keddy said he and his teammates feed off Brands’ attitude.
“Coming in, everybody wants to win and says they have high goals. Gable and Brands set a completely new standard, and not just in the wrestling room. Your entire lifestyle is built toward winning and achieving your goals. Their mentality is so different and so much higher.
Everybody feeds off each other and keeps getting better,” the sophomore 184-pounder said.
The Hawkeyes performed fairly consistently all year, dropping only one dual. Oklahoma State downed Iowa on its home mat, Jan. 5, 19-14. Aside from that loss, the Hawkeyes won the Midlands team title, dominated the National Duals, won the Big Tens and outdistanced second-place Ohio State by 38.5 points at the NCAAs.
Keddy was asked how Brands is able to set the bar so high.
“Expectations and belief in everybody is so high, that to go out there and not win would be a huge disappointment. If you’re going out there to dominate as well, you’re going to win the close matches too,” he said. “Everybody in the room has the same goals. Ten national champs is the goal. We’re obviously going to be close if we don’t achieve that.”
There’s certainly people in the wrestling community who would like to see anybody but Iowa back on top. And many of those same people roll their eyes at comments like Keddy’s about dominating in a college wrestling landscape, which some people say has as much parity as the sport has seen in quite some time.
“People would hit me on the shoulder early in my career before they knew I was a disciple of Gable’s, and they’d say, ‘You’ll learn to blow him off’ and they’d roll their eyes at him,” Brands said.
“I can’t stand rolling my eyes at that standard. I roll my eyes at a substandard. You learn to either stay at that high level or conform. Brands boys don’t conform. That’s arrogant to say, but we were never conformists. We always looked for the high standard and the right way to do things,” the 1996 Olympic champion said. He added that he knows his expectations and standard doesn’t sit well with some.
“The enemy here isn’t fanaticism, the enemy isn’t excellency. The enemy is socialism and apathy. A lot of people don’t agree with that.”
The father of three points back to his upbringing with his identical twin Terry as the starting point in his attitude towards this high standard and intensity.
“His standard was right up there with mine, if not higher. When you wanted to pull the covers up and shut the alarm off, he was right there over top you. And vice versa. There was no way to hide or taking the easy way out,” Tom said of his brother who is now the resident freestyle coach for the Olympic Team in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The twins pushed each other from the time they started wrestling in fifth grade. Terry won two state titles and Tom won one before signing at Iowa. Tom won three NCAA titles, Terry won two for the Hawks. They both became World champions for the first time in 1993, and Tom won the Worlds again in 1995 before winning in Atlanta in 1996. Terry settled for Olympic bronze four years later in Sydney.
But it was in Iowa City in college, being around Gable, where the twins’ “fanatical” attitude was taken to another level.
“Being around Gable changes you. In the early college years, I wanted to follow in his foot steps. I wanted to not only wrestle for him, but I wanted to work for him (as a coach),” Brands said.
Gable felt Brands was the right person to receive the award named in his honor.
“Total-year consistency along with the distance between first place and the rest makes (Brands) an obvious choice. The jump we took from last year to this year was eye-opening for me a little bit. Even though that’s a hard thing to say,” said Gable, now an assistant to the athletic director at Iowa who’s still involved with the wrestling program and the post-graduate club.
From a distance, it looks like Brands and his assistants’ main job is to find kids who are willing to buy into their system and standard. Brands, who returns five All-Americans, said that’s not really it at all.
“I don’t care if I have guys who are bought into my program. I want guys who are bought into themselves.”
Keddy feels more Hawks are “buying into themselves” now because of the head man’s ability to live out his expectations off the mat too.
“He’s a great coach who would do anything for you. He’d give you the shirt off his back. Everything is directed towards wrestling because he’s so passionate and he loves it so much. He wants to make us the best that we can be,” the former two-time Utah champ said.
Brands, a native of Sheldon, Iowa, said as a parent you also need high expectations as well. He communicates that standard from the Bible and his Christian faith.
“It’s a Biblical principle to live a life towards excellency. Jesus Christ said it and God spoke through Him and his prophets. It’s very important in how I live my life and how I raise my kids. When you don’t feel like doing something, you do it anyway. It’s a fanaticism principle,” he said.
Brands also pointed out his view that many people in wrestling and life give lip service to their desire to live every facet of their lives to the highest standard (detailed in the quote at the beginning of the story), but few really do.
“People can read a quote like that and say they understand. Very people really have it with them, it’s something that’s ingrained in you. John Smith has it with him, Gable has it with him. We have a bunch of guys who’re aspiring to that. That’s exciting. That’s why Tom Brands is coach of the year,” he said.
After giving a lot of thought to the question about what most people don’t know about him as a coach, he shared about a brief conversation at Nationals. Getting ready for the 133-pound national championship which pitted Joe Slaton against Oklahoma State’s Coleman Scott, someone who could be considered an “enemy on the mat” paid a compliment to Brands which greatly impacted him.
