Ohio State holds narrow lead over Iowa at Big Ten Championships
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Ohio State’s Kyle Snyder downed Iowa’s Nathan Burak in a key semifinal that kept the Buckeyes in the Big Ten lead on Saturday. USAW photo.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – It’s going to be another huge fight to the finish at the Big Ten Championships.
The Ohio State Buckeyes and Iowa Hawkeyes are locked in a tight battle after a wild first day at the 101st Big Ten Wrestling Championships on Saturday at Ohio State’s St. John Arena.
Ohio State leads with 102.5 points, just 1.5 ahead of Iowa. The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes both have four wrestlers in the finals.
“We have four finalists and we need to do some work,” Iowa coach Tom Brands said. “A lot of it is in our hands if you’re talking about the team race, but really it’s about being strong individually and continuing that path.”
Minnesota is third with 86.5 points. The Gophers have three in the finals. Michigan is fourth with 80.5 points, followed by Illinois (79) and four-time defending champion Penn State (78.5).
Wrestling resumes with consolation semifinals at 1 p.m. Sunday. The finals are set for 3 p.m. Sunday and will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
The Big Ten has secured 86 automatic qualifying spots for the NCAA Championships, set for March 19-21 in St. Louis. An additional 70 at-large spots from all conferences for the NCAA tournament will be awarded on Wednesday, March 11.
The Big Ten has earned five automatic qualifying spots at 125, 12 at 133, eight at 141, seven at 149, eight at 157, eight at 165, 10 at 174, 10 at 184, nine at 197 and nine at 285.
Iowa has won 34 Big Ten tournament titles and is seeking its first title since 2010. Penn State won the last four league crowns in addition to the last four NCAA titles. Minnesota last won Big Tens in 2007.
Ohio State is seeking its third conference title and first since 1951.
Three-time Big Ten champion and three-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber of Ohio State rolled into the finals at 141. Stieber downed Rutgers freshman Anthony Ashnault 5-1 in the semis.
Stieber is trying to become the league’s 14th four-time champion
Stieber will face surprise finalist Josh Dziewa of Iowa in the 141 finals. The sixth-seeded Dziewa knocked off No. 2 Chris Dardanes of Minnesota 5-1 in the semifinals.
“I think we’re the best wrestling team in America,” Dziewa said. “And I definitely think we’re the toughest. My biggest motivator is helping our team. I have nine of my best friends out there wrestling. They’re all fighting for me and I’m fighting for them.”
Ohio State earned a huge win when freshman Nathan Tomasello knocked off two-time Big Ten champion and two-time NCAA champion Jesse Delgado of Illinois 3-2 in the 125 finals.
Tomasello powered in for a double-leg takedown in the final 30 seconds and then rode Delgado out to earn the win. Tomasello was a three-time Junior Nationals champion.
“It was amazing to win that,” Tomasello said. “I had to stay focused to get that last takedown. It was really exciting to pull that out in front of our crowd. They really pumped me up and helped me.”
Top-seeded Thomas Gilman (125) and Brandon Sorensen (149) of Iowa reached the finals along with two-time All-American teammate Bobby Telford (285).
Gilman will face Tomasello in the finals in a key bout in the team race.
“We need every single match,” Tomasello said. “I can’t wait for that finals match. I’m ready. I need to come out and keep the pressure on and be ready to go at 3 o’clock.”
Cousins Bo Jordan of Ohio State and Isaac Jordan of Wisconsin advanced to the 165 finals. The Jordans grew up together and trained together in Ohio.
Telford will meet three-time All-American Mike McMullan of Northwestern in the finals. They are 1-1 against each other this year.
Returning champion and top-ranked Robert Kokesh of Nebraska edged Minnesota’s Logan Storley 2-1 in the 174 semis. Kokesh was fourth at the 2014 NCAAs and Storley was third.
2013 Big Ten champion Matt Brown of Penn State rode Mike Evans of Iowa out in the final period to earn a 2-0 semifinal win at 174.
Two-time NCAA runner-up and past Big Ten champion Dylan Ness of Minnesota won a hard-fought 6-5 decision over returning champion James Green of Nebraska in the 157 semis.
Ness countered a Green shot attempt and spun behind Green for the winning points. Ness was second and Green third at the 2014 NCAAs.
