#1 Iowa Shuts Out Indiana 41-0

The top-ranked University of Iowa team defeated Indiana 41-0 on Friday night in Wilkinson Hall, sweeping all 10 bouts and scoring bonus points in four weight classes, including falls from Alex Marinelli, Tony Cassioppi, and Austin DeSanto, and a 15-0 technical fall from Spencer Lee.

The first half of the dual was filled with excitement and anticipation as Michael Kemerer returned to the mat at 174 and posted a 9-6 decision.

Iowa, for just the fourth time in the Tom Brands era, life the redshirt off of true freshman Abe Assad and Assad won his collegiate debut 6-4 at 184.

“If I told you I didn’t have nerves I’d be lying to you,” Assad said. “Everyone has nerves. Even matches when I’m at open tournaments I still get a little nervous before every match. Obviously here the nerves are heightened more, but I knew that if I went out there and wrestled loose and tried to score points, good things are going to happen."

Iowa did not get a lot of mat time after the intermission.  The Hawkeyes needed just six minutes, 18 seconds to get through 285, 125, and 133. Cassioppi registered a fall in 20 seconds at 285. Lee followed with a 15-0 technical fall in three minutes, 16 seconds at 125, and DeSanto ended the 133 bout with a fall in two minutes, 42 seconds.

 “Three falls, technical fall, we missed some bonus points too,” said Iowa head coach Tom Brands. “We had good rides on guys and let them eek out a point at the end. Maybe a little bit sloppy, over anxious, but there were a lot of points there. We have to get ready for the next one now. Moving on.”

Iowa returns to the mat Sunday at No. 18 Purdue. The Hawkeyes and Boilermakers meet at 3 p.m. (CT) at Holloway Gymnasium.

#1 IOWA 41, Indiana 0
149 -- #1 Pat Lugo (IA) dec. Graham Rooks (IND), 10-6; 3-0
157 -- #6 Kaleb Young (IA) dec. Fernando Silva (IND), 11-4; 6-0
165 -- #2 Alex Marinelli (IA) pinned David Tunon (IND), 5:34; 12-0
174 -- #3 Michael Kemerer (IA) dec. Jacob Covaciu (IND), 9-6; 15-0
184 -- Abe Assad (IA) Jake Hinz (IND), 6-2; 18-0
197 -- #5 Jacob Warner (IA) Nick Willham (IND), 8-3; 21-0
285 -- #4 Tony Cassioppi (IA) pinned Rudy Streck (IND), 0:20; 27-0
125 -- #1 Spencer Lee (IA) tech. fall Liam Cronin (IND), 15-0; 32-0
133 -- #2 Austin DeSanto (IA) pinned Jonathan Moran (IND), 2:42; 38-0
141 -- #7 Max Murin (IA) Eddie Bolivar (IND), 6-0; 41-0

Records: Iowa (5-0, 2-0), Indiana (0-2, 0-1)