“There’s been some things that have been said to me that have meant a lot from people that would blow your mind if I told you who they were. I appreciate that. I appreciate when like-minded people say some things that are on the same plane with where I’m at. It’s very, very rare,” Brands said.
Iowa Wrestling Get Local, National Honors
IOWA CITY, IA -- The 2008 NCAA and Big Ten Champion Iowa wrestling team will be recognized at Kinnick Stadium prior to the start of the Iowa football spring practice/scrimmage Saturday. The team introduction will take place at approximately 1 p.m.
The Hawkeyes have also earned national recognition as State Representative David Loebsack sponsored resolution number H.RES.1100, which congratulated the team on winning the national title. Congressmen Leonard Boswell, Bruce Braley, Steve King and Tom Latham served as co-sponsors for the legislation.
Iowa won its 21st NCAA title - the first for Head Coach Tom Brands and the first for the Hawkeyes since 2000 - and crowned two individual champions and seven all-Americans at the 2008 national tournament in St. Louis. Brands was named National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and Big Ten Coach of the Year this season. Hawkeye senior Mark Perry (165) and sophomore Brent Metcalf (149) each won NCAA titles. Metcalf was also awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy, which is annually presented to the nation's top collegiate wrestler. Iowa's lone Big Ten champion, Metcalf was named Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA and Big Ten Championships, and at the Division I NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. He was also named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year.
The NCAA title capped off a strong season for the Hawkeye wrestling team. The squad won Iowa's 32nd Big Ten title - the first for Brands - at the conference championships in Minneapolis. The Hawkeyes won the Big Ten regular season title with a perfect 8-0 conference record, while posting a 21-1 overall dual record. Iowa won its last 14 dual matches.
Iowa Wrestling to Be Honored At State Capitol
DES MOINES, IA -- The accolades keep coming for the NCAA and Big Ten Champion University of Iowa wrestling team. Iowa Governor Chet Culver will proclaim Thursday (April 3rd), "University of Iowa Wrestling Day" in the state of Iowa. The recognition will come in a ceremony at 4 p.m. that day in the Governor's office at the State Capitol in Des Moines. The entire Hawkeye squad has been invited to participate in the ceremony.
Iowa won its 21st NCAA title - the first for Head Coach Tom Brands and the first for the Hawkeyes since 2000 - and crowned two individual champions and seven all-Americans at the 2008 national tournament in St. Louis two weeks ago. Brands was named National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and Big Ten Coach of the Year this season.
Senior 165-pounder Mark Perry won his second national title at the event, becoming Iowa's 14th two-time NCAA champion. He also earned his fourth-all-America honor, becoming Iowa's 17th four-time all-American.
Sophomore 149-pounder Brent Metcalf was Iowa's other NCAA champion, earning his first all-America honor and ending the season on a 32-match winning streak. Metcalf earned the Dan Hodge trophy last week, which is annually presented to the nation's top collegiate wrestler. Iowa's lone Big Ten champion, Metcalf was named Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA and Big Ten Championships, and at the Division I NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. He was also named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year.
The NCAA title capped off a strong season for the Hawkeye wrestling team. The squad won Iowa's 32nd Big Ten title - the first for Brands - at the conference championships in Minneapolis at the beginning of March. The Hawkeyes won the Big Ten regular season title with a perfect 8-0 conference record, while posting a 21-1 overall dual record. Iowa won its last 14 dual matches.
Iowa's Brent Metcalf Awarded 2008 Hodge Trophy
Iowa sophomore Brent Metcalf climaxed his first year of college
wrestling by capturing the 149-pound title at the NCAA Championships,
March 22, in St. Louis. Metcalf was also voted the tourney's
Outstanding Wrestler for winning the weight class considered the
toughest in college wrestling this year.
For this year's performance, Metcalf has been named the
winner of the Dan Hodge Trophy for 2008 - completing his clean sweep
of the Big Three (NCAA champion, O.W. and Hodge winner).
The Dan Hodge Trophy is presented annually to the
nation's most dominant college wrestler. It is named for the
undefeated, three-time NCAA champion from Oklahoma University in the
mid 1950s. The only wrestler to ever appear on the cover of Sports
Illustrated (April 1, 19576), Hodge has the highest pinning
percentage in collegiate history, and was known for his dominating
style of wrestling.
The award is co-sponsored by W.I.N. Magazine and the Dan
Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa.
"The purpose of the award, initiated in 1995, is to
reward excellence in college wrestling and, particularly, a
dominating style of wrestling," said Mike Chapman, founder of the
trophy. "The way a wrestler competes is what we look for. Going
undefeated is very important, but equally important is going all-out
on the mat - winning through domination, the way Dan Hodge did. We
think a dominating style of wrestling is a key element to the sport's
popularity and we want to reward that style of wrestling."