“It’s real tough wrestling a guy like that,” Ness said. “We’re both competitors and we both wrestle hard. He’s a real tough kid. I’m excited to get to the finals. It’s a tough weight class.”
Ness will meet top seed and unbeaten freshman Isaiah Martinez of Illinois in the finals. This will be their first meeting.
“I just have to stay focused and keep doing what I’m doing,” Ness said. “Martinez has been teching a lot of kids and I know he’s a tough competitor. I have to be ready for another tough match.”
Past Big Ten champion Hunter Stieber of Ohio State had to injury default his 149 semifinal against returning Big Ten and NCAA champion Jason Tsirtsis of Northwestern. Tsirtsis will meet Sorensen in the finals. Sorensen edged Tsirtsis in a dual this season.
Junior World champion and top-seed Kyle Snyder of Ohio State held off Iowa’s Nathan Burak 3-2 in the 197 semis.
Top-seeded Chris Dardanes of Minnesota earned a 6-2 overtime win over Iowa’s Cory Clark in the 133 semis.
Finals matchups
125 pounds
Thomas Gilman (Iowa) vs. Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State)
133 pounds
Chris Dardanes (Minnesota) vs. Ryan Taylor (Wisconsin)
141 pounds
Logan Stieber (Ohio State) vs. Josh Dziewa (Iowa)
149 pounds
Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) vs. Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern)
157 pounds
Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) vs. Dylan Ness (Minnesota)
165 pounds
Bo Jordan (Ohio State) vs. Isaac Jordan (Wisconsin)
174 pounds
Robert Kokesh (Nebraska) vs. Matt Brown (Penn State)
184 pounds
Brett Pfarr (Minnesota) vs. Dom Abounader (Michigan)
197 pounds
Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) vs. Morgan McIntosh (Penn State)
285 pounds
Bobby Telford (Iowa) vs. Mike McMullan (Northwestern)
Team scoring
Ohio State 102.5, Iowa 101, Minnesota 86.5, Michigan 80.5, Illinois 79, Penn State 78.5, Nebraska 70.5, Wisconsin 64.5, Northwestern 56.5, Purdue 33.5, Rutgers 18.5, Michigan State 12.5, Indiana 11.5, Maryland 9.5
COLUMBUS, Ohio – It’s going to be another huge fight to the finish at the Big Ten Championships.
The Ohio State Buckeyes and Iowa Hawkeyes are locked in a tight battle after a wild first day at the 101st Big Ten Wrestling Championships on Saturday at Ohio State’s St. John Arena.
Ohio State leads with 102.5 points, just 1.5 ahead of Iowa. The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes both have four wrestlers in the finals.
“We have four finalists and we need to do some work,” Iowa coach Tom Brands said. “A lot of it is in our hands if you’re talking about the team race, but really it’s about being strong individually and continuing that path.”
Minnesota is third with 86.5 points. The Gophers have three in the finals. Michigan is fourth with 80.5 points, followed by Illinois (79) and four-time defending champion Penn State (78.5).
Wrestling resumes with consolation semifinals at 1 p.m. Sunday. The finals are set for 3 p.m. Sunday and will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
The Big Ten has secured 86 automatic qualifying spots for the NCAA Championships, set for March 19-21 in St. Louis. An additional 70 at-large spots from all conferences for the NCAA tournament will be awarded on Wednesday, March 11.
The Big Ten has earned five automatic qualifying spots at 125, 12 at 133, eight at 141, seven at 149, eight at 157, eight at 165, 10 at 174, 10 at 184, nine at 197 and nine at 285.
Iowa has won 34 Big Ten tournament titles and is seeking its first title since 2010. Penn State won the last four league crowns in addition to the last four NCAA titles. Minnesota last won Big Tens in 2007.
Ohio State is seeking its third conference title and first since 1951.
Three-time Big Ten champion and three-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber of Ohio State rolled into the finals at 141. Stieber downed Rutgers freshman Anthony Ashnault 5-1 in the semis.
Stieber is trying to become the league’s 14th four-time champion
Stieber will face surprise finalist Josh Dziewa of Iowa in the 141 finals. The sixth-seeded Dziewa knocked off No. 2 Chris Dardanes of Minnesota 5-1 in the semifinals.
