#2 Iowa vs #8 Illinois

Big weekend for #2 Iowa Hawkeyes

The #2 Iowa Hawkeyes look to wrap up another Big Ten dual title this weekend. On Friday the Hawks will face #8 Illinois in Champaign, Ill and will be aired live on Big Ten Network. On Sunday the #13 Nebraska Cornhuskers will travel to Carver Hawkeye Arena for a 2:00 PM dual which will be aired live on Mediacom. You of course can follow along with live updates on twitter @hagertony or follow along in the forum at Wrestling.

What a thriller last weekend was with Iowa beating Penn State 22-16. This was a big dual for post season seedings and the hawks needed it. This dual win was also big for the record books at Tom Brands won his 127[SUP]th[/SUP] dual victory to become tied with Jim Zalesky. He has a long way to go to catch Dave McCusky (160) and Dan Gable at (355) but I think Tom Brands and Company can catch the highly regarded coaches. Matt McDonough also reached a career best with his win over Nico Megaloudis extending his win streak to 42. Matt is also in great company when it comes to career falls which he has a great chance to climb that leader board this weekend. Matt is tied for 10[SUP]th[/SUP] on the all-time career falls list at 39.

Here is a breakdown of how I think the Iowa vs Illinois dual will go this Friday.

125- #1 McDonough vs #5 Delgado-
MCD has shown us he knows what it takes to get the job done. It hasn’t been pretty and neither will this match but he will be able to control Delgado. If redshirt freshman Cory Clark can beat him MCD shouldn’t have any problems in my eyes. MCD is 17-0 this season for a reason.

Iowa 3-0

133- #2 Ramos vs #10 Thomas-
Thomas has shown us signs of greatness this year but also signs of laziness and not AA material. He has a win over Chris Dardanes but has lost to Jordan Conaway. Which wrestler will show up is the question. I think if this was dual was inside Carver, Ramos would have no issues majoring Thomas but since we don’t have the luxury of wrestling at home each time I think Thomas can keep this too a decision.

Iowa 6-0

141- #8 Ballweg vs Rodriguez/Arlis-
Ballweg is wrestling the best we have ever seen and no matter who Perry sends out there I think he gets the major decision with an opportunity for a fall. Arlis does keep matches close so they could send him out there to try and slow down Ballweg. Either way it won’t matter Ballweg with a major!

Iowa 10-0

149- Kelly/Grothus vs Ervin-
Who is going to be wrestling on Friday against Ervin? My guess would be Grothus because I feel like he has the most upside and by putting him out there I think he has a chance to win this matchup. Grothus has wanted a matchup like this all year long and I think he takes advantage of it. Ervin is scrappy so I see this coming down the wire and possible over time. Grothus wins on a late takedown

Iowa 13-0

157- #1 St. John vs Nora-
DSJ should have no problem against Nora but can he get the major? DSJ hasn’t been putting up big points thus far but I do think he will get a major against Nora.

165- #13 Moore vs #8 Polz-
Moore is leaving us wanting more each time he is out on the mat. He has been getting the job done lately but against ranked opponents he is 2-3 on the season. I think Polz will just have too much for Moore and gets a decision.

Iowa 17-3


174- #4 Evans vs #8 Blanton-
Evans has had a tough couple a months facing some stiff competiton. Evans has been getting the job done though going 3-2 against ranked opponents. Blanton also has been wrestling tough competition but has had no shot in winning those matches. Evans will be the victor in a high scoring match.

Iowa 20-3

184- #14 Lofthouse/Gambrall vs #20 Dallago-
This is one of the matches of the night I could care less to watch. The only thing that will keep me interested is if Gambrall is sent out there and I can see how he wrestles a weaker opponent. Last Friday he was feed to the wolves and maybe tomorrow night he will have better luck with Dallago. I don’t know how Dallago is even ranked the only reason is because he is in the Big Ten Conference. Whoever they send out there Iowa gets the job done in snoozer.

Iowa 23-3

197- #19 Burak vs #15 Gonzalez-
This is a matchup where both wrestlers haven’t beaten anyone of significance. Burak isn’t the guy who you can count on a big move here and there and just keeps it close. Gonzalez is the better wrestler on paper and has wrestled great in the past. Gonzalez gets the nod here in a close one.

Iowa 23-6

HWT- #6 Telford vs Lopez-
Telford finished the dual out last Friday by punishing his opponent and he’ll do the same here against Lopez. Don’t see any bonus points because Telford doesn’t have that spark to score bonus points.