The first winner was T.J. Jaworsky of North Carolina, in
1995. Last year's winner was Missouri's Ben Askren, for the second
straight season. The only other multi-year winner was Iowa State's
Cael Sanderson, who captured three straight Hodges, the last in 2002.
The award is often called "The Heisman Trophy of
wrestling" and is presented at the wrestling banquet of the winning
school. It is usually presented again in the fall, during halftime of
a football game. Upwards of 70,000 fans have seen some recipients
hold the trophy aloft at halftime.
The only other Hawkeye to win the award was Mark
Ironside, in 1998.
THIS SEASON, Metcalf posted a season record of 39-1,
which included 12 pins, seven tech falls and nine major decisions.
Seventy percent (28) of his victories were by pin, tech fall or
major. The other top-two contenders were Keith Gavin (174) of
Pittsburgh and Ohio State's Mike Pucillo (184).
A two-time finalist, Gavin finished his senior campaign
27-0 with five pins, two tech falls and five majors, giving the
Panther senior bonus-point wins in 44 percent of his matches.
The Buckeye sophomore national champ finished 34-1 with
six pins, six techs and eight majors. Pucillo grabbed bonus points in
57 percent of his matches.
Metcalf was selected over Gavin and other one-loss
wrestlers primarily because of his number of pins, dominance in bonus-
point wins and strength of schedule.
This was Metcalf's first year of competition at the
college level, as he was forced to miss the 2007 season after
transferring from Virginia Tech when Tom Brands accepted the head job
at Iowa in the spring of 2006. Metcalf compiled a stunning 228-0
record in high school.
"Brent Metcalf epitomizes what this award is all about,"
said Chapman. "He brings a mindset to the mat that is hard to deny.
He goes all out, every match. He never seems satisfied. He has
brought great excitement to the sport this year, leading Iowa to a
runaway victory at the NCAA tournament.
"I've attended 38 NCAA tournaments, and he is one of the
most talked-about wrestlers I can remember."
Tom Brands said winning the Hodge Trophy was one of the
goals for his wrestlers all season long, and he was extremely pleased
to hear that Metcalf was the winner.
"Everything he's gotten in the sport he's earned," said
Brands, "and this is no different. It's who he is, the way he was
raised. He appreciates the award immensely because he knows what it
stands for. It stands for domination and he embodies that."
W.I.N. publisher Bryan Van Kley agreed Metcalf's
approach towards domination and national title at 149 pounds made him
a very worthy recipient of the award.
"When I interviewed Metcalf after winning the title, he
talked about being disappointed about giving up the two first-period
takedowns in the finals. He also said he won't look back with any
regrets (after his college career) about not having a fourth year of
college eligibility after transferring to Iowa, saying he will be
remembered for what he does on the World and Olympic level. Wrestling
needs more Brent Metcalfs," Van Kley said.
The Dan Hodge Trophy will be presented to Metcalf at the
Iowa wrestling banquet on May 4 by representatives of W.I.N. and the
Dan Gable Museum. The banquet will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in
Iowa City.
Results from both the preseason NWCA All-Star meet, as
well as the early December Las Vegas Invite, do count towards
W.I.N.'s rankings and individuals who are be considered for the Dan
Hodge Trophy. For the NCAA's record-keeping, the results from the All-
Star meet do not count and the Vegas tourney's results have been
taken off the books this year as the tournament did not do proper
skin checks.
2008 Hodge Trophy Finalists
The following is a 2007-08 statistical breakdown of seven college
wrestlers who deserved mention among top candidates for the Hodge
Trophy.
Name, School Record Pins
TF MD
Phil Davis, Penn State 26-1
8 3 6
Angel Escobedo, Iowa 34-1 8
1 8
Tervel Dlagnev, UNK (Div. II) 38-0
16 5 5
Dustin Fox, Northwestern 29-1 2
3 8
Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh 27-0
5 2 5
Brent Metcalf, Iowa 39-1
12 7 9
Mike Pucillo, Ohio State 34-1
6 6 8
Iowa's Perry Named TheMat.Com Wrestler of the Week
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- Two-time NCAA champion Mark Perry has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for March 18-24.
The top-ranked Hawkeye wrestling team won its 21st national title and crowned two individual champions in Perry and sophomore 149-pounder Brent Metcalf at the 2008 NCAA Championships last weekend in St. Louis, MO. It was Iowa's first team title since 2000, and the first time the Hawkeyes crowned more than one NCAA champion since Doug Schwab and T.J. Williams won titles in 1999. Iowa scored 117.5 team points in the victory, more than doubling its NCAA point total (57) from 2007. Iowa and runner-up Ohio State were the only teams with two individual champions.
