Five matches were decided by one takedown, with the Cowboys coming out on top in three of those matches. Johny Hendricks and Jack Jensen both secured key third period takedowns to win tight matches and propel OSU to victory.
"That is how you win matches, taking people down in the third period and we got those two wins and it made a big difference in the outcome," head coach John Smith said. "I am pleased with the fact that we beat a solid team twice this season. That is important for us."
OSU improved to 10-3 on the season and extended its winning streak over Iowa to eight straight matches, while the Hawkeyes fell to 9-2 on the year.
Iowa quickly reversed one of the matches in the last meeting when Charlie Falck defeated OSU's Tyler Shinn. Falck was working on a major decision, but Shinn escaped with one second left to keep it to a regular decision.
The Cowboys followed with consecutive decisions from Coleman Scott and Nathan Morgan to go ahead 6-3 in the dual. Scott scored two first period takedowns to defeat Mario Galanakis, while Morgan scored a takedown and an ensuing three-point near fall to defeat seventh-ranked Alex Tsirtsis.
Freshman Dakotah Simpson was once again called on by coach Smith. Simpson could not duplicate his performance from last Saturday at National Duals when he pinned Iowa's Alex Grunder. Grunder got the first takedown towards the end of the first period and secured the victory when he took Simpson down again late in the third period.
OSU retook the lead when Newly McSpadden reversed a decision from the last meeting. McSpadden rode Ryan Morningstar, ranked No. 15 nationally, in the third period to a boisterous OSU crowd.
"I had to keep him down," McSpadden said. "There is nothing else to it. My team needed it and I needed it. I had some tough losses last weekend. I lost to him (Morningstar) in double overtime. It was big for me to ride him and get that win. That is what I had to do."
The highly anticipated match at 165 between top-ranked Johny Hendricks and fourth-ranked Mark Perry followed. Perry scored the first takedown just a minute into the match to take the lead. Hendricks tied the match on a pair of escapes, but was trailing 3-2 after he released Perry in the third period. Perry had riding time in his favor, but Hendricks got a takedown with 1:11 remaining in the match and sent the riding time south of minute to negate the riding time point. The win was the 44th straight victory for Hendricks and put the Pokes up 12-6 in the dual.
Eric Luedke stole a victory from OSU's Brandon Mason when he reversed Mason with 16 seconds left to win by a point. Luedke's victory cut the deficit to three and set up a key match in the dual at 184.
Iowa's Phillip Keddy had beaten Jack Jensen twice already this season. The two wrestlers traded escapes through the first two periods and were tied at one in the third period. Jensen shot in on a double leg and scored the winning takedown with 1:25 remaining. Jensen fought off Keddy's attempts and won the bout to put OSU up 15-9 in the dual with two matches remaining.
"That guy has beaten me twice this season," Jensen said. "That was a big win for me and the team. I just go in there and try to do my job. It's more about the team than it is me, but it is good to beat somebody you had lost to previously. All three matches have been close, so it is good to finally win one."
The Hawkeyes were deducted a team point after a frustrated Keddy slapped Jensen following the match. It did not matter, however, because at 197 Jared Shelton took Iowa's Dan Erekson down hard to the mat and suffered a shoulder injury and could not continue. Erekson's default gave OSU six team points and iced the dual for the Cowboys. Matt Fields recorded an overtime decision over Jared Rosholt to make the final score 21-11.
OSU returns to the mat on Sunday when it takes on Oregon at 2 p.m. inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. The match can be heard live on KSPI 93.7 FM with Rex Holt and Roger Moore providing the commentary.
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