Iowa Close To Pinning Down Title

NCAA wrestling

Iowa’s Lincoln McIlravy earned his second pin of the day Thursday to move closer to a third straight national title while his No. 1 Hawkeyes widened their lead at the NCAA wrestling championships.

The Hawkeyes, seeking their fourth national title in five years, totaled 40 points through championship matches while winning 19 of 20 bouts and sending nine of 10 wrestlers into today’s quarterfinals.

Oklahoma State is in second place with 20 points with North Carolina and Oregon State tied for third with 19 points. Michigan State and Nebraska were in fifth with 15 points each while Edinboro, Illinois and Penn State shared seventh place with 14 points. Arizona State and Ohio University rounded out the top 10 finishers with 13 points apiece.

McIlravy, who won the 142-pound championship two years ago before capturing the 150-pound title last year, pinned Boston University’s Rod Peddy in four minutes and 14 seconds to go with his first-round pin over Maryland’s Humphrey Atiemo earlier Thursday.

“I go out to pin every time. If it’s there, I like to go for it,” said McIlravy, the top seed at 150.

Iowa coach Dan Gable said he felt “halfway good” about Iowa’s position.

“We’re supposed to have one loss, we’ve got one loss. It puts us where we’re supposed to be,” he said.

Oklahoma State coach John Smith said he didn’t know if the Cowboys could catch the Hawkeyes.

“They’re earning it. They’re going out and getting it,” he said.

There were no surprises among the other top seeds, although unseeded Mike Collins of Missouri continued his bid at 158. Collins advanced to today’s bouts with a 6-3 win over Pitt’s John Withrow, also unseeded. Earlier, he upset No. 2 seed Earl Walker of Boston University 7-5 at 158.

“When I went out on the mat, it was like my last hurrah because I’m a senior,” Collins said.

Local watch

Local entries Kevin Roberts of Oregon is still alive, while Zac Taylor of Minnesota has been eliminated.

Roberts, a 118-pound junior from University High School, defeated Gary Baker of Penn 9-5. But in a rematch of last year’s NCAA consolation final, Roberts dropped a 3-2 decision to Boise State senior Brett Bingham. He went on to defeat Mike Miller of North Carolina State 3-1 in the consolation bracket.

Taylor, a sophomore from Sandpoint, beat Brad Adlderman of Wyoming 6-4 in the the preliminary round. Army’s Ronny O’Daniel upset Taylor 6-2 in the first-round match, and Taylor was later eliminated, 6-4 in overtime, by Charles Gary of Illinois.