2020 Penn State vs Iowa | Big Ten Wrestling (Audio Only)

#1 Iowa vs #2 Penn State: Match Notes

#1 Iowa vs #2 Penn State: Match Notes

Match notes of the super bowl of wrestling dual meet: Penn State vs Iowa .

Jan 31, 2020 by Andrew Spey
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It is the big one, the Super Bowl of wrestling dual meets! #1 Iowa vs #2 Penn State. Can Iowa knock off the four-time defending national champs, at home, in a sold out Carver-Hawkeye Arena? 

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It is the big one, the Super Bowl of wrestling dual meets! #1 Iowa vs #2 Penn State. Can Iowa knock off the four-time defending national champs, at home, in a sold out Carver-Hawkeye Arena? 

The Hawkeyes will be heavy favorites, but Penn State is not going to make it easy for them. To listen to it all go down, click here and listen to CP and Ben Askren call the action live. 

More Penn State vs Iowa content

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Articles: Cael vs Tom | PSU Can Win | No They Can't | Cenzo v Marinelli | DeSanto v RBY | CHA is Loud


It's 8:00 PM in the central time zone and we are about to do the anthem. Carver-Hawkeye looks packed and amazing. A great evening for wrestling. A great evening for us all. 

The crowd is loud. I suspect it's going to get even louder once the wrestling starts. Commercial break before that happens so grab a beverage, use the facilities and get ready for the most excellent dual meet of the year. We are starting at 125, which is good, because I already had the lineup written in that order. But maybe it would've been cooler to end on 133, 165 or 174. 

The handshakes from the captains. It's very nearly time.

125 Pounds: Brandon Meredith, PSU vs #1 Spencer Lee, Iowa

1st period: Lee walks out, still has the knee brace, though I don't think it's going to slow him down. Lee charges ahead right off the whistle, feet to back! Just a two count, it's 4-0 in the first 20 seconds. Lee looking for another turn but doesn't like the set up and he let's Meredith up. A quick takedown, two-on-one roll through tilt makes it 10-1 with 1:08 on the clock. Meredith gets a reprieve to fix his head gear. They're back on the mat, two-on-one tilt makes it 14-1, 48 seconds left on the clock. Meredith gets to his base but doesn't budge from there. Meredith survives the first period, just barely. 

2nd period: They start on their feet, Lee looking for a feet to back to get that extra team point, but settles for the 16-1 technical fall. Iowa gets off to the start the expected to. 

Iowa 5, PSU 0


133 Pounds: #4 Roman Bravo-Young, PSU vs #2 Austin DeSanto, Iowa

1st period: Single leg shot off the whistle by DeSanto, RBY sprawls, grabs some toes and pulls the leg out. Now we have injury time. DeSanto is flat. Doesn't look good. DeSanto getting up now. Let's see if he returns. RBY will have choice. DeSanto hopping, and he will continue, the crowd of course loves it. RBY takes down and DeSanto wants neutral so RBY gets a point. Shot from RBY and DeSanto goes down quickly to make it 3-0. RBY was again keeping his triceps as far away from DeSanto as possible. RBY putting on a tough ride. RBY gets dinged for stalling and PSU's coaches don't appreciate it. DeSanto is out and gets in on a shot. RBY counters and has a cradle locked up. DeSanto waiving at the ref. He won't be able to continue. It's an injury default, Penn State picks up a huge 6 points on an unfortunate injury. 

PSU 6, Iowa 5

Scratch that, Iowa was deducted a team point. That could be costly. 

PSU 6, Iowa 4


141 Pounds: #2 Nick Lee, PSU vs Carter Happel, Iowa

1st period: Happel will have the unenviable task of having to slow down the relentless Nick Lee. Lee has a takedown in the first 10 seconds. Happel is up quickly. Happel shoots, Lee defends. Single to a double and two more for Lee. Lee locks up a nearside cradle, he puts Happel on his back. Will it be a fall? No! Happel breaks the lock and bellies out. Think the ref could have called that but I think you can justify not slapping the mat as well. Big advantage for Lee, leading 8-1 as time runs out in the first. He gets the ride out (over 2 minutes) and we go to the second. 

