[bears9]

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The wrestling world had been waiting all season for the Big Ten Conference 149-pound showdown between No. 1 Brent Metcalf of Iowa and No. 2 Dustin Schlatter of Minnesota. While fans were waiting, Metcalf was preparing.

At the Big Ten Championship on March 8-9, Metcalf warmed up for the main course by decking Eddie Skowneski of Michigan State and Grant Paswall of Illinois for his ninth and 10th falls of the season. He then tossed Penn State's Bubba Jenkins around in the semifinals to the tune of a 15-3 major decision. Schlatter, a two-time Big Ten Champion, two-time All-American and 2006 NCAA Champion from Minnesota, awaited in the finals.

Metcalf enthusiastically put his 26-match winning streak on the line in front of a pro-Golden Gopher crowd at Williams Arena on March 9 and in front of a Big Ten Network national television audience. After falling behind 2-0 a minute into the first period on a takedown by Schlatter, Metcalf resorted to his consistent ally for the remaining six minutes -- domination.

Metcalf wears down Schlatter, sweeps Big Ten awards :: 149-pounder highlights the deep Hawkeye roster