The eighth-ranked Hawkeyes (11-0-1, 4-0 Big Ten) used a pin from sophomore Matt McDonough at 125, a major decision from senior Luke Lofthouse at 197 and decisions from redshirt freshman Tony Ramos (133), junior Montell Marion (141), senior Aaron Janssen (165) and sophomore Grant Gambrall (184) to extend its unbeaten streak to 73 duals. Marion, who was the 2010 NCAA runner-up at 141, was making his first appearance in the Hawkeye lineup since being reinstated to the team earlier this month.
Iowa jumped out to a 12-0 lead with wins at the first three weights, silencing the sold-out crowd of 6,500. McDonough opened the dual with his third-straight pin, sticking Penn State's Nate Morgan in 4:16. The Hawkeye sophomore, who pinned top-ranked Brandon Precin of Northwestern Friday night, gave the Hawkeyes six vital team points with the pin while improving to 16-1 (12-0 in duals). Ramos, who is ranked between 10th and 14th in the nation, scored Iowa's first upset of the day with a 3-2 decision over Penn State's Andrew Long, who is ranked fourth or fifth. Ramos used a second-period takedown and a third-period escape to remain undefeated in dual competition at 8-0, and hand Long (6-1) his first loss of the season. Marion fought off his back to beat No. 5/6 Andrew Alton of Penn State, 11-9. Alton jumped out to a 5-0 lead near the end of the first period after taking Marion down and scoring three nearfall points. Marion chipped away at the lead in the second period before exploding for three takedowns in the third and collecting 1:16 in riding time for his first win of the season.
Penn State responded with wins at 149 and 157 to make the score 12-7 going into the intermission. With Marion's appearance in the lineup at 141, Hawkeye sophomore Mark Ballweg bumped up to 149 to face Penn State junior Frank Molinaro, who is ranked between fifth and seventh in the nation. Ballweg, who is ranked between 12th and 15th at 141, fought hard, but the weight difference helped Molinaro score a 10-3 decision. Nittany Lion redshirt freshman David Taylor, who entered the dual with an undefeated 25-0 record and a No. 2/3 national ranking, scored Penn State's only bonus points of the dual with his 12-4 major decision over Hawkeye redshirt freshman Derek St. John at 157.
Coming out of the intermission, Janssen gave the Hawkeyes a 15-7 lead with his 6-2 decision over Penn State redshirt freshman Jake Kemerer. Nittany Lion redshirt freshman Ed Ruth, who is ranked between first and third in the nation, made the score 15-10 with his 10-3 decision over Hawkeye redshirt freshman Ethen Lofthouse at 174.
Gambrall and Luke Lofthouse sealed the team victory for the Hawkeyes with wins at the next two weight classes. Gambrall, who is ranked between 14th and 16th in the nation, scored a takedown in each period in his 8-3 upset over No. 6/7 Quentin Wright at 184. Lofthouse collected seven takedowns and his 40th career win with a 17-6 major decision over sophomore Justin Ortega at 197. Penn State won the final bout of the dual, when No. 5/7 junior Cameron Wade posted a 1-0 decision over unranked Hawkeye junior Blake Rasing at heavyweight.
Ten Hawkeye wrestlers also competed unattached at Saturday's Grand View College Open in Des Moines. Junior J.J. Krutsinger (133) and freshman Bobby Telford (Hwt.) won titles at their respective weight classes, while freshman Michael Kelly (165) and redshirt freshman Tomas Lira (184) placed second, freshman Walt Gillmor (165) placed third and freshman Matt Gurule (125) placed fourth.
The eighth-ranked Hawkeyes will host Indiana (10-5, 0-4 Big Ten) Friday at 7 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The dual will be streamed live on bigtennetwork.com. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth, if purchased in advance from the UI Athletics Ticket Office, at (319) 335-9323, or online at www.hawkeyesports.com. If purchased at the door, tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for youth.
Results:
125 - No. 2 Matt McDonough (I) pinned Nate Morgan (PSU), 4:16
133 - No. 10 Tony Ramos (I) dec. No. 5 Andrew Long (PSU), 3-2
141 - Montell Marion (I) dec. No. 5 Andrew Alton (PSU), 11-9
149 - No. 5 Frank Molinaro (PSU) dec. No. 15 (at 141) Mark Ballweg (I), 10-3
157 - No. 3 David Taylor (PSU) maj. dec. No. 14 Derek St. John (I), 12-4
165 - No. 14 Aaron Janssen (I) dec. Jake Kemerer (PSU), 6-2
174 - No. 2 Ed Ruth (PSU) dec. No. 13 Ethen Lofthouse (I), 10-3
184 - No. 16 Grant Gambrall (I) dec. No. 6 Quentin Wright (PSU), 8-3
197 - No. 14 Luke Loftouse (I) maj. dec. Justin Ortega (PSU), 17-6
Hwt - No. 5 Cameron Wade (PSU) dec. Blake Rasing (I), 1-0
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