NOT THEIR DAY. Iowa drops the Big Ten championship in heartbreaking fashion. Page 8. MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2014 THE INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COMMUNITY SINCE 1868 DAILYIOWAN.COM 50¢ State GOP head quits The Iowa GOP quickly looks to find new leader after A.J. Spiker steps down. By CARTER CRANBERG [email protected] Time is of the essence for the Iowa Republicans. After GOP State Central Commit­ tee Chairman A.J. Spiker resigned this past weekend, of­ ficials must now con­ Iowa 133-pounder Tony Ramos defeats Tyler Graff of Wisconsin to bring home the title at the Big Ten championships in the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., on Sunday. (The Daily Iowan/Tessa Hursh) sider who could take his place. According to the Des Moines Register, Spik­ er resigned from his position to join a Rand Paul PAC, a move that Spiker the Republican com- ex-GOP head mittee did not expect. Committeeman Steve Scheffler as well as several other members, was unaware of Spiker’s desire to work for the Paul PAC. “I talked to A.J. quite often, but he never indicated to me in any way, shape, or form that he intended to step down,” Scheffler said. “To say I was surprised is quite an understate­ ment.” Attempts to reach Spiker on Sun­ day evening were unsuccessful. The committee is looking for a can­ didate who can unite the party for this year’s elections, which could potential­ Wrestlers squander ly sway the state Senate in the Repub­ licans’ favor. As of now, the committee will hold a meeting in late March to discuss and vote on a new chairman. Co-head Danny Carroll said he intends to run chance, finish 2nd for the opening. SEE SPIKER, 3 RECAP FEATURE Five Iowa wrestlers advanced to the Big Ten In his final season as Iowa’s 133-pounder, championship finals, and four lost. Tony Ramos finally wins a Big Ten individual championship. By DANNY PAYNE [email protected] Local-food By CODY GOODWIN MADISON, Wis. — Session II of the Big Ten champion­ [email protected] ships went extremely well for Iowa on March 8. Derek St. John, Nick Moore, Mike Evans, and Ethen Lofthouse ad- MADISON, Wis. — That Iowa’s Tony Ramos won benefits vanced to the finals on Sunday and brought Iowa within his first Big Ten individual title on Sunday afternoon 1 point of leader Penn State. wasn’t a surprise. He was, after all, the top seed at 133 But during Session III, those four wrestlers couldn’t pounds. A first-place finish was expected. find the same magic — and it crippled the Hawkeyes. What was surprising — and almost impressive, in a stressed Up by a small margin over the Nittany Lions heading way — was how the senior Ramos was able to secure into the 157-pound championship match, Iowa had the his conference crown. Locally grown produce chance to distance itself heading into the next three bouts. Ramos beat Wisconsin’s Tyler Graff in the 133-pound benefits farmers and But St. John, the defending NCAA champion at the finals in the Kohl Center by way of a 2-1 decision, weight, dropped his second match of the season to James becoming the 110th Big Ten champion in Iowa histo- residents. Green. The Cornhusker 157-pounder fired and connected ry. And in the midst of all the pushing and shoving on a quick double-leg shot at the opening of the match and defensive scrambles was the fact that Ramos won and took down St. John for an early lead. without scoring a takedown. By MEGAN DEPPE St. John made the last moments of the fight interesting “Yeah, that might be different for the fans,” he said. [email protected] when he scored a takedown, but he couldn’t do anything A native of Carol Stream, Ill., Ramos thought little else and dropped the championship, 6-4 of the fact that he won because of a riding-time point The comfortable atmosphere and “Weather that storm early and then start to take it out — which was both accumulated and secured in the reasonable size is not the only rea­ of the guy,” head coach Tom Brands said in regards to St. bout’s final period. son that local shopper Katie Peter­ John’s match. “The guy takes us down right away and Instead, Ramos oozed confidence and relief. He said son chooses to buy her groceries at then basically effortlessly rides us through the first peri­ after his match that in addition to winning a confer­ New Pioneer Co-op. od. That’s a tough hole to dig yourself out of.” ence title — something that has proved elusive each “I know some local growers in the ar­ While Brands was speaking of a hole in the 157-pound of the last two seasons — he secured a mental edge ea, which is a huge incentive,” Peterson match, the hole Iowa dug for itself