By MATT LEVINS

mlevins@thehawkeye.com

The University of Iowa crowned a pair of champions and locked up its third consecutive team title at Big Ten wrestling championships Sunday afternoon at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.

It was Iowa's 34th team title in the Big Ten Championships.

Iowa racked up 156 1/2 points and had champions in seniors Jay Borschel (174 pounds) and Dan Erekson (heavyweight).

The Hawkeyes won the team title despite going 2-4 in the finals. Two undefeated wrestlers -- redshirt freshman Matt McDonough (125) and Brent Metcalf (149) suffered their first losses of the season, while seniors Daniel Dennis (133) and Phillip Keddy (184) also came up just short in their title bids.

Borschel, ranked second, gave the Hawkeyes their first Big Ten champion with a dominating 8-1 win over seventh-ranked Scott Glasser of Minnesota in the final at 174.

Erekson, ranked 10th, caught second-ranked Nathan Everhart of Indiana in a cradle in the first period for a five-point move on his way to a 9-6 victory.

McDonough, ranked third, dropped a 6-4 decision to top-ranked Angel Escobedo of Indiana in the final at 125.

Top-ranked Metcalf, a national champion two years ago and a runner-up last year, gave up a late five-point move in a scramble situation in a 9-3 loss to second-ranked Luke Palmer of Ohio State in the final at 149.

Third-ranked Daniel Dennis suffered a 9-3 loss to top-ranked Jayson Ness of Minnesota in the final at 133, while 10th-ranked Keddy dropped a 5-3 decision to second-ranked John Dergo of Illinois in the final at 184.

Also for the Hawkeyes, Montell Marion was third at 141, Jake Kerr was fourth at 157, Ryan Morningstar was fourth at 165 and Chad Beatty was sixth at 197.

All 10 Iowa wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships March 18-20 in Omaha, Neb.

Team scores



1. Iowa, 156 1/2; 2. Minnesota, 119 1/2; 3. Wisconsin, 109; 4. Ohio State, 102 1/2; 5. Penn State, 91; 6. Purdue, 76; 7. Michigan State, 68 1/2; 8. tie, Illinois and Indiana, 64; 10. Michigan, 57 1/2; 11. Northwestern, 20.



Championship matches



125 -- Angel Escobedo (Indiana) dec. Matt McDonough (Iowa), 6-4. 133 -- Jayson Ness (Minnesota) dec. Daniel Dennis (Iowa), 9-3. 141 -- Mike Thorn (Minnesota) dec. Reece Humphrey (Ohio State), 3-1. 149 -- Luke Palmer (Ohio State) dec. Brent Metcalf (Iowa), 9-3. 157 -- Cyler Sanderson (Penn State) dec. Colton Salazar (Purdue), 8-4. 165 -- Andrew Howe (Wisconsin) dec. Colt Sponseller (Ohio State), 4-2. 174 -- Jay Borschel (Iowa) dec. Scott Glasser (Minnesota), 8-1. 184 -- John Dergo (Illinois) dec. Phillip Keddy (Iowa), 5-3. 197 -- Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin) dec. Sonny Yohn (Minnesota), 3-1. Hwt -- Dan Erekson (Iowa) dec. Nathan Everhart (Indiana), 9-6.



Iowa placewinners



125 -- 2. Matt McDonough. 133 -- 2. Daniel Dennis. 141 -- 3. Montell Marion. 149 -- 2. Brent Metcalf. 157 -- 4. Jake Kerr. 165 -- 4. Ryan Morningstar. 174 -- 1. Jay Borschel. 184 -- 2. Phillip Keddy. 197 -- 6. Chad Beatty. Hwt -- 1. Dan Erekson.