Perry became Iowa's 14th two-time NCAA champion when he defeated Michigan's Eric Tannenbaum in the 165-pound finals, 5-2. It was the fifth time the two had met, with each wrestler owning two wins. Perry scored a takedown in the first 19 seconds of the match and rode Tannenbaum the entire first period. He took a 3-0 lead early in the second period on an optional start escape, but injured his right knee in a scramble. Perry injured the same knee in January and sat out the entire Big Ten dual season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery. Tannenbaum scored a third-period takedown to make the score 3-2, but released Perry and did not score again. Perry's riding time point made the final score 5-2. The senior from Stillwater, OK, ended his Hawkeye career with a 96-16 record, going 20-3 this season. A three-time NCAA finalist and four-time Big Ten finalist, Perry is Iowa's 17th four-time all-American.
Perry is the third Hawkeye to earn the national weekly honor this season. Metcalf was named Wrestler of the Week on Jan. 16 and Mar. 12, and sophomore 133-pounder Joe Slaton was picked on Dec. 12.
Iowa Wrestling's Metcalf, Perry Win NCAA Titles
ST. LOUIS, MO -- The top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team won its 21st national title and crowned two individual champions in senior Mark Perry and sophomore Brent Metcalf at the 2008 NCAA Championships Saturday night in St. Louis, MO. It was Iowa's first team title since 2000, and the first time the Hawkeyes crowned more than one NCAA champion since Doug Schwab and T.J. Williams won titles in 1999. Iowa scored 117.5 team points in the victory, more than doubling its NCAA point total (57) from 2007. Ohio State placed second with 79 points and Penn State placed third with 75. Iowa and Ohio State were the only teams with two individual champions.
Hawkeye Head Coach Tom Brands was named 2008 NWCA Coach of the Year and Metcalf was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships. Brands is the fourth Hawkeye coach to earn the honor, and the first since Jim Zalesky in 1999. Metcalf is the 10th wrestler in Hawkeye history to earn the honor, and the first since Joe Williams in 1998.
"This is a step in the process," said Brands of winning the national team title. "We're going to continue this process. When our individuals prepare and wrestle their best, the team situation takes care of itself. I feel good about our program, but there is still work to do."
Metcalf was Iowa's first champion of the night, beating Penn State's Bubba Jenkins, 14-8, in the 149-pound finals. Jenkins scored two takedowns in the first period to take a 4-2 lead, but Metcalf followed with an escape and a takedown with a five-point move to close out the second period and go up 10-5. The Davison, MI, native secured his 35th win of the season with two third-period takedowns. Metcalf ends the season with a 35-1 record and on a 32-match winning streak.
"I'm happy with the win, but not so much with my performance," said Metcalf. "I don't like giving up points. I failed in wrestling on the edge, and that's were he scored. That's not Brent Metcalf's style, so I've got some work to do. The (Hawkeye) program is building and working toward dominance. We are going to enjoy the win, but we've all got work to do."
Hawkeye senior Mark Perry became Iowa's 14th two-time NCAA champion when he defeated Michigan's Eric Tannenbaum in the 165-pound finals, 5-2. It was the fifth time that the two had met, with each wrestler owning two wins. Perry scored a takedown in the first 19 seconds of the match and rode Tannenbaum the entire first period. He took a 3-0 lead early in the second period on an optional start escape, but injured his right knee in a scramble. Perry injured the same knee in January and sat out the entire Big Ten dual season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery. Tannenbaum scored a third-period takedown to make the score 3-2, but released Perry and did not score again. Perry's riding time point made the final score 5-2. The Stillwater, OK, native ended his Hawkeye career with a 96-16 record, going 20-3 this season. He is Iowa's 17th four-time all-American.
"I was really excited to get another shot at (Tannenbaum) after the way I competed at Big Ten's," said Perry. "I was ready to go, and I felt the best that I've ever felt in a NCAA final. But then my knee popped in that scramble, and it hurt worse that it did the last time. I have to credit my coaches because they got my head straight when I was panicking and told me to suck it up. Obviously I went on the defensive from that point on and wrestled as best I could, but that's not the way I wanted to finish my career. But I've learned a lot and I found a way to win."
Hawkeye sophomore Joe Slaton was Iowa's third NCAA finalist, facing senior Coleman Scott of Oklahoma State in the 133-pound finals. Scott caught Slaton in an opening scramble and locked up a tight cradle, recording the pin in 49 seconds. The Hawkeye sophomore ends the season with a 31-5 record, picking up his first all-America honor.
The Hawkeyes crowned a total of seven all-Americans, which is the highest number for Iowa since 2001. Sophomore Jay Borschel (174) placed third, while senior Matt Fields (Hwt.) placed fifth, and junior Charlie Falck (125) and sophomore Phillip Keddy (184) placed sixth.
The Hawkeyes will hold their annual team awards banquet Sunday, May 4 at 1 p.m. at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Coralville, IA. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance. Checks should be made payable to the University of Iowa Athletic Department and sent to: University of Iowa Wrestling Office; Attention: Banquet; Room 223 Carver-Hawkeye Arena; Iowa City, IA 52242.
