Hawkeyes Roll Past Lehigh, 31-6

The University of Iowa wrestling team finished with six consecutive wins to roll past No. 21 Lehigh, 31-6, on Friday night inside Stabler Arena. The Hawkeyes won eight of 10 matches, including three by technical fall and one by major decision.

Iowa and Lehigh split the first four bouts before Derek St. John Iowa’s roll with bonus points at 157 pounds. St. John turned what would have been a four-point win into a five-point route by finishing the final minute with two takedowns, two nearfall, and one point for stalling. He added 3:24 of riding time to earn his third tech. fall of the year.

“St. John hustled,” said UI head coach Tom Brands. “That was a 12-2 major decision and he turned it into a tech. fall just because of hustle. Those are the types of things you like to see. ”

Nick Moore opened the second half with more of the same. He scored two takedowns in the first and one in both the second and third periods to top Ben Hass, 11-2, for his fourth major decision of the year.

Two matches later Sammy Brooks nearly terminated his opponent in the opening period at 184. Brooks scored a takedown in the opening minute and used three turns to build a 13-0 lead after one period. He escaped to start the second and added a final takedown to terminate the match in 3:59.

Nathan Burak followed at 197 with Iowa’s third tech. fall of the night. Burak scored a takedown as time expired in the first, and added two nearfall to build a 9-1 lead at the end of two, and finished the match with two three-point turns in the third.

The Hawkeyes won two of three matches against ranked opponents. No. 3 Tony Ramos scored a takedown to defeat No. 6 Mason Beckman, 3-1, at 133, and Mike Evans used an escape and a point for stalling to defeat No. 12 Elliot Riddick, 2-0, at 174.

Thomas Gilman opened the dual with a 6-2 win at 125, and Bobby Telford closed the dual with a 6-0 decision at 285. Lehigh (8-6) won its two matches at 141 and 149.

Iowa returns to the mat Sunday, Feb. 23 in Madison, Wis. The Hawkeyes and No. 15 Wisconsin meet at 1 p.m. (CT) in the UW Field House.

Notes: Attendance was 2,786… Iowa (14-2, 6-1) improved to 25-0 all-time against Lehigh… Iowa is 8-2 against ranked dual opponents, 6-0 on the road.

#3 IOWA 31, #21 Lehigh 6
125 – #5 Thomas Gilman (IA) dec. Darian Cruz (LU), 6-2; 3-0
133 – #3 Tony Ramos (IA) dec. #6 Mason Beckman (LU), 3-1; 6-0
141 – #14 Laike Gardner (LU) dec. #9 Josh Dziewa (IA), 5-2; 6-3
149 – #13 Mitch Minotti (LU) dec. Michael Kelly (IA), 4-1; 6-6
157 – #2 Derek St. John (IA) tech. fall Michael Stephien (LU), 21-6; 11-6
165 – #4 Nick Moore (IA) major dec. Ben Hass (LU), 11-2; 15-6
174 – #5 Mike Evans (IA) dec. #12 Elliot Riddick (LU), 2-0; 18-6
184 – Sammy Brooks (IA) tech. fall Zach Diekel (LU), 16-0; 23-6
197 – #14 Nathan Burak (IA) tech. fall Austin Meys (LU), 18-1; 28-6
285 – #3 Bobby Telford (IA) dec. Doug Vollaro (LU), 6-0; 31-6