Iowa Wrestlers Clinch Third Straight Ncaa Championship

Iowa’s Jessie Whitmer, Mike Mena and Lee Fullhart had upset semifinal victories Friday to help the Hawkeyes clinch their third straight NCAA wrestling title.

Iowa’s Mark Ironside, Lincoln McIlravy and Joe Williams advanced into today’s championships as the Hawkeyes had the most dominant day in NCAA history. They won a record 23 straight matches before Tony Ersland lost in the consolation rounds.

Iowa has won 40 of 46 matches.

Iowa, which entered the day with a 13-point lead over top-ranked Oklahoma State, had 148 points to the Cowboys’ 87.5.

Rounding out the top 10 were Iowa State (60.5), Lock Haven (50), Minnesota (47.5), Edinboro (44), Oklahoma (43.5), Cal-Bakersfield (39.5), Penn State (36), and Illinois (34).

In a battle of unbeaten wrestlers, Ironside, the No. 1 seed at 134, outpointed James Guzzio of Maryland 8-4 to improve to 29-0.

Ironside will meet Oklahoma State’s Steven Schmidt, who decisioned Oregon’s Jeremy Ensrud 9-6.