MARQUEE MATCH-UPS
There are six marquee match-ups based on the probable starters for this weekend's duals in Iowa City. The individual rankings listed below are the most recent from the NWCA/Intermat/NWCA poll. 141 - #1 Alex Tsirtsis vs. #3 Zach Tanelli
Tanelli won the first career meeting between the two - a 10-3 decision in the championship final of the 2008 Midlands. Tsirtsis has been looking for a rematch. Tsirtsis held a 3-2 lead early in the third period of his match. He took a brief injury timeout after colliding with Tanelli during an offensive flurry. After the timeout, Tanelli scored a takedown, rolled off two three-point nearfalls and secured the riding time point to win 10-3. That match is Tsirtsis' only loss (16-1) of the season, and he brings a five-match winning streak to the dual. Tanelli is 16-3 and currently riding his own nine-match winning streak. 149 - #1 Brent Metcalf vs. #6 Kyle Ruschell
Metcalf owned the first meeting between the two - a 14-5 major decision in the championship final of the 2008 Midlands. The Hawkeye junior is 20-0 with a 52-match winning streak. Ruschell is 17-4 this season. 165 - #3 Ryan Morningstar vs. #9 Andrew Howe
This will be the first meeting between Morningstar and Howe. The Hawkeye junior brings a 18-2 record to the dual, while Howe is 14-4. Hwt - #12 Dan Erekson vs. #7 Kyle Massey
This will be the first meeting between Erekson and Massey. The Hawkeye junior brings a 14-5 record to the dual, while Massey has a season record of 15-5. HAWKEYES LOOK TO EXTEND WINNING STREAKS
Iowa has won its last 29 duals, and its last 25 duals away from Iowa City. The school record for overall consecutive dual wins is 42 (1994-97), and for consecutive away dual wins is 31 (1994-97). The 25 straight away duals rank second best in school history. Hawkeye junior Brent Metcalf (149) also has a winning streak of his own, winning his last 52 bouts. LAST MEETING - IOWA 22, WISCONSIN 20
Top-ranked Iowa used bonus points to defeat #13/#15 Wisconsin, 22-20, Feb. 3 at Madison, WI. Each team won five matches, but the Hawkeyes used pins from sophomores Brent Metcalf (149) and Phillip Keddy (184) and a major decision by sophomore Jay Borschel (174) to win their ninth-straight dual. Head Coach Tom Brands picked up his 30th win at Iowa and his 10th in the Big Ten, as Iowa improved to 16-1, 5-0 Big Ten. Wisconsin fell to 11-3-1, 2-2. | | | | | |