Iowa and Iowa State each advanced one wrestler into the finals at the NCAA Tournament in Philadelphia. The Hawkeyes’ Matt McDonough will try to defend his 125 pound title tonight when he faces Arizona State’s Anthony Robles. McDonough, a sophomore, advanced with a 3-1 victory in the semis. Robles, who was born with one leg, is trying to finish his senior season unbeaten.
Iowa State’s Jon Reader is also undefeated. The top-seed at 174 posted a 4-3 win in the semis and will face a wrestler from Stanford in the finals.
Iowa had two other wrestlers in Friday night’s semifinals. Montell Marion, who fininshed second last year, lost in overtime at 141. Grant Gambrall was pinned by a Penn State wrestler at 184.
Penn State advanced three wrestlers into the finals and the Nittany Lions are closing in on their first team title since 1953. Penn State has 92.5 points. Cornell has 75 points, one point ahead of third place Iowa. Cornell and Iowa each have one in the finals and four wrestlers still alive in the consolation bracket. All four of the Hawkeyes could finish as high as 3rd or as low as 6th.
Northern Iowa will not have an All-American this year. The Panthers’ Ryan Loder, who was seeded 6th at 184, was eliminated from the tournament Friday night.
Team Standings:
1. Penn State – 92.5
2. Cornell – 75.0
3. Iowa – 74.0
4. Oklahoma St. – 65.5