CFFC Match Day results: Iowa's Kyle Parco, Stephen Buchanan claim OW belts, while Head Coach Tom Brands claims win 300
Iowa Hawkeyes debut on UFC FIGHT PASS with impressive victories over Princeton, Army West Point.
ST. CHARLES, Missouri – The much-anticipated CFFC Match Day debut for the University of Iowa ended with 15 individual victories for the squad on the night, a pair of team wins for the program, and an incredible milestone for Head Coach Tom Brand.
The Hawkeyes scored dual wins over the Princeton Tigers and Army West Point Black Knights in Friday's "Uncivil War" showcase, with Stephen Buchanan and Kyle Parco taking home CFFC Match Day belts as the evening's Outstanding Wrestler winners, while the iconic Brands scored the 300th victory of his career as a head coach with the 2-0 result on the night.
Francis Howell High School played host to the event, which was hosted by Journeyman Wrestling and streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
The night's first dual saw a competitive contest early, with the Hawkeyes up 7-3 after three matches, including the Tigers' lone win on the night as Eligh Rivera scored a 4-2 decision win over Cullan Schriever. However, things would take a drastic change shortly after.
Six straight bonus-point wins by the Hawkeyes – including a stunning five technical falls – saw Iowa put the dual well out of reach, before heavyweight Ben Kueter closed out the dual with a decision win over Sebastian Garibaldi.
With seven straight wins to close the contest, and nine victories overall, the Hawkeyes claimed a 39-3 win.
The first Outstanding Wrestler belt of the night was awarded to 197-pounder Stephen Buchanan, who delivered a devastating first-period takedown over three-time NCAA qualifier Luke Stout to seize the momentum, and then put up 14 points in the final two minutes to take home a tech fall.
"Our coaches are always telling us to score, just keep on scoring," Buchanan, who remained undefeated on the season, said after the win. "Just always get into position where you can score. Never stop wrestling. Continue wrestling, and that's what I try to present in my wrestling every day.”
Complete Iowa vs. Princeton results include:
125: Joey Cruz (IOWA) def. Ethan Rivera (PRIN) via decision (6-2)
133: Drake Ayala (IOWA) def. Daniel Jones (PRIN) via major decision (13-2)
141: Eligh Rivera (PRIN) def. Cullan Schriever via decision (4-2)
149: Kyle Parco (IOWA) def. Christopher Martino (PRIN) via technical fall (17-2)
157: Miguel Estrada (IOWA) def. Cody Tavoso (PRIN) via technical fall (21-6)
165: Michael Caliendo (IOWA) def. Hudson Hightower (PRIN) via technical fall (19-3)
174: Nelson Brands (IOWA) def. Xavier Giles (PRIN) via technical fall (20-4)
184: Gabe Arnold (IOWA) def. Mikey Squires (PRIN) via major decision (19-6)
197: Stephen Buchanan (IOWA) def. Luke Stout (PRIN) via technical fall (18-3)
HWT: Ben Kueter (IOWA) def. Sebastian Garibaldi (PRIN) via decision (8-2)
Meanwhile, the night's second dual proved much more challenging for Iowa, with Army West Point actually leading at the halfway point of the matchup. Charles Farmer opened the night with a major-decision result, Braden Basile scored an 11-6 win at 141 pounds, and Dakota Morris delivered the night's lone pin at 157, leaving the Hawkeyes trailed 13-7 after five matches
The idea of a shocking upset would quickly prove fleeting.
Iowa was able to start the bottom half of the pairing with 4 straight victories, including three that delivered bonus points, with Buchanan clinching the dual after another tech fall at 197 pounds. Army would claw back three points with a decision win at heavyweight, but Iowa walked away with a 23-16 victory.
At the conclusion, No. 4-ranked Kyle Parco, a four-time All-American in his first season with Iowa, was awarded the OW belt following his impressive victory over a gritty Trae McDaniel, and made his overall season intentions clear.
"There's always room to improve, but I'm looking for that title, man," Parco said. "I'm hungry, and I'm not leaving the state of Iowa without getting my title."
Complete Iowa vs. Army results include:
125: Charles Farmer (ARMY) def. Joey Cruz (IOWA) via major decision (8-0)
133: Drake Ayala (IOWA) def. Ethan Berginc (ARMY) via decision (7-3)
141: Braden Basile (ARMY) def. Cullan Schriever (IOWA) via decision (11-6)
149: Kyle Parco (IOWA) def. Trae McDaniel (ARMY) via major decision (14-5)
157: Dakota Morris (ARMY) def. Kael Voinovich (IOWA) via fall
165: Michael Caliendo (IOWA) def. Gunner Flipowicz (ARMY) via major decision (11-2)
174: Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) def. Dalton Harkins (ARMY) via technical fall (21-4)
184: Gabe Arnold (IOWA) def. Andrew Christie (ARMY) via decision (11-7)
197: Stephen Buchanan (IOWA) def. Wolfgang Frable (ARMY) via technical fall (20-4)
HWT: Lucas Stoddard (ARMY) def. Easton Fleshman (IOWA) via decision (2-0)
