"We are in the post-season now," said Hawkeye Head Coach Tom Brands. "We need to have everyone contributing in a dominating way. We've had some good performances, but I don't think we have all come together as a group during a meet yet. We need to put together a good string of wins. When that happens, good things will follow."
Iowa went 7-3 at Northwestern, scoring bonus points in six matches, to score its 38th straight dual win. Juniors Brent Metcalf (149), Chad Beatty (197) and Dan Erekson (Hwt.) pinned their Wildcat opponents, junior Jay Borschel (174) scored a match-termination technical fall, and juniors Daniel Dennis (133) and Ryan Morningstar (165) posted major decisions. Metcalf extended his winning streak to 61 and ends the regular season with a perfect 29-0 record. Dennis and Morningstar both picked their 25th season victories, while Dennis extended his winning streak to nine. Erekson, who was making his first start since the beginning of the month due to injury, scored his 45th career victory and 10th season pin.
Iowa's three losses were to higher ranked Wildcat opponents. At 125, #4 Brandon Precin caught Hawkeye senior Charlie Falck in a scramble situation, recording the pin in 4:19. Falck is ranked fifth in the country with a 19-3 record. Precin is now 25-2, winning 23 of his last 24 bouts. At 157, #14 Jason Welch scored an 11-3 major decision over unranked Hawkeye sophomore Matt Ballweg. At 184, third-ranked Phillip Keddy gave top-ranked and undefeated Jake Herbert a run for his money, but lost the bout, 3-2. It was the closest that any opponent has wrestled Herbert this season and showed improvement from the Hawkeye junior. Keddy's only other loss this season was a 15-1 major decision to Herbert at the Midlands finals in December.
Iowa's next competition will be March 7-8 at the 2009 Big Ten Wrestling Championships. The event will be held by Penn State University at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park, PA. The Hawkeyes, who are the defending team champion, will vy for the school's 33rd conference team title.
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