Beating Iowa once in a season is a huge accomplishment. Michigan has now beaten the Hawkeyes twice this season.
The No. 2 Wolverines (15-3, 6-1 Big Ten) rallied from a 15-4 deficit to knock off No. 3 Iowa (15-4, 5-2) in Carver Hawkeye Arena on Friday night, 20-15. The Hawkeyes jumped out to the commanding lead after five matches. The Wolverines' lone victory came by way of major decision at 133 pounds when No. 7 Foley Dowd upset No. 5 Cliff Moore, 12-4.
Michigan won the last five bouts from 157 pounds to 197 pounds to earn the dual match victory and racked up 16 points. In this span, the Wolverines' roster included No. 1 ranked wrestlers Otto Olsen and Andy Hrovat winning by decision and a major decision, respectively.
"Overall, we were very competitive and we wrestled hard," Michigan wrestling coach Joe McFarland said. "Our second half of our lineup is extremely tough with guys like Otto, Andy and (Kyle) Smith. As a whole team, all 10 guys wrestled well."
After Olsen and Hrovat won, Michigan led by a pair, but the winner of the dual meet still hanging in the balance. The final match saw a focused Smith defeat Iowa's Trey Clark to preserve the victory.
"I didn't have to say a word that the outcome was still in question to him," McFarland said. "He knew. You could see the intensity in his eyes. The only thing I said was 'wrestle hard for seven minutes'."
Wildcats and Hoosiers, winless
It didn't take the Hawkeyes long to rebound against one of the conference's two winless squads. On Sunday, Iowa defeated Indiana by a score of 26-12. The Hoosiers dropped to 0-7.
Indiana struck first when Greg Schaefer pinned No. 6 Luke Eustice. Iowa then ran off the next six matches and scored 23 points, grabbing a commanding 23-6 lead. Indiana posted back-to-back wins before the most highly contested battle of the afternoon, at heavyweight.
D.J. Radnovich had a takedown of No. 1 Steve Mocco and scored near fall points to give him a 5-3 led, with the second period closing. Mocco scored four points and won 7-5.
"I am awfully proud of the way DJ wrestled," Indiana coach Goldman said in a press release. "He wrestled the best heavyweight in the country and arguably beat him."
Northwestern fell to 0-6 in the Big Ten when it lost by a score of 23-12 to Michigan State. The Wildcats and Hoosiers will square off on Sunday at Welsh Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. One of the two teams will get their first win -- that is unless the two teams tie.
Gophers go for perfection
No. 1 Minnesota (16-0, 7-0) looks to keep a perfect record as they meet No. 4 Ohio State (19-3, 4-2) on Sunday at the Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis, Minn.
The Golden Gophers defeated the Buckeyes, 26-8, in the finals at National Duals.
A marquee matchup will be at heavyweight between a pair of sophomores, Ohio State's No. 2 Tommy Rowlands and No. 4 Garrett Lowney.
