Even though PSU has won the last 4 national titles, they are certainly an underdog to Iowa today. Should be the largest crowd (around 16K) to ever watch a dual meet.
Virginia Tech does wrestling right
http://www.hokiesports.com/assets12/php/photothumb.php?img=1758/lg/0573.jpg&maxw=728&maxh=530
Go Hawkeyes!!!
25: No. 8 Jordan Conaway (19-3) vs. No. 5 Thomas Gilman (21-1)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Outlook: The dual’s two smallest wrestlers might have the two biggest gas tanks. Conaway has made a career out of coming on strong late in matches and Gilman has drawn consistent praise from coach Tom Brands for pushing the pace in his bouts. Gilman enters riding a seven-match winning streak and has earned bonus points in 17 of his 22 bouts this season. Conaway and Gilman have fared well against common opponents. Conaway beat Virginia Tech’s Joey Dance who beat Gilman 10 days later. But Gilman edged Ohio State’s Nathan Tomasello who majored Conaway seven days later last month. Gilman’s offense is more explosive but Conaway’s counter abilities have always been good. He’s gotten much better with his offense from the top and could have a strength edge as he’s wrestled up at 133 for most of his career. Advantage: Toss up.
133: No. 7 Jimmy Gulibon (17-4) vs. No. 3 Cory Clark (17-3)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Outlook: While Gulibon and Clark haven’t met in college, they battled in a dandy of a match back at the 2012 Dapper Dan Classic where Gulibon converted almost immediately on a high single and won 10-3. Their styles are similar and each can get in on legs — and finish shots — quickly. In addition, both sophomores have had strong surges and each experienced hiccups so far. Gulibon seems to have turned the corner while Clark has hit a bit of a wall and has alternated wins and losses over his last six bouts. All three of Clark’s losses have come to Top 10 wrestlers and he’s given up 18 points in those bouts. Advantage: Gulibon
141: Kade Moss (17-11) vs. No. 6 Josh Dziewa (19-5)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Outlook: Like Clark, Dziewa has been mired in a late season funk. He’s just 4-4 in his last eight bouts and his inability to mount effective offense has dogged him. In his four losses — three to Top 15 grapples and one to unranked Joe McKenna of Lehigh — Dziewa’s managed just five points. The former PIAA champion is just one of two Pennsylvania products in the Iowa lineup and will draw Moss — a grappler who seems to be rounding into form having beaten No. 17 George Fisher last weekend. While Moss has taken time to get his conditioning and timing back after taking most of three years off, he shouldn’t be underestimated. He’s extremely dangerous on his feet in upper body locks due to his Greco prowess. Advantage: Dziewa
149: No. 18 Zack Beitz (13-6) vs. No. 2 Brandon Sorensen (26-2)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Outlook: Sorensen, a redshirt freshman, has been on fire for the Hawkeyes. Not only has he won two opens and turned in a third-place finish at Midlands, he’s beaten three Top 5 foes including last season’s NCAA runner-up Oklahoma State’s No. 2 Josh Kindig and defending NCAA champion No. 1 Jason Tsirtsis of Northwestern. Beitz has settled in nicely for Penn State and has been much more varied and creative with his setups as of late. He’s learned to use his tall frame to his advantage but it might not be much of an edge against the 5-foot-8 Sorensen. Advantage: Sorensen
157: No. 8 Dylan Alton (8-3) or Cody Law (13-7) vs. No. 14 Michael Kelly (17-5)
Head-to-head (Alton vs. Kelly): First meeting
Outlook: Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said Alton is close and one thing is for certain — time is running out for the Nittany Lion fifth-year senior. There might not a better welcome-back opponent for Alton than Kelly who has struggled lately. The Hawkeye senior started out 12-0 but is just 5-5 since including losses by major decision and technical fall to Illinois’ No. 5 Isaiah Martinez. Brands praised Kelly’s conditioning earlier this week and if Alton does make his return, that will be the key aspect — what is Alton’s conditioning level having only wrestled 11 bouts this season? Advantage: Toss up.
