Oklahoma State, Jan. 5
The Hawkeyes’ performance during the first two months of the season vaulted them to the top of the rankings and infused their fan base with a renewed enthusiasm that filled the seats inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the showdown with rival Oklahoma State.
But the Cowboys’ performance during the first seven matches deflated the seventh-largest crowd in NCAA wrestling history (14,332), sent some of the Iowa faithful heading for the exits early and left the apologetic Hawkeyes with a 19-14 defeat — Iowa’s only loss of the season.
The sixth-ranked Cowboys wrestled the energy out of the arena by winning five of the first seven matches and getting a stunning victory from Jake Dieffenbach over defending NCAA champion Mark Perry Jr. on their way to a ninth straight dual win in the series between the sport’s two most storied programs.
Perry blamed his performance on weight mismanagement during the week leading up to the dual. Perry said he “pretty much lost the dual” for the Hawkeyes. But Iowa couldn’t capitalize on other chances.
Newly McSpadden beat Ryan Morningstar 4-2 at 157 and Brandon Mason rode out Jay Borschel in the third period on his way to a 2-0 win at 174.
“I think it’s extremely embarrassing to everybody,” Perry said. “I think everyone’s upset. We can go cry about it or we can get ready to go win National Duals next week and perform a lot better.”
— Andy Hamilton