No. 1 Hawkeyes take command, place five in semifinals at NCAA Championships
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by Craig Sesker
ST. LOUIS - The roars started late Friday morning in the southwest corner of the Scottrade Center during the 125-pound quarterfinals.
And they continued throughout the pivotal session for Coach Tom Brands' team.
The boisterous swarm of fans dressed in black and gold showed their appreciation as the top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes seized command of the 2008 NCAA Championships during Session III.
Iowa moved one big step closer to winning its first NCAA team title since 2000 by advancing five wrestlers into Friday night's semifinals before 15,861 fans. The Hawkeyes lead the NCAA tournament with 67 points. Iowa had a 19.5-point lead over Oklahoma State and Nebraska entering the semis.
"Seeing the other guys in the lineup winning and wrestling the way they've been, it's motivating for me," Iowa's Brent Metcalf said. "You have to just focus on your match and what you need to do individually, but it obviously helps when those other guys are winning too. We've got some great momentum going right now as a team and things are working out great for us."
Metcalf (149 pounds) will be joined in the semifinals by teammates Charlie Falck (125), Joey Slaton (133), Mark Perry (165) and Jay Borschel (174). Iowa is seeking its 21st NCAA tournament team title. The Hawkeyes won 20 national titles between 1975 and 2000.
The top-seeded Metcalf nearly surrendered a late takedown when Ohio State All-American Lance Palmer fired in on a leg attack. But Metcalf spun free to preserve the 3-2 win.
"I just shut my offense down," Metcalf said "Getting late in the match, you've got to score again and I didn't do that. I didn't force my ties and he got in on a double leg. It was me or him, live or die, and I was able to get through it."
2006 NCAA champion and No. 2 seed Dustin Schlatter of Minnesota dropped a 4-1 quarterfinal decision to No. 7 Darrion Caldwell of North Carolina State at 149. Caldwell advances to face No. 6 seed Bubba Jenkins of Penn State in what promises to be an exciting semifinal matchup of two superb athletes. Jenkins was a 2007 Junior World freestyle champion.
Returning champion and No. 1 seed Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro was upset in the quarterfinals after dropping an 8-6 decision to No. 8 Jordan Leen of Cornell at 157.
The other three returning national champions - Perry, Nebraska's Paul Donahoe (125) and American's Josh Glenn (197) - each moved into the semifinals with victories.
The semifinals are set for 6 p.m. Friday. The finals are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday night in St. Louis.
FRIDAY NIGHT'S SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS
125 POUNDS
Angel Escobedo (Indiana) vs. Charlie Falck (Iowa)
Paul Donahoe (Nebraska) vs. Jayson Ness (Minnesota)
133 POUNDS
Franklin Gomez (Michigan State) vs. Joey Slaton (Iowa)
Coleman Scott (Oklahoma State) vs. Jimmy Kennedy (Illinois)
141 POUNDS
Chad Mendes (Cal Poly) vs. Nathan Morgan (Oklahoma State)
J Jaggers (Ohio State) vs. Charles Griffin (Hofstra)
149 POUNDS
Brent Metcalf (Iowa) vs. Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska)
Bubba Jenkins (Penn State) vs. Darrion Caldwell (North Carolina State)
157 POUNDS
Jordan Leen (Cornell) vs. Josh Zupancic (Stanford)
Dan Vallimont (Penn State) vs. Michael Poeta (Illinois)
165 POUNDS
Eric Tannenbaum (Michigan) vs. Mack Lewnes (Cornell)
Nick Marable (Missouri) vs. Mark Perry (Iowa)
174 POUNDS
Keith Gavin (Pitt) vs. Jay Borschel (Iowa)
Brandon Browne (Nebraska) vs. Steve Luke (Michigan)
184 POUNDS
Jake Varner (Iowa State) vs. Christian Sinnott (Central Michigan)
Raymond Jordan (Missouri) vs. Mike Pucillo (Ohio State)
197 POUNDS
Josh Glenn (American) vs. Wynn Michalak (Central Michigan)
Dallas Herbst (Wisconsin) vs. Phil Davis (Penn State)
HEAVYWEIGHT
Dustin Fox (Northwestern) vs. Jared Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Ed Prendergast (Navy) vs. J.D. Bergman (Ohio State)
And they continued throughout the pivotal session for Coach Tom Brands' team.
