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UNIVERSITY PARK -- The scene in the showdown between top-ranked and undefeated Penn State and second-ranked and unbeaten Iowa at the Bryce Jordan Center came with the hype and glitter wrestling fans would expect.
With blue and white spotlights lighting the entrances to the floor, smoke marking the wrestler's entrance for each bout to a raised stage and Micah Parsons leading the "We Are" cheer, it was a marvelous setting for the record tying crowd of 15,998 and Big Ten Network cameras.
The dual meet included seven decisions in tight bouts, including Central Cambria graduate and Iowa senior Max Murin's win at 149.
The Hawkeyes (12-1) led by five points coming into the final four weights, but the Lions (11-0) swept those, including Max Dean's crucial 2-0 win over Jacob Warner at 197, to beat Iowa, 23-14, on Friday night.
"(Iowa) is a tough team, well coached team," said Penn State coach Cael Sanderson, who earned his 100th Big Ten win. "They were ready to go. I think we wrestled fine. I think we'll keep getting better as the season goes on. That's always the plan."
"I tell you what, we took our medicine too much out there in some positions during that match," Iowa coach Terry Brands said. "And you can never take your medicine. It happened too much. I'll tell you what, we have to get better."
Penn State's Marco Vespa made his debut against Iowa great Spencer Lee at 125, and thrilled the crowd with a takedown off the whistle. It was all Lee after that, rolling to an 18-2 technical fall in 2:14.
Roman Bravo-Young built a 7-2 lead on former Nittany Lion Brody Teske, but he hadn't gotten bonus points yet. And then he took Teske down into a low leg cradle and pinned him in 6:49, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
"Roman's pin helped a lot," Sanderson said. "Every point counts in a dual like that. I think he knew what he was doing. I don't want to give his game plan away. He was a takedown away from a major. He wrestled Teske for two years when he was in our room."
But the Hawkeyes responded at 141 with No. 2 Real Woods beating No. 4 Beau Bartlett, 3-1.
Murin made his mark on the match by defeating Shayne Van Ness, 4-1. The two-time state champion and two-time Altoona Mirror Wrestler of the Year trailed Van Ness, 1-0, after two periods.
In the third period, Murin escaped 18 seconds into the period and nearly took Van Ness down, but the Nittany Lion fought him off. Murin nailed the takedown with 33 seconds left and was given a riding time point for his 1:48 riding time advantage.
"We've got to get Shayne off the bottom," Sanderson said. "Obviously Murin is really good. He's experienced, very tough on top."
There has been lots of guessing about whether Levi Haines would wrestle against Iowa. The crowd roared its approval when he took the mat, which officially burned his redshirt. The move paid off as he broke a 1-1 tie in the third period against Cobe Siebrecht with a takedown.
He nearly got another takedown, but it was waved off. Siebrecht escaped with 48 seconds left, but Haines held on to win, 3-2. Iowa led, 11-9, at the break.
"That was a big win for him," Sanderson said. "Obviously by wrestling tonight his redshirt is officially gone and he's the guy we're going with. You want to be able to compete well after that."
"It's been exciting," Aaron Brooks said of Haines' emergence. "It's like he's anointed. He's had two big matches in the BJC. I think it's great for him to get this experience because the more he wrestles the better he gets."
After Iowa's Patrick Kennedy edged Alex Facundo in a tiebreaker, 2-1, at 165, Penn State two-time NCAA champ Carter Starocci had an unexpectedly close 2-1 win over Nelson Brands. Starocci's riding point was the difference.
At 184, Brooks rolled to a 22-7 technical fall in 5:42 over Drake Rhodes, giving the Lions a 17-14 lead.
In a rematch of the NCAA finals at 197, Dean continued to have Warner's number, winning 2-0. Dean, much like the finals, dominated from the top position.
And then Greg Kerkvliet bounced back from his loss to Michigan's Mason Parris with an avenging 4-1 win over Tony Cassioppi. The Hawkeye beat Kerkvliet in the Big Ten semifinals last season.
"Everybody likes winning," Kerkvliet said, "but I guess I had to relearn that. I hate losing. So, I have to make little changes and be mentally ready to go. I think that showed me the things I have to do. Mason Parris showed me what I have to do for March."
125--Lee, I, tech fall Vespa, 18-2, 2:14; 133--Bravo-Young, pinned Teske, 6:49; 141--Woods, I, dec. Bartlett, 3-1; 149--Murin, I, dec. Van Ness, 4-1; 157--Haines, PS, dec. Siebrecht, 3-2
165--Kennedy, I, dec. Facundo, 2-1 TB; 174--Starocci, PS, dec. Brands, 2-1; 184--Brooks, PS, tech fall Rhoades, 22-7, 5:42; 197--Dean, PS, dec. Warner, 2-0; 285--Kerkvliet, PS, dec. Cassioppi, 4-1.
Records: Iowa (12-1), Penn State (11-0).
Attendance: 15,998.