BIG TEN TOURNAMENT: GILMAN, BROOKS WIN CONFERENCE TITLES

As we thought, this postseason is and will likely continue to be about individual championships. It’s not ideal, but it is what it is. Let’s not let that get in the way of enjoying the pair of champions Iowa managed this weekend.

In all, the Hawkeyes managed two runners up, a third place finisher, a fifth, and a ninth to go with the two champs. They finished third overall with 112.5 points. Ohio State won, and Penn State took second. Here are the individual results, we’ll dig a bit deeper into the impact moving forward midweek.

Thomas Gilman — 125 pound Champion

Gilman’s final match against Nebraska’s Tim Lambert didn’t feature the flare we’re accustomed to seeing with the senior, but was more of a grind-it-out victory. He picked up a 4-0 decision with a pair of escapes to take the first postseason title of his career with relative ease. Good on ya, Thomas.

Cory Clark — 133 pound runner up

This. stunk. After getting dinged for a technical violation and giving up an escape to Nathan Tomasello of Ohio State, Clark found himself down two in the waning moments of the third period. He got in on the Buckeyes’ leg and managed a takedown with under 20 seconds left in the match, but got his grip too high on Tomasello, who escaped with one second remaining to take the title. No fun, but it was a hell of a match. Clark went on to throw away his second-place medal.

Topher Carton — 141 pound ninth place

Carton gets an autobid to the NCAA championships, wohoo! Kind of a disappointing weekend, but we’ll take that automatic qualification.

Brandon Sorensen — 149 pound third place

Sorensen lost to Isaac Jordan in the semis last night, but managed a fall in the third-place bout over Michigan’s Zac Hall. Again, not ideal, but it was nice to see him wrestle angry in the consolation championship. Hopefully he can do that in the frontside in St. Louis in a few weeks.

Michael Kemerer — 157 pound runner up

There wasn’t much Kemdawg could do against top-seeded Jason Nolf of Penn State in the finals. He just doesn’t seem to have the horsepower to compete at the Nittany Lion’s level, unfortunately. Anyways, a runner-up finish in his first season on the mat is reason for encouragement. Nice tournament, Kemerer.

Joey Gunther — 165 pound did not place

Sadly.

Alex Meyer — 174 pound fifth place

In typical Meyer fashion, the senior had a hiccup early in the tournament, and worked his way through the backside to take fifth place, one spot above his seed. Fingers crossed he’s able to stay in the championship bracket for a longer time at the national tournament.

Sammy Brooks — 184 pound Champion

After getting a bit of luck and not having to face Bo Nickal, Brooks put the match out of reach early for Ohio State’s Myles Martin. A six-point sweep in the first period was a great baseline for Brooks to pick up a 12-2 major decision to take his second-consecutive Big Ten Championship. The mullet fun in the interview wasn’t as great this time around, but the victory was just as sweet. Thanks for being you, Sammy.

Cash Wilcke/Steven Holloway — 197/HWT did not place

An unfortunate reality.