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By Matt Pfiffner
Publisher, The Predicament

Check back throughout the weekend for updates to this page. The most current entries will be on top.

Saturday, May 30
Challenge Tournament semifinals, finals and consolation finals
3:37 p.m.
The final Iowan in consolation semifinal action was Sean Stender at 96 kg. in freestyle against Kyle Cerminara, who was seeded first, but upset in the semifinals. Stender used a body lock to throw Cerminara out of bounds early in the first period for a 4-0 lead. After video review, the call was upheld. A takedown to back by Stender gave him a 6-0 technical fall win in the first period. In the second period, they went into a 30-second overtime and Stender won the ball draw for the single leg position. Stender stepped out of bounds and lost the period, 1-0. In the third period, Cerminara scored two midway through the period on a takedown to back out of bounds. Stender was unable to score in the closing seconds and lost the match in three tough periods.

Saturday's action will conclude beginning tonight at 6:30p.m. with the best-of-three series finals and third-place bouts.

3:15 p.m.
In consolation semifinal action at 74 kg., Jon Reader of ISU met Lloyd Rogers and UNI's Moza Fay squared off against Andrew Howe.

Reader gave up the first point of the match, but quickly scored a takedown to knot the score at 1-1. The Cyclone used a push out for a 2-1 lead. Rogers locked up a cradle in the closing seconds and turned Reader to his back for the 5-2 period win. Reader stepped out early in the second to trail 1-0. A takedown tied the score and Reader used a gut wrench for another point and 2-1 period win. In the third and deciding period, Reader scored three points on a takedown midway through the period and went on to a 3-1 period win for the match.

Fay was next on that same mat to take on NCAA runner-up Howe from Wisconsin. Howe won the first period 3-0 on a late double leg takedown to Fay's back. In the second, Howe took Fay to his back early in the first and used a gut wrench for 5-0 lead. Fay's tournament ended with a 6-0 technical fall loss.

2:45 p.m.
In consolation semifinal action at 60 kg., current ISU Cyclone Nick Gallick met Ohio State star Reece Humphrey. Late in the first period, Humphrey got in deep on a double leg and when Gallick attempted to roll through, Humphrey caught him on his back and held him for the fall in 1:50.

2:41 p.m.
Iowa Hawkeye Daniel Dennis faced former U of Pennsylvania two-time NCAA champ Matt Valenti in consolation semifinal action at 60kg. The two got involved in a scramble midway through the first period and Valenti ended up on top with a cradle and scored the fall for the victory.

2:35 p.m.
In semifinal action at 74kg. in freestyle, current ISU star Jon Reader faced former Michigan standout Ryan Churella, with a finals date against Dustin Schlatter on the line.

Churella struck first with a takedown and exposure, but Reader scored exposure points of his own to cu the deficit to 2-3. Churella used a quick tilt for two more exposure points and 5-2 first period win. In the second period, Churella scored an early takedown with exposure for a 3-0 lead. After video review, it was changed to a 4-2 lead for Churella. He added another takedown later in the period for the 5-2 win.

2:20 p.m.
Current Iowa Hawkeye Daniel Dennis began the afternoon session with a 7-0, 1-3, 4-2 consolation win at 60 kg. over Drew Headlee. Dennis scored a quick takedown and used several gut wrenches to end the first period in just 27 seconds. After dropping the second period, Dennis came back with a solid 4-2 win in the third. He went on top 3-0 in the opening seconds with a takedown and gut out of bounds, but had to hold on after a wild scramble in the closing seconds.

Former UNI two-time All-American Moza Fay used a front head lock roll in the first period and a takedown with exposure in the second for a solid 3-2, 3-2 win over Mack Lewnes in consolation action at 74 kg.

In semifinal action at 60 kg., Nick Gallick of Iowa State could not get any offense going against the quick and solid Shawn Bunch and dropped a 0-1, 0-6 decision.

