IOWA CITY, Iowa. — The top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team defeated No. 6 Nebraska, 31-6, on Friday night in the 2021 season opener at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa won eight-of-10 bouts, scored bonus points in four matches and defeated six ranked opponents to win its 14th straight dual overall and extend its Big Ten winning streak to 19.  The Hawkeyes held a 28-5 advantage in takedowns and an 89-35 edge in match points.

The Hawkeyes got a fall from Spencer Lee, a technical fall from Austin DeSanto, and major decisions from Kaleb Young and Nelson Brands.

In just over six minutes of mat time, Iowa built a 11-0 lead in the team score. Lee led 6-0 before recording the fall in one minute, 21 seconds at 125. DeSanto won 21-6, piling up 10 takedowns before terminating his match in four minutes, 57 seconds at 133.

Jaydin Eierman made his Hawkeye debut at 141 and registered atop 10 victory over No. 7 Chad Red, 8-4. Max Murin scored a pair of takedowns on his way to a 6-2 win at 149, his first collegiate match at 149, and Young used four takedowns, two reversals and four back points to earn a 17-5 major decision at 157.

Alex Marinelli scored takedowns in each period to win 9-3 at 165. Nelson Brands earned a top 10 major decision in his Big Ten dual debut, topping No. 7 Taylor Venz, 13-5, and Tony Cassioppi closed the dual with a 3-0 shutout at 285.

Nebraska won matches at 174 and 197. Freshman Patrick Kennedy dropped a 7-4 decision to No. 4 Mikey Labriola at 174, and a third-period takedown was the difference in Jacob Warner’s 3-2 loss to No. 2 Eric Shultz at 197.

UP NEXT

No. 1 Iowa wrestles at No. 14 Minnesota on Friday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. (CT). The dual is televised live on BTN.