165: Garett Hammond (19-8) vs. No. 7 Nick Moore (16-4)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Outlook: Hammond has shown flashes here and there but hasn’t been able to put it all together against ranked opponents. A two-time NCAA qualifier, Moore finished second to David Taylor last season in the Big Ten tournament. But Moore usually doesn’t pull away from his opponents. Instead, he tends to win tight bouts. He should be well-rested after a short bout Friday night that ended with a medical forfeit from Maryland’s Tyler Manion. Advantage: Moore
174: No. 3 Matt Brown (19-2) vs. No. 2 Mike Evans (20-2)
Head-to-head: Series tied 3-3
Outlook: Brown and Evans will meet for the seventh time and the first time since their destinies collided at the NCAA tournament last March. Then, Evans beat Brown in sudden victory to bounce the Penn State wrestler from the championship bracket. But Brown got revenge when he beat Evans for fifth place later in the tournament. Although they’re tied head-to-head, Brown’s offense has always been better and it’s no coincidence he’s outclassed Evans when he gets his offense going. In their six bouts, Brown has outscored Evans 26-19. But Evans — who’s from Enola — has a knack for winning the close bouts as his wins against Brown have come via 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4 decisions. Being that they’re so familiar with one another, Evans could have the edge in another close bout. But Brown can be relentless and is Penn State’s unquestioned leader. Advantage: Toss up.
184: No. 17 Matt McCutcheon (20-9) vs. No. 8 Sammy Brooks (20-2)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Outlook: Brooks has earned bonus points in 14 of his 20 bouts and will try to do so again against McCutcheon who’s been solid at times in his redshirt freshman season. McCutcheon has only given up bonus points twice this season. Most recently he was pinned by Michigan’s Domenic Abounader. So far, McCutcheon has scored 23 dual-meet points and allowed 22. A win over Brooks would be the biggest of his young career. Advantage: Brooks
197: No. 4 Morgan McIntosh (20-2) vs. No. 6 Nathan Burak (13-1)
Head-to-head: McIntosh leads 2-0
Outlook: McIntosh beat Burak at both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments last season with a 3-2 tiebreaker win in the conference finals and a 3-1 win in the seventh place match at NCAAs. Burak hasn’t been able to use his height — he’s 6-foot-1 — to his advantage against the stocky McIntosh who is also quite rangy in his own right. McIntosh is a much more accomplished offensive wrestler and is tricky to predict and prepare for as he has plenty of moves in his arsenal and no real glaring weaknesses. There’s a chance Kris Klapprodt could wrestle here for Iowa as Burak sat out the Maryland dual. If that’s the case, McIntosh will be an even bigger favorite. Advantage: McIntosh
285: No. 6 Jimmy Lawson (11-0) or Jon Gingrich (13-2) vs. No. 2 Bobby Telford (20-1)
Head-to-head (Lawson vs. Telford): Telford leads 1-0
Head-to-head (Gingrich vs. Telford): Telford leads 1-0
Outlook: Telford’s beaten Gingrich 9-2 and Lawson 3-2 and it’s getting tough to tell who will represent Penn State at heavyweight although it will most likely be Lawson. But Sanderson has changed his mind based on matchups before. But you have to figure Lawson gives Penn State a better shot here as Gingrich just hasn’t been able to open up his offense against some of the top heavyweights. Lawson has been explosive at times this season but Telford is among the best. He’s impossibly strong, quick on his feet for a big man and infinitely experienced as a three-time All-American. Advantage: Telford
Cael needs to come back home to Iowa State!
I know nothing about wrestling but one of my grandsons has now taken it up in high school.
Time for some wrestling education,I guess.
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Pro wrestling... the only sport that needs an actor card...
Thanks for the heads up. DVR is now set in case I don’t get home in time for the start.
Spent all day at the S Illinois Regional yesterday. Boy took 2nd.
