NO. 2 IOWA ROLLS NO. 6 COWBOYS ON SENIOR DAY
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Seniors Spencer Lee, Max Murin and Jacob Warner all posted Senior Day wins to lead the second-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team to a 28-7 victory over No. 6 Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon in front of a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hawkeyes won the first six bouts and eight of 10 matches overall to finish the regular season with a 15-1 dual record. Iowa posted two bonus point wins and won four matches decided by two points or less on the day.
“Winning close matches is important,” said head coach Tom Brands. “Getting your hand raised the right way is important. There are always things you’re not satisfied about. Two guys didn’t get the W, but they still have to move forward because it’s the postseason.
“We want to emphasize that we’re a dominant team and sometimes dominant wrestlers have to win close matches. Before the match I said the order is different, nothing else is changed. It’s simple, do what you do best. This time of the year, it’s even more important to do what you do best.”
Starting at 165 pounds, No. 9 Patrick Kennedy opened the dual with a 7-4 win over Wyatt Sheets to open the dual. The Minnesota native had one takedown in the first, trailed 3-2 after two and used two takedowns in the third to ice the match. Kennedy has won four straight matches to improve to 16-2 overall.
No. 16 Nelson Brands followed with a gritty 3-2 victory over No. 7 Dustin Plott at 174. Brands used a second-period takedown to take the lead and his third period escape was the difference as he posted his highest ranked win since 2021. The Iowa City, Iowa, native is 6-4 overall with two ranked wins. … rest of story at Hawkeyesports.com/news/2023/02/19/no-2-iowa-rolls-no-6-cowboys-on-senior-day
NWCA Releases Division II Men’s Coaches Regular Season Poll #4
MANHEIM, Pa.- Heading into the postseason, the Central Oklahoma Bronchos narrowly held onto the top spot in Division II wrestling, in the latest edition of the NWCA Division II Coaches Poll, released Jan. 20 by the Association.
Just two points separate the Bronchos from #2 Lander, with UCO coming in with 82 points and the Bearcats 80. Central Oklahoma has a poll-high nine ranked wrestlers, highlighted by the nation’s top heavyweight in Shawn Streck. St. Cloud State and West Liberty are tied for the third place spot (64 points), with defending National Champion Nebraska-Kearney rounding out the top five with 59 points.
Behind UCO’s nine ranked wrestlers, the Huskies of St. Cloud State have eight ranked individuals, highlighted by 2021 National Champion Abner Romero in the top spot at 174. Lander features seven ranked wrestlers, led by reigning National Champion Zeth Brower at the top of the 141 ranking.
A pair of wrestlers are new to the #1 spot this ranking, with Quentrevion Campbell of Chadron State taking over the top rank at 133 and the aforementioned Streck taking over the #1 slot at 285. All 10 top-ranked individuals represent different programs.
Super Region 4 & 5 combine for about half of the nation’s ranked wrestlers, with 33 coming from Super Region 5, including a pair of number ones in UW-Parkside’s Shane Gantz at 165 and Romero at 174. Super Region 6 has the most number ones, with Campbell at 133, Adams State’s Noah Hermosillo at 157 and Nebraska-Kearney’s Billy Higgins at 184.
On the team side of things, three of the 10 teams in Super Region 5 are ranked in the Top 10, while 8 total teams appear in the Top 25. Super Regions 4 and 6 both each have a pair of teams in the Top 10.
Super Regionals loom Feb. 25 or 26 for the 64 NCAA Division II wrestling teams, with Super Region 1 being hosted at East Stroudsburg, Super Region 2 at UNC-Pembroke, Super Region 3 at Tiffin, Super Region 4 at Central Oklahoma, Super Region 5 at Northern State and Super Region 6 at Chadron State. The top three at each weight class from each of the six regions will then descend upon Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championships March 10-11. … rest of rankings and story at NWCAonline.com/nwca-releases-division-ii-mens-coaches-regular-season-poll
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
Takedown Report 