Iowa City Today

The University of Iowa wrestling team began its season with a 40-0 victory over Bellarmine at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Thursday night. The Hawkeyes recorded 31 takedowns compared to one by Bellarmine and secured five bonus-point wins, including four matches that ended early. Iowa outscored the Knights in total match points, 120-27.

“When there was a lot of hustle, a lot of points were scored,” said head coach Tom Brands. “That’s a good thing. We need to hustle more. Those points aren’t going to fall down for you, you have to go put them down.”

The dual started at 197 pounds, where No. 17 Massoma Endene made his Division I and Hawkeye debut with a 3-0 decision over Andrew Liber. No. 5 Ben Kueter followed with an 8-2 win against No. 28 Daulton Mayer at heavyweight, marking his first ranked win of the year.

No. 10 Dean Peterson won his first match at Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a 5-1 decision over Damion Ryan at 125 pounds. At 133 pounds, No. 2 Drake Ayala earned Iowa’s first bonus points of the day with a technical fall (19-4) against Trayce Eckman in just over four minutes.

No. 10 Nasir Bailey closed out the first half of the dual with a 7-1 decision over AJ Rallo at 141 pounds.

Kael Voinovich made his Carver debut at 149 pounds and secured a decision over Zac Cowen. At 157 pounds, No. 11 Jordan Williams pinned Jeb Prechtel in under two minutes during his Iowa debut.

“It felt good,” Williams said. “I am grateful and happy to step on the mat every time I can, no matter if it’s at a small school or big school, it’s the same energy… I feel like I am confident in every position.

“I watch everyone I am going to wrestle and when I felt the position it was like go. I felt like I was stronger and knew the position better.”

To finish the dual, No. 2 Michael Caliendo (165), No. 2 Patrick Kennedy (174), and No. 3 Angelo Ferrari (184) each registered technical falls in their respective matches.

Attendance for the event was reported as 10,971.

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