IOWA CITY, Iowa – The fourth-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team defeated No. 18 Wisconsin, 23-12, to open Big Ten competition Friday night on Mediacom Mat at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hawkeyes had 26 takedowns while the Badgers had six, and Iowa outscored Wisconsin in total match points, 93-54.
“The energy, maybe there are different reasons for fading. Can’t fade,” said head coach Tom Brands. “It doesn’t matter what the reasons are. Ludington, we are going to get better there; we have improved a lot. Block, you’ve got to deal with what you are dealing with. If you are a green light for the bout, you have to deal with things.”
With the dual starting at 197 pounds, Wisconsin got on the board first with a decision from No. 28 Wyatt Ingham, defeating Harvey Ludington, 10-8.
Iowa then evened the score with fifth-ranked Ben Kueter defeating No. 9 Braxton Amos in sudden victory. Kueter secured the takedown with a minute left in the overtime period to earn the win.
At 125 pounds, Keyan Hernandez got a late takedown to prevent bonus points as 11th-ranked Nicolar Rivera won an 11-4 decision.
No. 14 Zan Fugitt won a rematch of last year’s 133-pound national semifinal, earning an escape with seven seconds remaining in the third period to win 6-5 over No. 3 Drake Ayala.
Kale Petersen used a pair of first-period takedowns to send the dual to the break with a win at 141 pounds, defeating Carson Exferd, 8-3.
No. 7 Ryder Block fell in sudden victory at 149 pounds to 17th-ranked Joseph Zargo as the Badgers extended their lead to 12-6.
Iowa rattled off four straight wins, including three bonus-point victories, to close out the dual and secure the win.
“They scored 14 team points,” said Brands. “The pace they wrestle, the way they approach looks a lot like their practices. A lot of scoring. So good examples all the way around.”
At 157 pounds, 12th-ranked Jordan Williams won a ranked matchup with No. 25 Luke Mechler, 4-2.
No. 3 Michael Caliendo secured the first bonus points of the match, needing only 3:54 to earn a technical fall at 165 pounds over No. 26 Cody Goebel, 21-6. Third-ranked Patrick Kennedy then added a major decision over Luke Condon, 14-3, at 174 pounds.
Top-ranked Angelo Ferrari closed out the dual at 184 pounds with a 19-4 technical fall over Caleb Dennee.
No. 4 Iowa 23, No. 18 Wisconsin 12
197 – #28 Wyatt Ingham (W) dec. Harvey Ludington (I), 10-8
285 – #5 Ben Kueter (I) dec. #9 Braxton Amos (W), 4-1 SV1
125 – #11 Nicolar Rivera (W) dec. Keyan Hernandez (I), 11-4
133 – #14 Zan Fugitt (W) dec. #3 Drake Ayala (I), 6-5
141 – Kale Petersen (I) dec. Carson Exferd (W), 8-3
149 – #17 Joseph Zargo (W) #7 Ryder Block (I), 9-6 SV1
157 – #12 Jordan Williams (I) dec. #25 Luke Mechler (W), 4-2
165 – #3 Michael Caliendo (I) tech. fall #26 Cody Goebel (W), 21-6
174 – #3 Patrick Kennedy (I) major dec. Luke Condon (W), 14-3
184 – #1 Angelo Ferrari (I) tech. fall Caleb Dennee (W), 19-4
Officials: Conrad Duffy, Jeron Quincy
Attendance: 11,549
