Hawkeye men’s wrestlers down the Gophers, 23-11

MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Iowa wrestling team defeated Minnesota, 23-11, on Friday night at Maturi Pavilion.

Iowa won seven of 10 matches and totaled 16 takedowns to Minnesota’s 12. The Hawkeyes outscored the Gophers in match points, 72 to 57.

“We won closes matches, I like that,” said head coach Tom Brands. “We got into a little bit of adversity at 25 and won an overtime match, I like that. The thing is it doesn’t have to go to that. Ayala and Kennedy going for a major and then we give up takedowns there, we have got to be a little bit freeer there that’s what I have to say.”

Iowa got a big ranked win at 125 from Joey Cruz to open the dual as he upset No. 13 Cooper Flynn in sudden victory, 7-4. Cruz pushed the pace in the match and got a late takedown to tie things in the third period got the early takedown to end the match.

Iowa then extended its lead with a 9-5 decision at 133 from Drake Ayala over No. 19 Tyler Wells. Minnesota then got on the board with a win at 141 as eighth-ranked Vance VomBaur picked up a decision over Cullan Schriever, 14-10. Schriever notched two takedowns in the third period to keep it to a decision.

At 149, Kyle Parco got the shutout win over No. 29 Drew Roberts winning 5-0. Jacori Teemer sent Iowa to the break with a 12-6 lead notching the, 4-1, decision over No. 8 Tommy Askey at 157.

Michael Caliendo was ready to scrap out of the break as he notched a technical fall victory at 165 over 11th-ranked Andrew Sparks, 21-5.

Minnesota native Patrick Kennedy got another win for the Hawks and improved to 9-0 all time against the Gophers. He defeated No. 22 Clayton Whiting, 8-4.

At 184, Gabe Arnold dropped a tight bout with fourth-ranked Max McEnelly losing 4-1 in sudden victory.

Stephen Buchanan got a top-10 win over No. 8 Isaiah Salazar winning 5-1 with a big third period ride and takedown in the 197 pound bout.

No. 1 Gable Steveson closed out the dual for the Gophers with a technical fall over Ben Kueter, 22-3.

125 – #26 Joey Cruz (I) dec. #13 Cooper Flynn (M), 7-4 SV1
133 – #3 Drake Ayala (I) dec. #19 Tyler Wells (M), 9-5
141 – #8 Vance VomBaur (M) dec. Cullan Schriever (I), 14-10
149 – #3 Kyle Parco (I) dec. #29 Drew Roberts (M), 5-0
157 – #3 Jacori Teemer (I) dec. #8 Tommy Askey (M), 4-1
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo (I) tech fall. #11 Andrew Sparks (M), 21-5
174 – #11 Patrick Kennedy (I) dec. #22 Clayton Whiting (M), 8-4
184 – #4 Max McEnelly (M) dec. #8 Gabe Arnold (I), 4-1 SV1
197 – #1 Stephen Buchanan (I) dec. #8 Isaiah Salazar (M), 5-1
285 – #1 Gable Steveson (M), #11 Ben Kueter (I), 22-3

Officials: Jeron Quincy, Jay Cox