By Justin Worsley
Iowa's Brent Metcalf has once again shown he the the nation's best wrestler.
Metcalf, the 2008 national champion at the 149 pound weight class finally returned to the top of the podium this season after a hiccup last year against North Carolina State's Darrion Caldwell, defeating Ohio State's Lance Palmer 3-2.
In the match nicknamed "The Perfect Storm" by spectators, Metcalf used an early takedown to set the tone for the match. Metcalf was awarded the winning bonus point after racking up 1:29 of riding time.
For Metcalf, a redshirt senior, his final collegiate match was one to remember. Despite five career wins over Palmer, a junior, Metcalf was seeded second after losing to Palmer two weeks ago in the Big Ten tournament finals. Palmer's victory is the only setback for Metcalf, who finished the season with a 35-1 record.
"It feels good, feels like I'm redeeming myself from last year a little bit, just because this is the national tournament. You can't get last year back, but you can feel better about it because you finished it off the way you did," said Metcalf.
Prior to the finals, Iowa clinched the team's third straight tournament title, and walked away with three national champions. Along with Metcalf, freshman Matt McDonough won the 125 pound weight class and redshirt junior Jay Borschel capped off an undefeated season by defeating top-seeded Mack Lewnes of Cornell 6-2 to win the 174 pound weight class. Iowa sent five wrestlers in the finals.
Only one wrestler who won a national title last season repeated as a champion, Iowa State's 197 pound wrestler Jake Varner, who finished an undefeated season by defeating Nebraska's Craig Brester 5-2.
Minnesota senior Jayson Ness won the Bill Koll Outstanding Wrestler Award after winning the 133 pound weight class by posting a 6-4 decision over Iowa's Daniel Dennis.
Wisconsin head coach Barry Davis was given the Coach of the Year award.
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