2nd period: Lee cuts Happel and gets a quick takedown. Lee rides a bit, tries to let Happel half-way up and then hit him with a cradle but Happel doesn't take the bait. Full escape to make it 10-3 with a minute left in the second. Snap down go behind, Lee needed to try a few directions but he got it to make it 13-3. Second period ends and Lee has 3:22 of reading time. 

3rd period: Lee starts the third underneath. He stands and is out quickly. 16-3. Lee going catch and release, going for the tech, though still looking for the pin. And it's a 20-5 tech fall, PSU adds to their lead. 

PSU 11, Iowa 4


149 Pounds: Jarod Verkleeren, PSU vs #3 Pat Lugo, Iowa

1st period: Hawkeyes need Lugo to get things going in Iowa's direction again. Lugo in on a shot, Verkleeren gets an ankle, they're in a scramble. Enjoyable to watch but no scores. 2 minutes remaining in the first. Lugo attacks again, looking for a nearside cradle. He'll settle for a takedown, and the Carver-Hawkeye fans have something to cheer about for the first time since Spencer Lee's match. Mat return for Lugo and he continues to ride. Another mat return with 30 seconds left in the match. Lugo gets the rideout, 1:28 of RT going to the second. 

2nd period: Lugo will start on bottom. Lugo's out in less than ten seconds, preserving riding time at 1:22. Lugo taking ground. Verk hit for stalling. The crowd loves it. Lugo shoots him out of bounds and it's another stall call on Verkleeren, this time for a point. 4-0 Lugo. Lugo controlling ties with 40 seconds to go in the period. Lugo doesn't press his advantage in short time and the scores stays 4-0 going to the third. 

3rd period: Verkleeren underneath, he stands and is brought back to the mat. Verkleeren stands again after a restart and is out, its 4-1. Vekleeren shot, Lugo almost gets the counter. Lugo moving Verk around and Verk is hit again for stalling. 5-1. Shot by Lugo, Verk rubber knees and potentially dangerous called. Verkleeren shoots in, extended scramble. And that's how the match ends, Vekleeren with a 6-1 regular decision. Lugo worked for the major but Vekleeren made sure to keep under eight. 

PSU 11, Iowa 7


157 Pounds: Bo Pipher, PSU vs #4 Kaleb Young, Iowa

1st period: Iowa is a heavy favorite and Young will be pushing for bonus points. Double leg shot but Young but Pipher defends and we've wrestled for a minute. Another double by Young but once again Pipher defends, though Young's hands were behind Pipher's knees for a second. Shot by Pipher and they go out of bounds, no stall call. Single leg by Young, cracks Pipher down and Young converts for two with about a minute left in the period. Young gets the ride out and we go to the second. 

2nd period: Pipher looking for a cradle, and it looks like Pipher was hit for stalling for being on the ankle too long. Now a reversal for Young and he's got a 4-0 lead, RT over a minute. Young with a spiral ride, and now he gets his for stalling. Both guys have warnings. Short time, Young still riding. Ride out secured, through Iowa's bench would have probably preferred to have a few more takedowns. 

3rd period: Pipher chooses down. Young with a mat return, looking for nearfall but was never really close. Riding time locked up. One minute left in the match and Young cuts Pipher. A shot by Young but Pipher defends. 30 seconds to go. Young forces a stall and picks up another point. Time runs out and Young gets one more, but that just makes it 6-1 so Young gets the victory but fails to deliver on bonus. 

PSU 11, Iowa 10

We're at intermission, so hit the facilities again and refresh your beverage. Penn State has to be pleased with the way this dual has gone so far, notwithstanding the DeSanto injury, which no one wanted. That team point deduction may come back to haunt the Hawkeyes. 

Things really hit up when the action resumes, as you can no doubt tell. 


