The Iowa Hawkeye fans let out a collective boo at Carver-Hawkeye Arena after Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson approached a referee about some questionable calls.
Sanderson's brother, No. 5 Cyler Sanderson, had just been upset, 4-2, by Iowa's Jake Kerr. The Hawkeye 157-pounder received two controversial back points to take the lead in the third period. Cyler Sanderson attempted a takedown to send the match into sudden-victory overtime, but his attempt went unrewarded.
The No. 13 Nittany Lions' effort was also unrewarded as Penn State (9-5-1, 1-2-0 Big Ten) lost its second-straight Big Ten dual, 29-6, to No. 1 Iowa (17-0-0, 3-0-0).
"From what I saw," said assistant coach Casey Cunningham in the post-game radio interview, "guys were fighting. Guys were hustling."
Senior 141-pounder Adam Lynch received a takedown in sudden-victory overtime to upset No. 5 Montell Marion, 8-6. The Hawkeye fans scorned the officiating for awarding Lynch two points in what they thought was a bad call.
"The funny thing is we're expecting him out of that," Cunningham said. "We want ten guys like that."
Aside from No. 13 Dave Erwin's 6-4 win over No. 7 Phil Keddy at 184 pounds, no other ranked Penn State wrestler won a bout.
No. 12 Brad Pataky was defeated 7-2 by No. 4 Matt McDonough at 125 pounds. Cunningham said Pataky's loss in the hand battle caused the overall defeat.
In the 149-pound matchup, No. 5 Frank Molinaro was pinned (3:56) by No. 1 Brent Metcalf. Metcalf lifted Molinaro and threw him straight onto his back for the immediate pin in the third period.
Iowa's No. 5 Ryan Morningstar held No. 8 Dan Vallimont to a bottom position for the entire third period. He defeated Vallimont, 2-0 in the 165-pound bout. Cunningham said the coaching staff debated whether Vallimont should take a neutral or bottom position to start the third period because of Vallimont's struggles on the bottom this year. The coaches and Vallimont eventually chose down.
"If he wants to win a national championship," Cunningham said, "he has to be able to get off the bottom."
The Hawkeyes sealed the win after Justin Ortega's major decision loss to No. 2 Jay Borschel. Iowa gave Cael Sanderson his worst loss as a head coach after No. 9 Dan Erekson beat No. 11 Cameron Wade, 6-1 in the last bout of the night.
Bryan Pearsall and Clay Steadman were also defeated in their matchups.