FINAL NCAA TEAM STANDINGS
Place Team Points
1. Iowa 117.5
2. Ohio State 79
3. Penn State 75
4. Nebraska 74
5. Iowa State 72
Oklahoma State 72
7. Central Michigan 69
Michigan 69
9. Cornell 67
10. Minnesota 61.5
IOWA'S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS RESULTS
133 - #3 Coleman Scott (Oklahoma State) pinned #4 Joe Slaton (Iowa), 0:49
149 - #1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa) dec. #6 Bubba Jenkins (Penn State), 14-8
165 - #2 Mark Perry (Iowa) dec. #1 Eric Tannenbaum (Michigan), 5-2Iowa Wrestling - Metcalf, Perry Win NCAA Titles
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE
Wrestling Contact: Traci Wagner March 22, 2008
IOWA WRESTLING
METCALF, PERRY WIN NCAA TITLES
ST. LOUIS, MO -- The top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team won its 21st national title and crowned two individual champions in senior Mark Perry and sophomore Brent Metcalf at the 2008 NCAA Championships Saturday night in St. Louis, MO. It was Iowa's first team title since 2000, and the first time the Hawkeyes crowned more than one NCAA champion since Doug Schwab and T.J. Williams won titles in 1999. Iowa scored 117.5 team points in the victory, more than doubling its NCAA point total (57) from 2007. Ohio State placed second with 79 points and Penn State placed third with 75. Iowa and Ohio State were the only teams with two individual champions.
Hawkeye Head Coach Tom Brands was named 2008 NWCA Coach of the Year and Metcalf was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships. Brands is the fourth Hawkeye coach to earn the honor, and the first since Jim Zalesky in 1999. Metcalf is the 10th wrestler in Hawkeye history to earn the honor, and the first since Joe Williams in 1998.
"This is a step in the process," said Brands of winning the national team title. "We're going to continue this process. When our individuals prepare and wrestle their best, the team situation takes care of itself. I feel good about our program, but there is still work to do."
Metcalf was Iowa's first champion of the night, beating Penn State's Bubba Jenkins, 14-8, in the 149-pound finals. Jenkins scored two takedowns in the first period to take a 4-2 lead, but Metcalf followed with an escape and a takedown with a five-point move to close out the second period and go up 10-5. The Davison, MI, native secured his 35th win of the season with two third-period takedowns. Metcalf ends the season with a 35-1 record and on a 32-match winning streak.
"I'm happy with the win, but not so much with my performance," said Metcalf. "I don't like giving up points. I failed in wrestling on the edge, and that's were he scored. That's not Brent Metcalf's style, so I've got some work to do. The (Hawkeye) program is building and working toward dominance. We are going to enjoy the win, but we've all got work to do."
Hawkeye senior Mark Perry became Iowa's 14th two-time NCAA champion when he defeated Michigan's Eric Tannenbaum in the 165-pound finals, 5-2. It was the fifth time that the two had met, with each wrestler owning two wins. Perry scored a takedown in the first 19 seconds of the match and rode Tannenbaum the entire first period. He took a 3-0 lead early in the second period on an optional start escape, but injured his right knee in a scramble. Perry injured the same knee in January and sat out the entire Big Ten dual season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery. Tannenbaum scored a third-period takedown to make the score 3-2, but released Perry and did not score again. Perry's riding time point made the final score 5-2. The Stillwater, OK, native ended his Hawkeye career with a 96-16 record, going 20-3 this season. He is Iowa's 17th four-time all-American.
"I was really excited to get another shot at (Tannenbaum) after the way I competed at Big Ten's," said Perry. "I was ready to go, and I felt the best that I've ever felt in a NCAA final. But then my knee popped in that scramble, and it hurt worse that it did the last time. I have to credit my coaches because they got my head straight when I was panicking and told me to suck it up. Obviously I went on the defensive from that point on and wrestled as best I could, but that's not the way I wanted to finish my career. But I've learned a lot and I found a way to win."
Hawkeye sophomore Joe Slaton was Iowa's third NCAA finalist, facing senior Coleman Scott of Oklahoma State in the 133-pound finals. Scott caught Slaton in an opening scramble and locked up a tight cradle, recording the pin in 49 seconds. The Hawkeye sophomore ends the season with a 31-5 record, picking up his first all-America honor.
The Hawkeyes crowned a total of seven all-Americans, which is the highest number for Iowa since 2001. Sophomore Jay Borschel (174) placed third, while senior Matt Fields (Hwt.) placed fifth, and junior Charlie Falck (125) and sophomore Phillip Keddy (184) placed sixth.
The Hawkeyes will hold their annual team awards banquet Sunday, May 4 at 1 p.m. at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Coralville, IA. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance. Checks should be made payable to the University of Iowa Athletic Department and sent to: University of Iowa Wrestling Office; Attention: Banquet; Room 223 Carver-Hawkeye Arena; Iowa City, IA 52242.
