CEDAR FALLS, Iowa ? Third-seeded Iowa State (7-2) was knocked out of the championship bracket at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in the UNI-Dome Saturday in its first-round dual after losing on criteria to unseeded Hofstra (5-4), 18-18. The Cyclones fought to tie the dual against the No. 12/16 Pride, winning five bouts, two of which gave ISU bonus points. Hofstra advanced on a pin by Lou Ruggirello at 133 pounds. ISU did not record a pin in the dual.
The Cyclones will face Northern Iowa at 3 p.m. The Panthers dropped their opening dual to sixth-seeded Michigan, 30-6.
Mitch Mueller put the first points on the board for the Iowa State with a 5-3 sudden victory decision over Mike Smith at 149 pounds. Mueller, ranked 14th nationally, held a 2-0 lead on a first-period takedown. With an exchange of escapes between the two wrestlers to start the second and third periods, Smith was able to tie the bout with a takedown at the 1:13 mark in the final stanza. Forced into a 30-second sudden victory period, Mueller notched the winning takedown in nine seconds. The sophomore's mark stands at 13-6.
At 157 pounds, fifth-ranked
Cyler Sanderson registered his fifth major decision of the season, a 15-5 victory over Jonny Bonilla-Bowman. Sanderson raced out to a 10-1 first period lead on a pair of takedowns and two three-point nearfalls. He added to his lead with three escapes in the third period en route to his 18th win of the year.
Redshirt freshman
Jon Reader's 15-0 technical fall of Anthony Tortora at 165 pounds tied the dual at 12-12. Reader wasted no time, scoring his first takedown at 2:49 and earned backpoints with a three-point nearfall for a 5-0 first period advantage. In Reader fashion, he started the second period from the down position and reversed Tortora. The sixth-ranked Cyclone continued to work for backpoints and was awarded a three- and two-point nearfall. With an escape and a quick takedown in the final period, Reader ended the match for his third technical fall of the season, pushing his record to 15-2.
Varner, the nation's top-ranked grappler at 184 pounds, maintained his spotless record (13-0) with a 7-1 decision over Justin Danz. A scoreless first period led to Danz's option to start the second period from neutral, but Varner took advantage with a takedown for a 2-0 lead. In the third period, Danz escaped from Varner, only to be taken back down to the mat where the Cyclone scored a two-point nearfall.
Varner's win tied the dual at 15-15, but the Pride picked up a win at 197 pounds to take an 18-15 lead into the dual's final match at heavyweight.
Fourth-ranked
David Zabriskie scored a dramatic 8-7 decision over Tom Daddino at heavyweight. Zabriskie faced a 5-1 deficit after the opening period, but tightened the match at 5-4 during the second period with an escape and a takedown. Daddino started the final period from the down position, but was quickly released by Zabriskie for a 6-4 lead. At 1:19 mark, Zabriskie tied the match at 6-6 with a takedown. Again Daddio escaped, but a takedown by Zabriskie in the closing 20 seconds was enough for the ISU victory.
Iowa State 18, Hofstra 18 (Hofstra wins on criteria, 1-0 in pins)125 - Dave Tomasette (Hof) dec.
Tyler Clark (ISU), 9-4
133 - Lou Ruggirello (Hof) pinned
Nick Fanthorpe (ISU), 1:32
141 ? Charles Griffen (Hof) dec.
Nick Gallick (ISU), 3-1
149 ?
Mitch Mueller (ISU) dec. Mitch Smith (Hof), 5-3 (SV)
157 ?
Cyler Sanderson (ISU) maj. dec. Jonny Bonilla-Bowman (Hof), 15-5
165 ?
Jon Reader (ISU) tech. fall Anthony Tortora (Hof), 16-0 (5:09)
174 ? Alton Lucas (Hof) dec.
Aron Scott (ISU), 3-2
184 ?
Jake Varner (ISU) dec. Justin Danz (Hof), 7-1
197 ? Joe Rovelli (Hof) dec.
David Bertolino (ISU), 7-2
HWT ?
David Zabriskie (ISU) dec. Tom Daddino (Hof), 8-7