The Hawkeyes went 3-3 in the finals, crowning three champions in redshirt freshman Matt McDonough (No. 3 seed at 125), and seniors Brent Metcalf (No. 1 seed at 149) and Jay Borschel (No. 1 seed at 174). It was Metcalf's third Midlands title and the first for McDonough and Borschel. Metcalf was named the Dan Gable Most Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament, and took home the Individual High Scorer Award for racking up 32.5 team points. Hawkeye redshirt freshman Nate Moore (133) earned the tournaments Fastest Fall Award, sticking his first opponent in 46 seconds.
McDonough sparked a strong Iowa start with a 9-7 win in sudden victory over No. 4 seed Andrew Long in the 125-pound title match. Down 5-2 at the end of the first period, McDonough scored an escape and takedown to tie the score at 5-5 in the second period. Long, who accumulated over one minute of riding time in the bout, scored an escape to start the third period to take a 6-5 lead. McDonough scored a takedown near the end of the third period to take a 7-6 lead, but Long's riding time point sent the match into sudden victory. McDonough scored a takedown in the first sudden victory period for the win. The Hawkeye redshirt freshman remains undefeated at 15-0 this season.
In a rematch of the 2008 Midlands title match, Metcalf won a 9-2 decision over No. 2 seed Kyle Ruschell of Wisconsin. The Hawkeye senior improved to 15-0 on the season, scoring team bonus points in five of his six Midlands matches.
Borschel picked up his 75th career victory with a 6-1 win over No. 2 seed Ben Bennett of Central Michigan in the finals. The Hawkeye senior scored a takedown and two nearfall points near the end of the first period, an escape early in the second period and accumulated over two minutes of riding time in the match. He is now undefeated at 14-0 this season and is a three-time Midlands placewinner. He placed second in 2007, third in 2008 before winning the 2009 title.
Also placing for the Hawkeyes were seniors Joe Slaton (No. 4 seed at 141-3rd), Ryan Morningstar (No. 3 seed at 165-3rd), Phillip Keddy (No. 3 seed at 184-4th) and Chad Beatty (No. 5 seed at 197-3rd), sophomore Montell Marion (No. 9 seed at 141-6th), redshirt freshman Nate Moore (133-6th) and Grant Gambrall (184-6th), and true freshman Derek St. John (157-5th). It is the first time that Beatty, Moore, Gambrall and St. John have placed at Midlands.
Slaton, who is 10-1 while competing unattached this season, recorded a dominating 9-0 major decision over No. 8 seed Lou Ruggirello, who was also competing unattached. Morningstar scored a takedown near the end of the second sudden victory period to beat No. 4 seed Nick Marable of Missouri, 4-2. Morningstar, a four-time Midlands placewinner, is now 11-2 on the season. Beatty scored a third-period escape and takedown to score a 6-3 win over No. 4 seed Trevor Brandvold of Wisconsin, improving to 13-2 this season. St. John, who was competing unattached, recorded a medical forfeit over No. 3 seed Steve Brown of Central Michigan for fifth place in his first Midlands appearance. The Hawkeye true freshman is 21-4 while wrestling unattached this season. Moore, who was also wrestling at Midlands for the first time, took No. 1 seed Nick Fanthorpe of Iowa State to the tie break period, but lost the bout 2-1.
Iowa's next competition will be Jan. 9-10 at the 2010 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The Hawkeyes (9-0) are the defending Division I team champion, and will be making their 17th appearance at the two-day annual tournament, which features top wrestlers from each collegiate athletic division (NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, JUCO and Women's). The Division I field includes eight of the top 10 ranked teams in the most recent USA Today/NWCA coaches poll. All-session tickets are $45 for adults and $35 for seniors and students. Individual session tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors and students. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the UNI-Dome box office at 877-216-3663 or 319-273-4849.
Final Team Standings (Top 10)
1. Iowa - 168.5
2. Iowa State - 144.5
3. Central Michigan - 118.0
4. Missouri - 103.0
5. Wisconsin - 90.5
6. Maryland - 74.5
7. Lehigh - 65.5
8. American - 65.0
Oregon State - 65.0
10. Illinois - 64.0
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