FINAL NCAA TEAM STANDINGS
Place Team Points
1. Iowa 117.5
2. Ohio State 79
3. Penn State 75
4. Nebraska 74
5. Iowa State 72
Oklahoma State 72
7. Central Michigan 69
Michigan 69
9. Cornell 67
10. Minnesota 61.5
IOWA'S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS RESULTS
133 - #3 Coleman Scott (Oklahoma State) pinned #4 Joe Slaton (Iowa), 0:49
149 - #1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa) dec. #6 Bubba Jenkins (Penn State), 14-8
165 - #2 Mark Perry (Iowa) dec. #1 Eric Tannenbaum (Michigan), 5-2
Iowa Hawkeyes Clinch NCAA Title
ST. LOUIS, MO -- The top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team clinched its 21st national team title and its first since 2000 Saturday morning at the 2008 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, MO. The Hawkeyes lead the team field with 109.5 points. It is a tight race for second place as second through fifth place is only separated by three points. Nebraska is in second with 74 points, but has no finalists competing Saturday night. Iowa State is in third with 72 points and one finalist, while Ohio State and Penn State are tied for fourth with 71. Ohio State has three finalists and Penn State has two.
Four of Iowa's seven all-Americans competed in Saturday morning's consolation round. Sophomore Jay Borschel (174) placed third, while senior Matt Fields (Hwt.) placed fifth, and junior Charlie Falck (125) and sophomore Phillip Keddy (184) placed sixth. It is the first time that the Hawkeyes have crowned seven all-Americans since 2001.
Borschel was the lone Hawkeye to win both his consolation matches to place third at 174 and earn his first all-America honor. The tournament's fourth seed, Borschel pinned #11 Steve Anceravage in 6:30 in the consolation semifinal and then upset third-seeded Brandon Browne of Nebraska, 6-4, in the third-place match. Borschel ends the season at 32-5.
Fields lost his first bout of the day - a 3-2 decision to third-seeded Ed Prendergast of Navy - before picking up his 95th career win in the placing match. He scored a takedown in the second sudden victory period to defeat seventh-seeded David Zabriskie of Iowa State, 4-2, to place fifth. Fields, who was seeded fourth at the tournament, ends his Hawkeye career with a 95-38 mark. He went 32-8 in his senior campaign, picking up his first all-America honor.
Falck placed sixth at 125, losing both of his consolation bouts. He lost a 7-5 decision to Penn State's Mark McKnight in the consolation semifinals and an 8-2 decision to fourth-seeded Tanner Gardner in the fifth-place match. Falck, who was seeded fifth at the tournament, ends the season at 31-7. Iowa's 33rd two-time all-American, Falck has a career record of 69-28.
Keddy also placed sixth, losing a 6-4 decision in sudden victory to sixth-seeded Raymond Jordan of Missouri in the 184-pound placing match. He also lost a 7-4 bout to fourth-seeded Christian Sinnott of Michigan in the consolation semifinal. Keddy, who was the tournament's seventh seed, ends the season with a 28-11 record and his first all-America honor. His career record is 42-28.
Hawkeye senior Mark Perry (165) will look to defend his 165-pound NCAA title and sophomores Joe Slaton (133) and Brent Metcalf (149) will go after their first national titles Saturday night. The finals are set to start at 7:30 p.m. (CT) at the Scottrade Center and will air live on ESPN.
NCAA TEAM STANDINGS - TOP 10 TEAMS AFTER SESSION FIVE
Place Team Points Finalists
1. Iowa 109.5 3
2. Nebraska 74 0
3. Iowa State 72 1
4. Ohio State 71 3
Penn State 71 2
6. Central Michigan 69 1
Michigan 69 2
8. Oklahoma State 66 1
9. Cornell 63 1
10. Minnesota 61.5 1
IOWA'S NCAA SATURDAY CONSOLATION MATCH-UPS
125 - Mark McKnight (Penn State) dec. #5 Charlie Falck (Iowa), 7-5
125 - #4 Tanner Gardner (Stanford) dec. #5 Charlie Falck (Iowa), 8 2
174 - #4 Jay Borschel (Iowa) pinned #11 Steve Anceravage (Cornell), 6:30
174 - #4 Jay Borschel (Iowa) dec. #3 Brandon Browne (Nebraska), 6-4
184 - #4 Christian Sinnott (Central Michigan) dec. #7 Phillip Keddy (Iowa), 7-4
184 - #6 Raymond Jordan (Missouri) dec. #7 Phillip Keddy (Iowa), 6-4 SV
Hwt - #3 Ed Prendergast (Navy) dec. #4 Matt Fields (Iowa), 3-2
Hwt - #4 Matt Fields (Iowa) dec. #7 David Zabriskie (Iowa State), 4-2 SV-2
Iowa Wrestling Lead NCAA Team Race, Advance Five To Semifinals
ST. LOUIS, MO -- The top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team is in first place with 67 points after the first three sessions of competition at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, MO. Nebraska and Oklahoma State are tied for second place with 47.5 points.