165 Pounds: #1 Vincenzo Joseph, PSU vs #2 Alex Marinelli, Iowa

1st period: We're back in business. Both guys go for it, upper body ties, Marinelli looking for a trip. Nothing doing and we're back in neutral after a feisty thirty seconds. Cenzo with a nice single leg shot but Marinelli steps out of the way. Marinelli reaches for a leg, now they're back in upper body locks. Cenzo looking inside trip, Cenzo looking outside trips. It's dramatic but no scores. We go into the second after a scoreless first. 

2nd period: Marinelli starts down. He escapes in about 15 seconds. Body locks again, and Cenzo whips Marinelli to his back! Marinelli is in trouble! Cenzo with nearfall and possibly the pin! Marinelli bellies out and we got blood time. Marinelli bleeding a lot over his right eye. I think they bumped noggins before the throw. Wow, what a move. On the replay you can see Cenzo lat drop as soon as Marinelli goes for the outside trip. He knew it was coming and was waiting for it. Back to wrestling, Cenzo up 6-1. Marinelli stands. Back into body locks. Now back to the mat! Back points for Marinelli? Or is time up? They're reviewing. They award a reversal just in time. 6-3 as we go to the third. What a match after two periods. Regardless of how it ends it will be another worthy addition to this epic rivalry. 

3rd period: Cenzo on bottom, not much of a reaction off the whistle. He just needs to survive the period. Now the escape with 90 seconds to go in regulation. Alex on the attack. Down to a minute. Marinelli gets another body lock but Cenzo quickly concedes the takedown. Time will run out on the Bull, and he suffers his first regular-season defeat of his career. Incredible bout between two warriors, who both leave battered and bloody. Things continue to break Penn State's way. 

PSU 14, Iowa 10


174 Pounds: #1 Mark Hall, PSU vs #3 Michael Kemerer, Iowa

1st period: Another pivotal bout. Duck under for Hall, gets double unders, hip tosses Kemerer to his back! But Kemerer rolls through. No points for Hall? I guess not. Now it's two for Kemerer who secures Hall's legs on the scramble! Cael throws the challenge brick, I believe he will want points on that hip toss. There is no change, they'll restart, Hall on bottom. Hall with a reversal, just a little hip heist and the scores tied. Kemerer escapes to make it 3-2. Things slow down a bit. Hall in on Kemerer's legs. ANd Hall will get a takedown after a scramble to gain the lead. And a reversal for Kemerer! Think we had a switch there! 5-4 Kemerer, 6 seconds to go in the period. Kemdawg gets the ride out. 

2nd period: Hall escapes without much trouble to tie it up at 5-5. Hall back in on a shot but this time no one scores after a brief scramble. Double leg by Kemerer and he's got the lead again. It's 7-5! Might Hall pay a Carver tax two years in a row? Kyle Bratke gets points for pointing that one out. A shot by Hall but Kemerer sprawls and avoids danger. Short time in the period. No more scores, we're going to the final frame of regulation. 

3rd period: Kemerer starts on bottom with a one point lead. A quick escape makes it a two point lead, 8-6. Hall dives for a single but Kemerer defends. Hall won't give up the leg and we get a stalemate. Riding time nota factor with 61 seconds to go in the match. Hall takes a half shot and Kemerer steam rolls him to the mat. Takedown Kemerer! CH-A ERUPTS! Folks are in an absolute frenzy! Hall is broken down and not getting up. Kemerer will get the rideout for an 11--6 win!

Iowa is crazy-go-nuts right now. Down goes number one Mark Hall. The pull within one point on the team scores. 

PSU 14, Iowa 13


184 Pounds: #10 Aaron Brooks, PSU vs #8 Abe Assad, Iowa

1st period: Kemdawg's win turns this into a must-win for Penn State. Sag headlock in the first fifteen seconds for Assad has the crowd going crazy again but Brooks pops his head out and collects the only two points of the exchange. Tom Brands wants a challenge, saying Assad has control at some point but I don't see it. And the ruling on the mat stands. Brooks up 2-0. Brooks riding tough. Assad finally out with a little less than two minutes to go. Riding time under a minute for Brooks but it's close. Shot from Assad but Brooks feeds him hips and it's still 2-1 in his favor. Brooks in on a single in short time, he takes Assad down, Assad looking gator bacon but Brooks is in position and it's 4-1 as the period expires.