Iowa 26-6
 
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Do you how much longer B.J. Futrell is expected to be out of the lineup? Was hoping that he would be back for the Iowa dual. Would have been fun watching him and Ballweg get after it.
 
125- Last year when Delgado won, everyone thought he was the next big thing. Now I think he's solidified himself as being a notch below the championship level of MCD and Mega. One thing I've learned is that fast guys who go after MCD's ankles give him fits. Last year Matt was battling weight, and proved the next 2 times that JD is not ready. No different here, MCD Dec. 3-0

133-Kind of a home coming for Ramos, and he won't disappoint. Thomas is no Futrell and we know what TR did to him. With a 3rd period "break", Ramos MD. 7-0

141-Ballweg is wrestling top notch. Did you know he only has 4 losses in his career at 141? No idea who the Illini guys are and don't care. Ballweg MD. 11-0

149-Definitely not in the Grothus camp. Sure he tries big moves, but he's not strong enough right now to pull them off. Plus his "all or nothing" style usually leads to big losses. I think Kelly would have kept Alton to a regular decision, and I think that with the way Alton gasses and being in CHA, Kelly would have made it exciting in the end. Give me Kelly, for the simple reason that I'm a fan, and have no clue about the Illini guys. 14-0

157-DSJ with another boring decision. 17-0

165-Last week, I believe Moore was told not to give up as much points as possible (and failed miserably at it), instead of going for the win. With the dual not in question, he's going to be able to go out and wrestle his style. Polz is ranked at the top of the range where I believe Moore belongs, so he needs this. Polz isn't going to have a crowd to pull him through, and other than last week, Moore has been doing pretty well. Give me Moore DEC. 20-0

174-Has Blanton been there forever and is he the most overrated recruit to ever spurn the Hawks? Either way, the tough stretch for Evans continues, which sets him up nicely with the needed experience for the upcoming tournaments. Ankle pick, legs in, power half, Evans PIN. 26-0

184-Brands said that EL got the message. If so, and he goes, he will win and everyone will be talking AA again. If it's GG, since everyone being praising him for going after Ruth, it'll be time to lay an egg. EL wins, GG loses DEC. I'm saying EL goes. 29-0

197-Burak is wrestling good, but can't get over the hump against elite to semi-elite guys. Where does Gonzalez fit in, who the hell knows. Is he the Big Ten champ, or a flash in the pan guy. I think he does just enough to win and avoids the shutout. 29-3

HWT-Telford got the win he needed last week to boost his confidence. I see a win and just barely misses a major. 32-3.
 
Anyone have results. Can't find them anywhere and forgot to set a recording on the DVR.
 
Sparky said:
Anyone have results. Can't find them anywhere and forgot to set a recording on the DVR.
Click to expand...

JD over MCD 9-4
Ramos pin
Ballweg 2-0
Ervin over Grothus 5-0
DSJ MD
Polz over Moore 5-3
Evans 2-1
EL 9-5
Gonzalez over Burak 3-1
Telford Pin

25-12
 
Mcd with a sluggish, no offense, out-wrestled 9-4 defeat
ramos did follow up a fall in the third
ballweg with a unimpressive 2-0 win
149 was not Kelly, again, and we lost there
st John with a nice offensive explosion for a major
evans with a dominate 2-1 win, score doesn't reflect bout, he built tons of riding time
lofthouse at 184 with the win
burak got beat
and Telford finishes things with a fall in the first
 
Sparky said:
Anyone have results. Can't find them anywhere and forgot to set a recording on the DVR.
Click to expand...

McD got beat pretty solidly. It just sucked to watch.

Ramos looked good and then won by fall.

Ballweg won.

Grothus got the nod and almost pulled off a head lock 5 pt-er in the first 30 seconds. Then pretty much got rolled.

DSJ dominated to a major. Got a little chippy in that match. Both wrestlers hit for unsportsmenlike.

Moore got beat pretty soundly. Just didn't create any offense.

Evans won a cagey match 2-1 via an escape and riding time.

Lofthouse looked decent. Got a lot of good shots. Let a couple get away from him b/c of the opponent's funk.

Burak could have won if he knew how to finish shots/matches. Ended up losing by 2. Kid's right there. Needs to put it together in March.

Telford dominated and won by fall.

Kind of an up and down night. McD needs to put it all together in March. That's when it matters. Other guys need to work on creating offense in neutral if they want to make any noise in the tourneys (Moore, Burak, even Evans). Evans has got another tough one next. Guy never gets a break.
 
Thank you for the updates. I can't believe that McD dropped a match, but I'm sorta happy he did considering how he's been wrestling this year. Maybe it will put a fire under his ***.
 
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