Former UNI standout Sean Stender picked up a consolation win at 96 kg. in freestyle action, with a 1-0, 2-1 victory against Clayton Foster. Stender used a pushout for the only point in the first period and scored a takedown with exposure in the closing seconds of the second period for the win.

Saturday, May 30
First Round and Quarterfinals
10:25 a.m.
The final Iowan to wrestle on the championship side of the bracket in the morning session was former UNI star Sean Stender. He took on 2008 Olympian Andy Hrovat at 96 kg. in freestyle action. Stender gave the Olympic qualifier a tough bout, but fell short of the win.

In the first period, Hrovat used a takedown and roll in overtime for a 3-0 win. It was tight in the closing seconds of the second period, when Stender appeared to be close to a takedown to Hrovat's back. But Hrovat turned the tables on Stender and rolled the former Panther for a two-point move and 2-0 period and match victory.

Action will resume with championship semifinals and finals and consolation action at 1:30 p.m. Winners of the challenge tournament advance to tonight's best-of-three finals against the U.S. National champ at their weight class.

10 a.m.
Two more in-state wrestlers took to the mats at 74 kg. Jon Reader of Iowa State faced Mack Lewnes and Moza Fay of UNI took on Ryan Churella.

Reader trailed 1-0 in the first period when he hit a front headlock roll for three points and went on to a 3-2 win. Lewnes scored a pair of takedowns and a point on a leg lace in the second on his way to a 3-1 win. In the third and deciding period, Reader countered a Lewnes takedown attempt with a lift and exposure for a 2-0 lead. Lewnes scored a takedown off the same move, but Reader held on for the win to advance to the semifinals.

The Cyclone will take on Churella, who defeated Fay in two periods, in the semis.

Fay was up 2-1 in the first period when Churella reversed him to his back for a 3-2 lead. Churella would win the period by that score. Fay got taken down and turned early in the second period and Churella cruised to a 6-0 technical fall victory.

9:25 a.m.
A pair of current in-state standouts were the first to hit the mats from Iowa, with mixed results.

At 60 kg., ISU's Nick Gallick met Drew Headlee and current Iowa Hawkeye Daniel Dennis faced top-seeded Shawn Bunch. Gallick won a wild first period against Headlee, 4-4, but dropped the second period, 3-0, when Headlee won on a takedown in overtime. Gallick jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the third and went on to a 4-2 period win to take the match and advance to the semifinals.

Gallick will now face Bunch, who scored a 6-1, 3-0 victory over Dennis. Bunch used his strength and quickness to counter most of Dennis' shots in the first period. In the second, it was 0-0 late, but Bunch scored a takedown and turn in the final 30 seconds for the match victory.

8:45 a.m.
The action is about to get underway in Council Bluffs. Sunday will be a bigger day for wrestlers with Iowa ties, but there are several hitting the mats for Saturday's tournaments. Three weight classes in men's freestyle, four in Greco-Roman and four in women's freestyle will be contested today. The challenge tournaments will run throughout the day, with the best-of-three finals contested at night.

In men's freestyle at 60 kg., Iowa's Daniel Dennis begins his tournament against No. 1 seed and U.S. Nationals runner-up Shawn Bunch. Iowa State Cyclone Nick Gallick faces Drew Headlee. The winner of this weight class will take on former Iowa standout Mike Zadick in the best-of-three finals tonight.

At 74 kg., former Cyclone and CB Lewis Central great Travis Paulson waits for the winner of this challenge tournament. Included in the field are current ISU Cyclone Jon Reader, who faces Mack Lewnes of Cornell University in the first round, and former Anamosa and Northern Iowa star Moza Fay, who takes on Ryan Churella in the opening round. Minnesota standout Dustin Schlatter is the No. 1 seed here.

The only Iowan at 96 kg. in men's freestyle is former UNI great Sean Stender. He has a first-round bye and meets Andy Hrovat in the second round. The winner of this weight class meets current ISU NCAA champ Jake Varner in the best-of-three finals tonight. Kyle Cerminara is the No. 1 seed.