2nd period: Clutch short time takedown puts Brooks in the driver seat. Assad starts down. Nice ride for Brooks. Assad down on his belly. RIding time over two minutes. Assad finally kicks free to make it 4-2. RT at 2:07. Assad in on a single, Brooks spins around and defends. Assad clinging to the ankle and we get a stalemate. No more scores and we go to the third. 

3rd period: Brooks chooses down. Assad wants to cut him but instead gives up a reversal. Assad down 6-2 now. An escape makes it 6-3. Brooks being stingy in neutral. Assad can't get through his defenses. Aaron Brooks takes it! What a ranker's delight we now have between Venz, Brooks and Assad. But more importantly, Brooks keeps PSU's upset hopes alive.  

PSU 17, Iowa 13


197 Pounds: #15 Shakur Rasheed, PSU vs #4 Jacob Warner, Iowa

1st period: Now we're in must-win territory for both teams. Warner in on a single leg. He has it in the air, back trips and collects two. A mat return on the boundary gives Carver-Hawkeye more to cheer for. Early 2-0 lead for Warner. Rasheed keeps getting to his feet but Warner keeps bringing back to the mat. It's a minute 1:17 left in the period on this restart. Warner with another mat return. Finally Rasheed escapes but Warner has amassed 1:32 of riding time. Boot scoot for Rasheed, Warner reattacks, has Rasheed in trouble but he gets his hips back under him and avoids danger. A final shot by Rasheed but he can't convert before time runs out. 

2nd period: Rasheed will go underneath again. Back up to his feet. This time Warner cuts him, wisely before he giving up a stall warning. They're back in neutral, scored tied 2-2 but Warner now has 1:41 of riding time. No more scores and we'll head to the third, score still knotted.

3rd period: Warner chooses down. Can Rasheed hit a cross-face cradle. Warner sits on the whistle, and he's out immediately. Warner leads 3-2 and has 1:37 of RT. Rasheed reached for Warner's legs. He touches one but no danger. Shakur in on a single, Warner feeds him hips and Rasheed shuts down. Stalemate, 31 seconds to go. RT locked up. Warner playing keep away. Aaron Brooks wants a stall call from the PSU corner. Even if they hit him now it won't matter. Warner wins it 4-2, and it'll come down to the heavies!

PSU 17, Iowa 16

14,905 official attendance. Pretty decent imo.


285 Pounds: #16 Seth Nevills, PSU vs #3 Anthony Cassioppi, Iowa

1st period: We're underway, in the match that will decide the meet. Cass in on a single, Nevills in trouble, but he spins out of danger and now has Caassioppi's leg in the air. Cass is hopping, now doing the splits. Nevills has him on the ropes on the boundry, but Tony keeps a whizzer,  then spins into Nevills and gets the takedown! The crowd is on their feet! Nevills broken down flat. He gets hit for stalling. 1:42 of RT as Big Tone gets the ride out. 

2nd period: We start in neutral, I missed who had choice. One of our producers who is also staying late in the office dropped off leftover pizza. Collar ties for over a minute but no scores, Big Tone still leads by 2 as Carver-Hawkeye starts chanting his name. We go to the third, same score.

3rd period: Cass takes down. He escapes quickly. Body lock for Cassioppi, and Nevills goes down, another takedown for Tony. It's 5-0, riding time essentially locked up. Cass keeping Nevills on the mat. Another stall point for Tony. It's official, Cassioppi beats Nevills 7-0 and Iowa beats Penn State in front of a rabid room crowd!

Iowa 19, PSU 17

Appreciate everyone following the action. Pretty fun dual. Pretty... pretty... pretty good. Apologies for the typos, see you next time wrestling friends!