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    Ballweg, Marion win Kaufman-Brand Open titles

    OMAHA, NE -- University of Iowa junior Matt Ballweg (157) and sophomore Montell Marion (141) each won titles at the 2009 Ryan Kaufman-Glen Brand Open Saturday in Omaha, NE. A total of 18 Hawkeye wrestlers competed at the tournament and 14 finished in the top five of their respective weight classes. The Kaufman-Brand Open, which is annually hosted by the University of Nebraska-Omaha, is one of the largest single-day collegiate events in the nation.

    Matt Ballweg won the 157-pound title in the elite division, scoring a 7-2 win over Iowa State's Andrew Sorenson in the finals. Ballweg scored a pin, two major decisions and two decisions on the day. His closest match was a 3-2 quarterfinal win over Hawkeye freshman Derek St. John, who placed third.

    Marion, who was competing unattached, won the 141-pound title in the elite division. He won all four bouts by decision, including a 7-2 win over Nebraska-Omaha's Mario Morgan in the finals.

    The Hawkeyes had a total of six finalists in the elite division, with junior Tyler Clark (133) and sophomores J.J. Krutsinger (125), Vinnie Wagner (184) and Blake Rasing (Hwt.) all placing second at their respective weights.

    Iowa had the most placewinners at 133 pounds as redshirt freshmen Nate Moore and Mark Ballweg placed third and fourth, respectively, in the elite division. Moore scored a 3-2 victory over Ballweg in the third-place match. Freshman Nick Trizzino (133) also placed fourth in the amateur division. Placing fourth for Iowa in the elite division were junior Luke Lofthouse (197) and freshman Ethen Lofthouse (174). Redshirt freshman Grant Gambrall placed fifth at 184 in the elite division, while freshman Joe DuCharme placed fifth at 165 in the amateur bracket.

    Up next for Iowa is the 44th annual NWCA All-Star Classic Sunday in Fullerton, CA. Senior Daniel Dennis will face fourth-ranked Steve Bell of Maryland in the 133-pound match. The meet, which will be held at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Gym, is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. (CT). Bell won the pair's only meeting - a 4-3 decision in sudden victory - at the 2008 Journeyman Duals in Binghamton, NY. It is the first time Dennis will compete in the event.

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