ST. LOUIS (U of I) — University of Iowa junior Matt McDonough won the 2012 NCAA title Saturday night with a 4-1 decision over Penn State’s Nico Megaludis in the 125-pound NCAA finals. The national title is the second of McDonough’s career. He won the championship as a freshman in 2010 and finished runner-up last season.

Senior Montell Marion and sophomore Derek St. John each earned runner-up finishes after dropping a pair of decisions in the 141- and 157-pound finals.

McDonough, who has reached the NCAA finals in each of the last three years, wrestled through a scoreless first period before jumping on the board with a second-period escape. Leading 1-0 entering the third frame, McDonough surrendered a third period escape with 1:27 left in match. He then finished a single leg attack to grab a 3-1 lead before riding the Nittany Lion until the final whistle to pick up a riding time point (1:39) and earn the final 4-1 decision.