The Hawkeyes went 6-3 during the Friday morning session, advancing five wrestlers to the semifinals and keeping two others alive in the consolation bracket. Iowa's five semifinalists and seven remaining competitors are the most of any school in the tournament. Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Ohio State and Penn State each have three semifinalists, while Iowa State has seven wrestlers still alive in the tournament.
With their quarterfinal wins, Hawkeye senior Mark Perry (165), junior Charlie Falck (125) and sophomores Joe Slaton (133), Brent Metcalf (149) and Jay Borschel (174) have all secured all-America status. Perry, who is the defending NCAA champion at 165, is Iowa's 17th four-time all-American. Falck is a two-time all-American, and Slaton, Metcalf and Borschel are each earning their first honor.
Hawkeye senior Matt Fields (Hwt.) and sophomore Phillip Keddy (184) lost their quarterfinal bouts, but still have a shot at all-America status through the wrestleback bracket.
Falck opened Iowa's Friday morning competition with a 5-4 win over fourth-seeded Stanford's Tanner Garnder in the 125-pound semifinals. It was Falck's first win over Gardner, losing the previous two meetings. Falck, who is the fifth seed, will face top seed Angel Escobedo of Indiana in the semifinals. The Hawkeye junior is 2-1 against Escobedo, winning the first two meetings by decision, but losing the last one, 3-1, at the Big Ten Championships semifinal earlier this month.
Slaton picked up his 30th win of the season at 133 with a 2-1 victory in the tiebreak period over fifth-seeded Nick Fanthorpe of Iowa State. The fourth-seeded Hawkeye will face top-seeded Franklin Gomez of Michigan State in the semifinal. Slaton is 1-1 against Gomez, winning a 6-2 decision at the 2007 Midlands Championship finals and losing a 10-8 decision at the Big Ten Championship semifinal.
Metcalf scored all of his points early in the third period to defeat ninth-seeded Lance Palmer of Ohio State, 3-2 in the quarterfinals. Metcalf, who won his 30th straight bout with the victory, will face fourth-seeded Jordan Burroughs of Nebraska in the semifinal. The Hawkeye sophomore is the top seed at 149 and is 3-0 against Burroughs this season.
Perry made quick work of his 165-pound quarterfinal opponent, pinning American's Michael Cannon in 47 seconds. The top-seeded Hawkeye picked up his 12th pin of the season and his second of the tournament as he advanced to the semifinal, where he will face third-seeded Nick Marable of Missouri. Perry is 1-0 against Marable, winning a 3-2 decision in the tiebreak period at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in January.
Borschel notched his 30th season with an 8-2 victory over fifth-seeded Brandon Sinnott of Central Michigan. The fourth-seeded Hawkeye will face top seed and undefeated Keith Gavin of Pittsburgh in the semifinal. Borschel is 1-1 against Gavin, winning a 6-5 decision at the 2005 Nittany Lion Open and losing a 13-4 major decision in the 2007 Midlands finals
Keddy posted Iowa's first quarterfinal loss, dropping a 4-3 decision to second-seeded Mike Pucillo of Ohio State. Keddy, who is the seventh seed at 184, led 3-2 in the third period, but was unable to pull off the upset giving up a takedown with six seconds left in the bout. He will face Kurt Brenner of West Virginia in the consolation bracket Friday night.
Fields lost Iowa's second bout of the round, dropping a 2-0 decision to fifth-seeded Jared Rosholt of Oklahoma State. The Hawkeye senior, who is seeded fifth at heavyweight, will face #11 Michael Spaid of Bloomsburg in the wrestlebacks.
Morningstar won his first bout of the day, upsetting fifth-seeded C.P. Schlatter of Minnesota, 4-0. It was Morningstar's first win against Schlatter in the four times they have met. The Hawkeye sophomore faced fourth-seeded Brandon Becker of Indiana in the next round, but couldn't pull a second upset and lost 2-0. Morningstar ends the season at 22-14.
Friday evening's matches are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. (CT) at the Scottrade Center. Competition will include the championship semifinals and two rounds of consolation matches. ESPNU will be producing and syndicating live coverage of the matches. Check your local listings for stations airing the event.