was too big to climb over Graff. said. “I can shop to help support them.” out of. Graff and Ramos have done battle four times in All across the country, locally Nick Moore, wrestling three-time defending Big Ten their college careers. Graff claimed the first bout be- grown food helps to build stronger champion David Taylor, fell victim to the Nittany Lions’ tween them, only to watch Ramos win the next three. connections between the urban and 165-pounder in major fashion. There was a point in the That kind of familiarity can sometimes cause match- rural communities. Iowa is one ex­ second period that, in hindsight, told the story for the es to be much lower scoring and aesthetically boring. ample of how local food is contribut­ next two matches. They both know of each other’s attacks and counters, ing to regional economics, according When it appeared Moore had all but taken him down, of their strengths and weaknesses. to a post released by the U.S. Depart­ Taylor, staying true to his nickname of “Magic Man,” For Ramos, the familiarity led to an adjustment. ment of Agriculture last week. somehow contorted his body and managed to score 2 on During his third-period ride, where he kept Graff on Peterson, along with knowing Moore. Moore looked like he was going to chip away at his the mat using almost everything in his top-position farmers in the area, has had experi­ opponent’s lead, but he failed to convert the opportunity. arsenal, Ramos made a slight change that made a big ence in growing vegetables. “It’s just wrestling,” Taylor said. “You just don’t give difference. This helps her decision-making when it comes to purchasing her SEE RECAP, 5 SEE RAMOS, 5 own food. SEE LOCAL FOOD, 3 WEATHER DAILY IOWAN TV ON THE WEB INDEX HIGH LOW • SCAN THIS CODE CHECK DAILYIOWAN.COM FOR HOURLY CLASSIFIED 9 57 34 • GO TO DAILYIOWAN.COM UPDATES AND ONLINE EXCLUSIVES. FOLLOW DAILY BREAK 6 • WATCH UITV AT 9 P.M. @THEDAILYIOWAN ON TWITTER AND LIKE US OPINIONS 4 Mostly sunny at first, breezy, SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE CONTENT. SPORTS 10 turning cloudy later. 2 NEWS THE DAILY IOWAN DAILYIOWAN.COM MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2014 GALLERY WALK The Daily Iowan Volume 145 Issue 153 BREAKING NEWS STAFF Phone: (319) 335-6063 Publisher 335-5788 Email: [email protected] William Casey Fax: 335-6297 Editor-in-Chief 335-6030 Kristen East CORRECTIONS Managing Editor 335-5855 Call: 335-6030 Jordyn Reiland Policy: The Daily Iowan strives for ac- Metro Editors 335-6063 curacy and fairness in the reporting Rebecca Morin of news. If a report is wrong or mis- Stacey Murray leading, a request for a correction or Opinions Editor 335-5863 a clarification may be made. Zach Tilly Sports Editors 335-5848 PUBLISHING INFO Josh Bolander The Daily Iowan (USPS 143.360) is Danny Payne published by Student Publications Arts Editor 335-5851 Inc., E131 Adler Journalism Building, Sam Gentry Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2004, Copy Chief 335-6063 daily except Saturdays, Sundays, Beau Elliot legal and university holidays, and Photo Editor 335-5852 university vacations. Periodicals Tessa Hursh postage paid at the Iowa City Post Projects Editor 335-5855 Office under the Act of Congress of Jordyn Reiland March 2, 1879. Design Editor 335-6063 Haley Nelson SUBSCRIPTIONS Graphics Editor 335-6063 Call: Juli Krause at 335-5783 Alicia Kramme Email: [email protected] Convergence Editor 335-6063 R.S.V.P holds a Gallery Walk event on March 7. R.S.V.P is a local paper art store. (The Daily Iowan/Callie Mitchell) Subscription rates: Brent Griffiths Iowa City and Coralville: $20 for one TV Director 335-6063 semester, $40 for two semesters, Reid Chandler METRO $10 for summer session, $50 for TV Sports Director 335-6063 full year. Josh Bolander Convicted rapist sues driving 82 mph in a 65-mph zone. located the van in the southeast portion Police investigate Out of town: $40 for one sememster, Web Editor 335-5829 A strong odor of raw marijuana was of the lot. $80 for two semesters, $20 for Tony Phan state to overturn reportedly detected while officers were Cleggette abandoned the van and shooting summer session, $100 all year. Business Manager 335-5786 conviction at the passenger side window, the jumped a nearby fence, the complaint The Iowa City police are investigating Send address changes to: The Daily Debra Plath complaint said. said. He continued on foot and a shooting that occurred on the evening Iowan, 100 Adler Journalism Build- Classifed Ads/Circulation Manager A man found guilty of third-degree When Watson opened the glove jumped another fence separating the of March 7.