Drake Ayala clinched Iowa's victory with a dominant 21-5 triumph over Gauge Botero, ending his Carver-Hawkeye career on a strong note.
No. 7 Iowa wrestling rallied back from an early deficit to defeat No. 10 Michigan on Friday evening in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hawkeyes improve to 10-4 overall and 3-2 in conference action.
Here's how it all went down:
141 pounds: The dual opened at 141 to allow Iowa seniors Drake Ayala and Dean Peterson to conclude the match on their Senior Night, so unranked Kale Petersen began the contest against No. 26 Dylan Ragusin of Michigan.
Ragusin got things going with a takedown in the early seconds, and that was all he needed to take control of the match. Peterson countered with an escape late in the first, but Ragusin's four-point second period clinched the bout, 11-2.
Team score: Michigan 4, Iowa 0
149 pounds: No. 19 Ryder Block took the mat hoping to bring momentum back to the Hawkeyes, but it was No. 15 Lachlan McNeil that kept the foot on the gas for the Wolverines. The graduate senior recorded a takedown late in the first, and though Block attempted to rally late, McNeil secured an 8-3 triumph.
Team score: Michigan 7, Iowa 0
157 pounds: With Iowa suddenly facing another early deficit at home, the man next up that could bring it back was No. 14 Jordan Williams. The junior grabbed the early lead on Michigan's Cameron Catrabone with a takedown in the first and held it for most of the bout, but Catrabone stole the lead with a takedown with 30 seconds remaining.
Williams registered a late escape, but time ran out before he could attempt a final move.
Team score: Michigan 10, Iowa 0
165 pounds: No. 3 Michael Caliendo has been one of the Hawkeyes' most reliable wrestlers this season, and he gave Iowa the elusive victory he was looking for. Unranked Justin Gates was overwhelmed from the start, as Caliendo tallied four takedowns in the first to run away with the bout on his Senior Night, 21-6.
Team score: Michigan 10, Iowa 5
174 pounds: Fellow senior Patrick Kennedy was up next for Iowa, but unlike Caliendo, he couldn't end his Carver-Hawkeye career on a high note. This bout was a grudge match throughout, but an escape from Kennedy in the third looked to be enough.
That was the case until No. 11 Beau Mantanona scored a takedown with 45 seconds to go. Mantanona was called for stalling in the final seconds to give Kennedy a chance. Kennedy was awarded a riding time point to send the bout to overtime, but Mantanona clinched the upset victory with a takedown in sudden death.
Team score: Michigan 13, Iowa 5
184 pounds: After the intermission, unranked sophomore Gabe Arnold was tasked with the brutal challenge of knocking off No. 7 Brock Mantanona (Beau's younger brother). Arnold held serve throughout the match, playing Brock to a 1-1 deadlock late in the third period. The bout took three overtimes to be decided but Arnold secured the victory via tiebreakers to give Iowa some life.
Team score: Michigan 13, Iowa 8
197 pounds: Unranked Harvey Ludington was next, and he also had a tall order of beating No. 19 Hayden Walters of Michigan. Ludington opened the bout with a takedown to ignite the crowd. Walters countered with an escape and a reversal to tie the bout, but an escape and locked hands violation allowed Lundington to carry a 5-3 lead into the final frame.
Walters didn't make it easy, but Ludington held on for the 6-3 victory.
Team score: Michigan 13, Iowa 11
285 pounds: No. 8 Ben Kueter was next for the rare non-heavyweight finale against No. 5 Taye Ghadiali. Ghadiali netted a takedown in the first to draw the early lead, and dominated the match after that to give the Wolverines some much-needed breathing room.
Team score: Michigan 17, Iowa 11
125 pounds: No. 6 Dean Peterson was Iowa's final hope to salvage the dual. His opponent, No. 27 Diego Sotelo drew first blood with an escape in the second, and it came down to the third period.
Peterson recorded an escape immediately into the final frame to tie the bout, and sudden victory was needed. With his back against the wall, Peterson secured the triumph with a takedown in sudden death.
Team score: Michigan 17, Iowa 14
133 pounds: No. 8 Drake Ayala was next against unranked Gauge Botero, and he wasted little time taking care of business. A takedown in the first minute set the tone, and Ayala cruised to a 21-5 victory on his Senior Night. The lopsided margin allowed the Hawkeyes to escape with a dual win.
Final score: Iowa 19, Michigan 17
Up Next
The Hawkeyes return to action on Sunday, Feb. 15, for a road dual at Purdue. The match is scheduled to to begin at 12:00 CST on Big Ten Plus.
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