NCAA FIRST ROUND TEAM STANDINGS (Top 10 Teams)
Place Team Points
1. Iowa 67
2. Nebraska 47.5
Oklahoma State 47.5
4. Ohio State 44.5
5. Central Michigan 43
6. Penn State 42
7. Missouri 38.5
8. Cornell 34.5
Minnesota 34.5
10. Iowa State 33
Michigan 33
IOWA'S NCAA SESSION III RESULTS
Championship Quarterfinals
125 - #5 Charlie Falck (Iowa) dec. #4 Tanner Gardner (Stanford), 5-4
133 - #4 Joe Slaton (Iowa) dec. #5 Nick Fanthorpe (Iowa State), 2-1 TB
149 - #1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa) dec. #9 Lance Palmer (Ohio State), 3-2
165 - #2 Mark Perry (Iowa) pinned #10 Michael Cannon (American), 0:47
174 - #4 Jay Borschel (Iowa) dec. #5 Brandon Sinnott (C. Michigan), 8-2
184 - #2 Mike Pucillo (Ohio State) dec. #7 Phillip Keddy (Iowa), 4-3
Hwt - #5 Jared Rosholt (Oklahoma State) dec. #4 Matt Fields (Iowa), 2-0
Consolation Round
157 - Ryan Morningstar (Iowa) dec. #5 C.P. Schlatter (Minnesota), 4-0
157 - #4 Brandon Becker (Indiana) dec. Ryan Morningstar (Iowa), 2-0
IOWA'S NCAA SESSION IV MATCH-UPS
Championship Semifinals
125 - #5 Charlie Falck (Iowa) vs. #1 Angel Escobedo (Indiana)
133 - #4 Joe Slaton (Iowa) vs. #1 Franklin Gomez (Michigan State)
149 - #1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa) vs. #4 Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska)
165 - #2 Mark Perry (Iowa) vs. #3 Nick Marable (Missouri)
174 - #4 Jay Borschel (Iowa) vs. #1 Keith Gavin (Pittsburgh)
Consolation Round
184 - #7 Phillip Keddy (Iowa) vs. Kurt Brenner (West Virginia)
Hwt - #4 Matt Fields (Iowa) vs. #11 Michael Spaid (Bloomsburg)
Iowa Wrestling Lead Team Race After NCAA First Day
ST. LOUIS, MO -- The top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team is in first place with 29.5 points after Thursday's first day of competition at the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, MO. The Hawkeyes hold a three-point lead over second-place Nebraska, and Iowa State is in third with 25.
Iowa posted a near-perfect 8-1 record Friday night, winning 15 of 18 bouts on the day, and advancing seven wrestlers to Friday morning's championship quarterfinals. Hawkeye sophomore Ryan Morningstar is also still alive in the 157-pound consolation bracket.
"That sets us up," said Iowa Head Coach Tom Brands. "We've got seven guys going in the quarterfinals - seven guys with firepower. They have got to be ready in the morning because it starts over for everyone. We did a good job of picking up bonus points today, but we have to wrestle hard and smart the entire time, every time."
Hawkeye junior Charlie Falck kicked off Thursday night's session at 125 with a 5-2 win over Penn State's Mark McKnight, picking up his 30th season win. Falck, who is the fifth seed, will face fourth-seeded Tanner Gardner of Stanford in the quarterfinals. Falck is 0-2 against Gardner, losing a 3-2 decision at the 2004 Midlands and getting pinned in 2:41 at last year's NCAA Championships.
Sophomore 133-pounder Joe Slaton followed with a 9-5 victory over Nebraska's Kenny Jordan. Slaton is the fourth seed, and he will face fifth-seeded Nick Fanthorpe of Iowa State in the quarterfinals. It will be the first meeting between the intra-state rival teams at the tournament. Slaton is 1-0 against Fanthorpe, winning a 6-5 decision at the dual in December.
Top-seeded 149-pounder Brent Metcalf posted a 10-5 win over Indiana's Kurt Kinser to advance to the quarterfinals. The Hawkeye sophomore will take on ninth-seeded Lance Palmer of Ohio State. Metcalf won the only meeting between the two - a 5-3 decision at the dual in January.
Second-seeded senior Mark Perry scored team bonus points in his second match of the day with his 12-2 major decision over Air Force's Stephen Crozier at 165. Perry will face 10th-seeded Michael Cannon of American in the quarterfinals.
Sophomore Jay Borschel also posted his second bonus-point victory of the day when he stuck Illinois' John Dergo in 6:06 at 174. The fourth-seeded Hawkeye will face fifth-seeded Brandon Sinnott of Central Michigan in the quarterfinals. Borschel is 1-0 against Sinnott, winning an 8-5 decision at the Midlands Championships in December.
Sophomore Phillip Keddy scored an escape in the tiebreak period to defeat Kirk Smith of Boise State, 2-1. Keddy, who picked up his 40th career victory with the win, is the seventh seed at 184. He will face second-seeded Mike Pucillo of Ohio State in the quarterfinals. Keddy is 0-2 against Pucillo, losing a 3-2 decision at the dual in January and a 9-4 match last season.
Hawkeye senior heavyweight Matt Fields won Iowa's final championship bout of the day, scoring a 4-1 win over Indiana's Nate Everhart. Fields, who is the