“I think we’re the best wrestling team in America,” Dziewa said. “And I definitely think we’re the toughest. My biggest motivator is helping our team. I have nine of my best friends out there wrestling. They’re all fighting for me and I’m fighting for them.”
Ohio State earned a huge win when freshman Nathan Tomasello knocked off two-time Big Ten champion and two-time NCAA champion Jesse Delgado of Illinois 3-2 in the 125 finals.
Tomasello powered in for a double-leg takedown in the final 30 seconds and then rode Delgado out to earn the win. Tomasello was a three-time Junior Nationals champion.
“It was amazing to win that,” Tomasello said. “I had to stay focused to get that last takedown. It was really exciting to pull that out in front of our crowd. They really pumped me up and helped me.”
Top-seeded Thomas Gilman (125) and Brandon Sorensen (149) of Iowa reached the finals along with two-time All-American teammate Bobby Telford (285).
Gilman will face Tomasello in the finals in a key bout in the team race.
“We need every single match,” Tomasello said. “I can’t wait for that finals match. I’m ready. I need to come out and keep the pressure on and be ready to go at 3 o’clock.”
Cousins Bo Jordan of Ohio State and Isaac Jordan of Wisconsin advanced to the 165 finals. The Jordans grew up together and trained together in Ohio.
Telford will meet three-time All-American Mike McMullan of Northwestern in the finals. They are 1-1 against each other this year.
Returning champion and top-ranked Robert Kokesh of Nebraska edged Minnesota’s Logan Storley 2-1 in the 174 semis. Kokesh was fourth at the 2014 NCAAs and Storley was third.
2013 Big Ten champion Matt Brown of Penn State rode Mike Evans of Iowa out in the final period to earn a 2-0 semifinal win at 174.
Two-time NCAA runner-up and past Big Ten champion Dylan Ness of Minnesota won a hard-fought 6-5 decision over returning champion James Green of Nebraska in the 157 semis.
Ness countered a Green shot attempt and spun behind Green for the winning points. Ness was second and Green third at the 2014 NCAAs.
“It’s real tough wrestling a guy like that,” Ness said. “We’re both competitors and we both wrestle hard. He’s a real tough kid. I’m excited to get to the finals. It’s a tough weight class.”
Ness will meet top seed and unbeaten freshman Isaiah Martinez of Illinois in the finals. This will be their first meeting.
“I just have to stay focused and keep doing what I’m doing,” Ness said. “Martinez has been teching a lot of kids and I know he’s a tough competitor. I have to be ready for another tough match.”
Past Big Ten champion Hunter Stieber of Ohio State had to injury default his 149 semifinal against returning Big Ten and NCAA champion Jason Tsirtsis of Northwestern. Tsirtsis will meet Sorensen in the finals. Sorensen edged Tsirtsis in a dual this season.
Junior World champion and top-seed Kyle Snyder of Ohio State held off Iowa’s Nathan Burak 3-2 in the 197 semis.
Top-seeded Chris Dardanes of Minnesota earned a 6-2 overtime win over Iowa’s Cory Clark in the 133 semis.
Finals matchups
125 pounds
Thomas Gilman (Iowa) vs. Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State)
133 pounds
Chris Dardanes (Minnesota) vs. Ryan Taylor (Wisconsin)
141 pounds
Logan Stieber (Ohio State) vs. Josh Dziewa (Iowa)
149 pounds
Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) vs. Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern)
157 pounds
Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) vs. Dylan Ness (Minnesota)
165 pounds
Bo Jordan (Ohio State) vs. Isaac Jordan (Wisconsin)
174 pounds
Robert Kokesh (Nebraska) vs. Matt Brown (Penn State)
184 pounds
Brett Pfarr (Minnesota) vs. Dom Abounader (Michigan)
197 pounds
Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) vs. Morgan McIntosh (Penn State)
285 pounds
Bobby Telford (Iowa) vs. Mike McMullan (Northwestern)
Team scoring
Ohio State 102.5, Iowa 101, Minnesota 86.5, Michigan 80.5, Illinois 79, Penn State 78.5, Nebraska 70.5, Wisconsin 64.5, Northwestern 56.5, Purdue 33.5, Rutgers 18.5, Michigan State 12.5, Indiana 11.5, Maryland 9.5
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