Three pins power top-ranked Iowa past Illinois

IOWA CITY — Three wins by fall powered a dominant Iowa wrestling team on Sunday as the top-ranked Hawks hammered No. 9 Illinois 36-6 for their third-straight win.

Spencer Lee made it three-for-three in not having to wrestle in to the second period this season. Lee pinned 13th ranked Justin Cardani late in the opening period to extend his winning streak to 26 straight matches.

Iowa also got a fall from Jaydin Eierman at 141 pounds, the first as a Hawkeye for the transfer who recorded 38 at Missouri. Third-ranked Tonny Cassioppi capped the match with a second period fall over No. 5 Luke Luffman at heavyweight.

#1 IOWA 36, #9 Illinois 6
125   #1 Spencer Lee (IA) pinned #13 Justin Cardani (ILL), 2:27; 6-0

133   #5 Austin DeSanto (IA) major dec. #23 Lucas Byrd (ILL), 18-6; 10-0

141        #1 Jaydin Eierman (IA) pinned #13 Dylan Duncan (ILL), 6:08; 16-0

149        #6 Max Murin (IA) dec. #8 Michael Carr (ILL), 3-1; 19-0

157        #7 Kaleb Young (IA) major dec. Johnny Mologousis (ILL), 13-4; 23-0

165        Luke Odom (ILL) dec. Joe Kelly (IA), 10-6; 23-3

174        #1 Michael Kemerer (IA) major dec. #26 D.J. Shannon (ILL), 10-2; 27-3

184        #11 Zach Braunagel (ILL) dec. #6 Nelson Brands (IA); 3-1 SV1; 27-6

197        #3 Jacob Warner (IA) dec. #24 Matt Wroblewski (ILL), 4-0; 30-6

285        ##3 Tony Cassioppi (IA) pinned #5 Luke Luffman (ILL), 4:30; 36-6

Records: Iowa (3-0, 3-0), Illinois (4-1, 4-1)

Date: Jan. 31, 2021

Attendance: 312