Wrestler goes for gold
Former Iowa wrestler Thomas Gilman took silver at the Freestyle World Championships on Aug. 25.
The three-time All-American for the Hawkeyes represented the United States at 57 kg in Paris last weekend.
After rolling through the first four rounds of the tournament with three decisions over Ukraine, Iran, and North Korea as well a technical fall in the quarterfinal match against Uzbekistan, Gilman hit a roadblock against Japan’s Yuki Takahashi. Gilman did not put up any points in a 6-0 loss in the championship match.
Although he did not win, his second-place finish helped lead the United States to its first World team title in 22 years.
Ohio State wrestler Kyle Snyder solidified the United States’ place in the final match of the tournament; the Olympic champion defeated fellow 2016 Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia.
Jordan Burroughs also took home a gold medal. James Green placed second at 70 kg while J’Den Cox and Nick Gwiazdowski both grabbed bronze medals in their weight classes.
USA baseball bounces back
Taking down the Czech Republic and South Korea, the Hawkeye-represented Team USA advanced to earn a No. 2 seed in the World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan.
USA handled the Czech Republic with ease, rolling to an 8-0 victory, thanks to pitcher Cole McDonald’s no-hitter.
“Cole went out and grew a lot,” head coach Rick Heller said in a release. “That’s what we needed … It was a tremendous, amazing performance by Cole, and it was a great atmosphere and crowd.”
McDonald struck out 7 and only walked three.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” McDonald said in a release. “I knew it was going the whole time, I just tried to stay even-keeled and not make it a big deal and keep on making pitches. I got lucky on a few pitches, but that happens when you throw one.”
USA clawed its way back for a come-from-behind win in the bottom of the ninth inning against South Korea fewer than 24 hours after topping the Czech Republic.
USA scored 4 runs in the final inning.
With the bases loaded, junior outfielder Chris Whelan drove in 2 runs on a full count before sophomore outfielder Ben Norman singled, adding another run for good measure.
“I was trying to keep it as simple as possible, trying to go the other way with it and hit something in the air to get a sacrifice fly on,” Whelan said in a release. “[South Korea] hung a slider, and I was fortunate to find the gap.”
The American’s top three batters in the hitting order (Whelan, Norman, and junior outfielder Robert Neustrom) combined for 6 hits and 5 RBI.
Sophomore third basemen Lorenzo Elion boosted Iowa’s later half of the hitting rotation, tallying 3 hits in his four at-bats.
USA faced the Czech Republic again at 10 p.m. Sunday. The game had not been completed at the time of publication.
Hawkeyes in the NFL
Former Hawkeyes clashed as the San Francisco 49ers played the Minnesota Vikings in a preseason game on Aug. 27.
C.J. Beathard, Iowa’s starting quarterback for the past two seasons, finished 7-of-13 for 159 yards. He threw a touchdown (87-yard screen pass to running back Raheem Mostert) and an interception.
Arguably one of Beathard’s favorite targets while at Iowa, tight end George Kittle failed to catch a pass for the 49ers. He was targeted twice.
Former Iowa defensive lineman Jaleel Johnson recorded two tackles for Minnesota.
The Vikings won, 32-31.