Powered by 9.5 bonus points, the University of Iowa is in first place after the first round of the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Iowa went an impressive 9-1 for the first round. Vince Turk got things started with a 12-2 major decision in his pigtail match and followed up with another win in the first round. It took Spencer Lee only 1:41 to get an 18-0 TF at 125. Brandon Sorensen won a decision at 149, 10-6.
The Hawks then rolled up big team points with a pin by Michael Kemerer at 157 in 1:38 and Alex Marinelli in 6:20 at 165. Iowa’s only loss for the opening round was Joey Gunther at 174. It is very important for the Hawks to have Gunther respond tonight with a big win.
At 184, Mitch Bowman looked great with a 10-2 major decision over the 15th seed. Cash Wilcke had a great flurry at the end to score a winning takedown to win 4-3 at 197. Sam Stoll closed out a great round for the Hawks with a fall in 2:25.
There is a lot of wrestling between now and Saturday night, but you have to be very encouraged and excited about how the Hawks came out to compete in the first round. Getting momentum on the Hawks side can only help. The 9.5 bonus points from three pins, a tech fall, two major decisions and a 9-1 record in the first round is hard to beat.
I would have to believe this is the first time Iowa has been in first place following a round at the NCAA tournament since the conclusion of the 2010 NCAA championships unless it happened in 2015. It feels pretty damned good, too.
Tonight’s session begins at 6 PM CST.
Let’s get ‘em in the middle.
Go Hawks!
Team scores
- Iowa – 18.5
- Ohio State – 17
- Penn State – 16
- Michigan – 13
- N.C. State – 12
- Oklahoma St – 9
- Rutgers – 8.5
- Ariz St, Cornell, Lehigh, Minnesota – 8
125 Champ. Round 1 – Spencer Lee (Iowa) 18-2 won by tech fall over Alonzo Allen (Chattanooga) 22-9 (TF-1.5 1:41 (18-0))
141 Prelim – Vincent Turk (Iowa) 15-8 won by major decision over Kyle Shoop (Lock Haven) 34-13 (MD 12-2)
Champ. Round 1 – Vincent Turk (Iowa) 15-8 won by decision over Cole Weaver (Indiana) 24-11 (Dec 4-3)
149 Champ. Round 1 – Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) 22-2 won by decision over Jared Prince (Navy) 22-5 (Dec 11-6)
157 Champ. Round 1 – Michael Kemerer (Iowa) 23-1 won by fall over Coleman Hammond (CSU Bakersfield) 27-14 (Fall 1:38)
165 Champ. Round 1 – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) 17-3 won by fall over Jacob Morrissey (Purdue) 21-19 (Fall 6:20)
174 Champ. Round 1 – Jacobe Smith (Oklahoma State) 19-5 won by major decision over Joseph Gunther (Iowa) 16-8 (MD 13-2)
184 Champ. Round 1 – Mitchell Bowman (Iowa) 13-11 won by major decision over Canten Marriott (Missouri) 25-7 (MD 10-2)
197 Champ. Round 1 – Cash Wilcke (Iowa) 19-7 won by decision over Eric Schultz (Nebraska) 18-10 (Dec 4-3)
285 Champ. Round 1 – Samuel Stoll (Iowa) 20-4 won by fall over Antonio Pelusi (Franklin & Marshall) 24-9 (Fall 2:25)
