[bears9]

MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- The top-ranked Iowa wrestling team defeated #3/#4 Minnesota, 20-13, Friday night in Williams Arena. The Hawkeyes (15-1, 4-0 Big Ten) handed the Golden Gophers (11-4, 2-1) their first Big Ten dual loss of the season. Iowa won six bouts, including two upsets, in their eighth straight win.

The dual started at 125 with a highly anticipated match between #1 Jayson Ness of Minnesota and #3 Charlie Falck of Iowa. Ness entered the dual with a 26-0 record and on a 27-match winning streak, while Falck brought an undefeated 15-0 dual mark and his own 12-match winning streak to the mat. Falck scored the first takedown of the match, but Ness scored 14 unanswered points to post a 14-2 major decision and snap Falck's streak and perfect dual record. Ness is now 4-0 against Falck in collegiate competition.

Iowa responded with wins at the next three weights to build an 11-4 lead. Sophomore Joe Slaton posted a 8-3 win over senior and Gilbertville, IA, native Mack Reiter at 133. Sophomore Dan LeClere, who is ranked ninth or 10th in the nation depending on the poll, scored a takedown in the first sudden victory period to upset #3 Manuel Rivera, 9-7 at 141. Sophomore Brent Metcalf was supposed to be part of another big match as he and Minnesota junior Dustin Schlatter are ranked first or second in the nation at 149, depending on the poll. Metcalf instead faced freshman Luke Mellmer, who has filled in for Schlatter since late December due to injury. The Hawkeye sophomore scored a 20-5 match-ending technical fall in 6:17, collecting his 20th season and career win, and extending his winning streak to 17 matches.
Minnesota scored decisions at 157 and 165 to tighten the team score at 11-10, but an 8-3 win by sophomore Jay Borschel at 174 and sophomore Phillip Keddy's 6-2 upset over #5 Roger Kish at 184 gave Iowa a 17-10 lead. Keddy, who is ranked eighth in the nation, scored his 30th career win in the match. Minnesota scored a decision at 197 to keep the team win within reach, but Hawkeye senior Matt Fields shut down the Golden Gophers with a 7-3 win over Ben Berhow at heavyweight.

Top-Ranked Hawkeyes Defeat Minnesota, 20-13 :: LeClere, Keddy score upsets in Iowa's eighth-straight win