No. 2 ISU Drops Close Dual to No. 1 Iowa, 18-16

AMES, Iowa ? Bonus points turned out to be the difference as the second-ranked Iowa State wrestling team dropped a close dual to top-ranked Iowa, 18-16. The Cyclones split the 10 contested weight classes with the Hawkeyes, 5-5, Sunday night at Hilton Coliseum.

A crowd of 11,137 fans clamored into the rafters of Hilton Coliseum to see the No. 1 versus No. 2 mat matchup. Fans were treated to an exciting Hilton setup as the wrestling action was elevated into the air by a four-foot stage.

“The teams split the five matches, but the bottom line is win or lose, we have to be better and we can be better,” said Iowa State head coach Kevin Jackson. “There are still a lot of things we have to work on. Even in a couple matches that we won, I don't think my wrestlers and I were satisfied with the performance.”

Sophomore Cyclone Jerome Ward didn't start the first dual of the ISU season, but that didn't seem to matter to him. Ward proved to notch the biggest upset of the night as he took down Iowa's Phillip Keddy by decision, 5-3. Keddy, considered the top 184-pounder in the country by W.I.N. Magazine, couldn't muster any offensive points against Ward's stingy defensive effort. Leading in the third period by a score of 3-2, Ward distanced his lead over Keddy by finishing a single-leg takedown attempt near the edge of the mat. Ward betters his season record to 5-1 and Keddy drops to 7-1 overall.

“I was pleased with the way Jerome (Ward) wrestled,” Jackson said. “He was aggressive and you can see his offense getting better and better.”

Ward was quick to thank the ISU coaching staff for aiding in his improvement.

“I've been learning a lot from our coaches,” Ward said. “I had a couple of guys working with me in the room this week. We worked on hand control and it paid off tonight.”

ISU's Jon Reader pulled out the 165-pound match to be victorious over his familiar foe, Iowa's Ryan Morningstar, by a score of 4-3. Heading into the match, Reader was 0-3 on his career against the Hawkeye. Morningstar tightened the match to 3-3 with a last-second takedown in the third period, but the 1:45 amount of riding time built by Reader added the deciding point in the favor of the Cyclones. Reader's record improves to 6-0. Morningstar falls to 5-1.

Three-time NCAA finalist Jake Varner added bonus points to the ISU score with a 12-4 major decision of Iowa's Chad Beatty. Varner compiled over three minutes of riding time in the victory. The Bakersfield, Calif., native is 7-0 this season.

“I'm going for the fall every time I'm out there,” Varner said. “Late in the match for bonus points, I had to cut him and take him down.”

In the final match of the night, ISU heavyweight David Zabriskie was outweighed by Iowa's Blake Rasing by more than 60 pounds. The weight disadvantage didn't stop Zabriskie, a two-time All-American, as he scored a 3-1 win by decision in sudden victory. Zabriskie improves to 6-0 in his senior campaign.

Two-time All-American Cyclone Nick Gallick held off Iowa's Dan LeClere to take the 141-pound bout by decision, 8-6. Heading into an overtime period of sudden victory, Gallick hipped over LeClere to land on top of his opponent. Gallick shifted his weight back to secure the takedown at 0:47. The Iowa Stater improves to 5-0 in his senior season. LeClere drops to 7-1 overall.

Iowa State suffered back-to-back losses to start the dual as 125-pounder Andrew Long fell to Iowa's Matt McDonough by decision, 13-7. In a sudden victory overtime period, Hawkeye Daniel Dennis edged ISU's Nick Fanthorpe, 10-8. Dennis scored a controversial takedown as time expired in the extra period of time to break the tie.

Cyclone senior Mitch Mueller was pinned by Iowa's Brent Metcalf at the 5:50 mark at 149 pounds. Mueller struck first in the match with a quick takedown at 1:22 in the first period.

Senior ISU 174-pounder Duke Burk fell to Iowa's Jay Borschel by decision, 10-4.

Making his first career start at 157 pounds, ISU's Andrew Sorenson was stopped by Iowa's Aaron Janssen. The Cyclone sophomore was edged by decision, 8-6.

ISU is back in action Dec. 19 against Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Click the video slideout tab for press conference video, a photo album and full results from the ISU-Iowa dual.

IOWA STATE 16, IOWA 18
125 ? Matt McDonough (UI) dec. Andrew Long (ISU), 13-7
133 ? Daniel Dennis (UI) dec. Nick Fanthorpe (ISU), 10-8 (SV)
141 ? Nick Gallick (ISU) dec. Dan LeClere (UI), 8-6 (SV)
149 ? Brent Metcalf (UI) pinned Mitch Mueller (ISU), 5:50
157 ? Aaron Janssen (UI) dec. Andrew Sorenson (ISU), 8-6
165 ? Jon Reader (ISU) dec. Ryan Morningstar (UI), 4-3
174 ? Jay Borschel (UI) dec. Duke Burk (ISU), 10-4
184 ? Jerome Ward (ISU) dec. Phillip Keddy (UI), 5-3
197 ? Jake Varner (ISU) major dec. Chad Beatty (UI), 12-4
HWT ? David Zabriskie dec. (ISU) Blake Rasing (UI), 3-1 (SV)

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Players Mentioned

Duke Burk

Duke Burk

Nick Fanthorpe

Nick Fanthorpe

Nick Gallick

Nick Gallick

Andrew Long

Mitch Mueller

Mitch Mueller

Andrew Sorenson

Andrew Sorenson

Jake Varner

Jake Varner

Jerome Ward

Jerome Ward

David Zabriskie

David Zabriskie

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