The boisterous swarm of fans dressed in black and gold showed their appreciation as the top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes seized command of the 2008 NCAA Championships during Session III.
Iowa moved one big step closer to winning its first NCAA team title since 2000 by advancing five wrestlers into Friday night's semifinals before 15,861 fans. The Hawkeyes lead the NCAA tournament with 67 points. Iowa had a 19.5-point lead over Oklahoma State and Nebraska entering the semis.
"Seeing the other guys in the lineup winning and wrestling the way they've been, it's motivating for me," Iowa's Brent Metcalf said. "You have to just focus on your match and what you need to do individually, but it obviously helps when those other guys are winning too. We've got some great momentum going right now as a team and things are working out great for us."
Metcalf (149 pounds) will be joined in the semifinals by teammates Charlie Falck (125), Joey Slaton (133), Mark Perry (165) and Jay Borschel (174). Iowa is seeking its 21st NCAA tournament team title. The Hawkeyes won 20 national titles between 1975 and 2000.
The top-seeded Metcalf nearly surrendered a late takedown when Ohio State All-American Lance Palmer fired in on a leg attack. But Metcalf spun free to preserve the 3-2 win.
"I just shut my offense down," Metcalf said "Getting late in the match, you've got to score again and I didn't do that. I didn't force my ties and he got in on a double leg. It was me or him, live or die, and I was able to get through it."
2006 NCAA champion and No. 2 seed Dustin Schlatter of Minnesota dropped a 4-1 quarterfinal decision to No. 7 Darrion Caldwell of North Carolina State at 149. Caldwell advances to face No. 6 seed Bubba Jenkins of Penn State in what promises to be an exciting semifinal matchup of two superb athletes. Jenkins was a 2007 Junior World freestyle champion.
Returning champion and No. 1 seed Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro was upset in the quarterfinals after dropping an 8-6 decision to No. 8 Jordan Leen of Cornell at 157.
The other three returning national champions - Perry, Nebraska's Paul Donahoe (125) and American's Josh Glenn (197) - each moved into the semifinals with victories.
The semifinals are set for 6 p.m. Friday. The finals are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday night in St. Louis.
FRIDAY NIGHT'S SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS
125 POUNDS
Angel Escobedo (Indiana) vs. Charlie Falck (Iowa)
Paul Donahoe (Nebraska) vs. Jayson Ness (Minnesota)
133 POUNDS
Franklin Gomez (Michigan State) vs. Joey Slaton (Iowa)
Coleman Scott (Oklahoma State) vs. Jimmy Kennedy (Illinois)
141 POUNDS
Chad Mendes (Cal Poly) vs. Nathan Morgan (Oklahoma State)
J Jaggers (Ohio State) vs. Charles Griffin (Hofstra)
149 POUNDS
Brent Metcalf (Iowa) vs. Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska)
Bubba Jenkins (Penn State) vs. Darrion Caldwell (North Carolina State)
157 POUNDS
Jordan Leen (Cornell) vs. Josh Zupancic (Stanford)
Dan Vallimont (Penn State) vs. Michael Poeta (Illinois)
165 POUNDS
Eric Tannenbaum (Michigan) vs. Mack Lewnes (Cornell)
Nick Marable (Missouri) vs. Mark Perry (Iowa)
174 POUNDS
Keith Gavin (Pitt) vs. Jay Borschel (Iowa)
Brandon Browne (Nebraska) vs. Steve Luke (Michigan)
184 POUNDS
Jake Varner (Iowa State) vs. Christian Sinnott (Central Michigan)
Raymond Jordan (Missouri) vs. Mike Pucillo (Ohio State)
197 POUNDS
Josh Glenn (American) vs. Wynn Michalak (Central Michigan)
Dallas Herbst (Wisconsin) vs. Phil Davis (Penn State)
HEAVYWEIGHT
Dustin Fox (Northwestern) vs. Jared Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Ed Prendergast (Navy) vs. J.D. Bergman (Ohio State)
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