ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The fourth-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team downed No. 18 Michigan, 33-10, tonight inside Cliff Keen Arena. The Hawkeyes won three of four matches against ranked individuals and owned a 33-2 takedown advantage against the Wolverines. The win improves Iowa’s record to 13-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten.
“I like bonus points,” said head coach Tom Brands. “We need to keep it going in some places and create separation in others.”
Top-ranked Matt McDonough (125), No. 6 Mike Evans (174) and Nathan Burak (197) each scored wins over rated foes. McDonough scored a takedown in the opening period, rode out No. 19 Sean Boyle in the second frame and added two more takedowns in the final period to win 8-2 and extend his winning streak to 39 matches.
Evans finished on the legs of No. 11 Dan Yates in the opening minute and piled up 2:38 of riding time after one period. He added another takedown in the second period and opened the third frame with a reversal to claim a 6-0 lead. He then allowed an escape before using a third takedown and one point for riding time to win 9-1. The major decision was his fifth of the season.
Burak earned his second win of the season over a ranked opponent with a 5-2 win over No. 19 Max Huntley. The Hawkeye freshman used two second-period takedowns and opened the third with an escape to improve to 2-1 in conference duals.
Top-ranked Derek St. John (157) and second-ranked Tony Ramos (133) scored bonus points for Iowa while improving on their perfect records. Ramos earned a first-period fall, his sixth of the season, while St. John used nine takedowns and a pair of nearfall points to earn a 22-7 technical fall. Both wrestlers are 14-0 this season.
Mark Ballweg (141) had to erase a 5-0 deficit to improve to 13-1 and register his team-best eighth major decision. Ballweg surrendered an early takedown and got caught for three nearfall points before rallying with a reversal and adding a pair of back points to escape the first period trailing just 5-4. He grabbed his first lead of the match with an escape and a takedown in the second frame, and added five takedowns in the third period and one point for riding time to finish with an 18-10 win.
Ethen Lofthouse (184) and Nick Moore (165) also earned wins for Iowa. Lofthouse used seven takedowns and two nearfall points to earn his first technical fall of the season, 20-5, and Moore scored a pair of first-period takedowns before settling for an 8-2 win.
Michigan (6-4, 0-3) earned its lone head-to-head victory at 149 pounds, where No. 11 Eric Grajales scored a major decision over Brody Grothus. The Wolverines also earned six points toward the team score when Iowa forfeited the 285-pound bout.
The Hawkeyes return to the mat Sunday at Michigan State. The Spartans hosts Iowa at Jenison Field House beginning at 1 p.m. (CT). The dual will be broadcast on AM 800 KXIC and streamed online at hawkeyesports.com via Hawkeye All-Access.
Notes: Attendance was 1,830… the Hawkeyes have won six straight against the Wolverines… St. John’s technical fall was his team-best third of the season… McDonough is 6-0 this year against ranked opponents.
#4 IOWA 33, #18 Michigan 10
125 — #1 Matt McDonough (IA) dec. #19 Sean Boyle (UM), 8-2; 3-0
133 — #2 Tony Ramos (IA) pinned Rossi Bruno (UM), 2:55; 9-0
141 — #9 Mark Ballweg (IA) major dec. Mike Hillock (UM), 18-10; 13-0
149 – #11 Eric Grajales (UM) major dec. Brody Grothus (IA), 12-3; 13-4
157 — #1 Derek St. John (IA) tech. fall Collin Zeerip (UM), 22-7; 18-4
165 — #19 Nick Moore (IA) dec. Connor Brancheau (UM), 8-2; 21-4
174 — #6 Mike Evans (IA) major dec. #11 Dan Yates (UM), 9-1; 25-4
184 — #11 Ethen Lofthouse (IA) tech. fall Jordan Thomas (UM), 20-5; 30-4
197 – Nathan Burak (IA) dec. #19 Max Huntley (UM), 5-2; 33-4
285 — #19 Ben Apland (UM) win by forfeit; 33-10
