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Iowa’s Dennis Wins at NWCA All-Star Classsic

November 22, 2009

FULLERTON, CA -- University of Iowa senior Daniel Dennis scored two takedowns in the third period to beat Maryland's Steve Bell, 9-8, in the 133-pound match at the 44th annual NWCA All-Star Classic Sunday in Fullteron, CA. A standing room only crowd of 4,000 filled Cal State Fullerton's Titan Gymnasium for the event.

After no scoring in the first period, Dennis put the first point on the board with an escape to start the second period. Bell was warned for stalling, and Dennis scored a takedown to go up 3-0. Bell responded with a reversal and two nearfall points to take a 4-3 lead, but Dennis escaped before the end of the second period to tie the score at 4-4. Bell chose the down position to start the third period and scored an escape and a takedown to take a 7-4 lead. Dennis responded with three points of his own on an escape and takedown to tie the score at 7-7. Bell escaped to take an 8-7 lead, but Dennis scored a takedown with 25 seconds left in the match to secure the 9-8 victory.

The NWCA All-Star Classic served as a major fundraiser for the Cal State Fullerton wrestling program, which must fund itself. The Titans must raise $200,000 in funds by April 2010 and another $200,000 in pledges by August 2010 to survive.

Top-ranked Iowa will take its 5-0 dual record and 43-dual match winning streak on the road next week. The Hawkeyes will head to Lewisburg, PA, Friday to face Bucknell (1-2) at 3 p.m. (CT) and Rutgers (3-1) at 4:30 p.m. at Bucknell's Sojka Pavillion. Fans can listen to both duals live on AM-800 KXIC or www.hawkeyesports.com using the All-Access subscription. Bucknell is also providing a live video broadcast of the Iowa-Bucknell dual at www.bucknellbison.com through the All-Access subscription.

44TH ANNUAL NWCA ALL-STAR CLASSIC RESULTS
125 - Zach Sanders (Minnesota) dec. James Nicholson (Old Dominion), 7-5
133- Daniel Dennis (Iowa) dec. Steve Bell (Maryland), 9-8
141 - Alex Krom (Maryland) maj. dec. Adin Duenas (Cal State Fullerton), 8-0
149 - Kyle Borshoff (American) dec. Lance Palmer (Ohio State), 3-2
157 - Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) dec. Matt Moley (Bloomsburg), 10-4
165 - Jonathan Reader (Iowa State) maj. dec. Andrew Rendos (Bucknell), 11-2
174 - Stephen Dwyer (Nebraska) dec. Chris Henrich (Virginia), 7-6
184 - Max Askren (Missouri ) maj. dec. Josh Patterson (Binghamton), 14-7
197 - Jake Varner (Iowa State) dec. Craig Brester (Nebraska), 5-3
Hwt. - Mitch Monteiro (Cal State Bakersfield) dec. David Zabriskie (Iowa State), 4-3

---Courtesy of University of Iowa---

Iowa State Wrestlers Reader and Varner Victorious at All-Star Classic

November 22, 2009

FULLERTON, Calif. – Iowa State’s representatives wrestled and won twice Sunday at the NWCA All-Star Classic, presented by the William and Mary Wrestling Alumni Group, held on the campus of Cal State-Fullerton. Three-time NCAA finalist Jake Varner and two-time All-America honoree Jon Reader won their respective matches at the 44th edition of the annual event.

“We’re going to continue getting better,” head coach Kevin Jackson said. “We’ll continue to grow from this experience out here at this event. We need to make the necessary connections in practice and then we’ll be able to dominate the way we’re training to dominate. The team’s goal is to be the best in March.”

Reader hit the mat first for the Cyclones and scored a bonus-point victory over Bucknell’s Andy Rendos, 11-2 at 165 pounds. Reader, a native of Davison, Mich., notched four takedowns in the match. The ISU junior decisioned Rendos at both the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Championships.

Top-ranked Varner wrestled to his third career victory at the All-Star event in a rematch of the 2009 NCAA Championships final round. The ISU senior 197-pounder controlled Nebraska’s Craig Brester by decision, 5-3. The Cyclone senior, hailing from Bakersfield, Calif., recorded a takedown, reversal and had the riding time advantage in the match. Brester’s three points came on escapes.

ISU matches the two victories it recorded at last season’s NWCA All-Star Classic in Columbus, Ohio. Cyclones Nick Gallick and Varner notched wins at 141 and 197 pounds, respectively.

“(Jon) Reader and (Jake) Varner completely dominated the action,” Jackson said. “They looked to be the more aggressive wrestlers in both of their matches. I think Jake (Varner) wrestled strong but we’d like him to be up higher in the third so that a late takedown can’t tie the match.”

Second-ranked ISU senior heavyweight David Zabriskie fell in his first All-Star invite to Cal State-Bakersfield’s Mitch Montiero by decision, 6-3. The two-time All-American Iowa Stater gave up a crucial third period takedown to the sixth-ranked Bakersfield grappler.

“David (Zabriskie) didn’t wrestle like how we’ve been training him to do,” Jackson said. “He knows that and if he can start wrestling like we’ve been getting him to in practice, he’ll be dominating. He knows what the coaching staff wants out of him.”

Iowa State’s Gallick, a two-time 141-pound All-American, traveled to the event but did not compete.

The All-Star Classic matches are considered exhibition bouts and are not figured into ISU career record totals or national rankings.

Iowa State has had 68 participants in the NWCA All-Star Classic since its inception in 1967. The total ranks third behind Oklahoma State (81) and Iowa (74).

The Cyclones next hit the mat Dec. 6 against intrastate rival Iowa at home in Hilton Coliseum at 6 p.m.

---Courtesy Iowa State University---

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Who do you expect to win the 2010 NCAA Team Championship ?
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