Cyclones Drop Heartbreaker In Chapel Hill

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Iowa State wrestling team (1-6, 1-3 Big 12) fell to North Carolina (5-3, 0-1 ACC), 20-17 in a dual that came down to the final bout of the evening. The Cyclones won four of the six bouts including two by bonus-point margin.

Redshirt senior, No. 12 Earl Hall put on an offensive clinic in an 18-2 technical fall victory. The Homestead, Florida, product scored on three takedowns and three four-point nearfalls in a match that lasted just two minutes.

Following the opening match at 133 pounds, the Cyclones would go on to drop the next five matchups. With just four bouts remaining, the Cyclones trailed 17-5.

The Cyclones had a bit of a lineup shuffle as redshirt senior Carson Powell took the mat at 184 pounds and redshirt junior, No. 9 Patrick Downey bumped up to 197 pounds.

Powell made the most of his opportunity in Chapel Hill. He wasted no time in bringing Lance Armenta to the mat and turning the Tar Hell for a pin in 1:24.

Downey was also victorious in his match. He was slated against Danny Chaid. The two wrestled to a gritty 6-4 decision. A late takedown and an escape for Downey cemented the win.

At 285 pounds, redshirt senior Quean Smith tied the dual at 17-17 for the Cyclones. Smith trailed 1-0 heading to the third period, when he blew the match open. The explosive heavyweight began the period with a reversal and went on to tack on a pair of takedowns to take the match 6-3 over Cory Daniel.

In the final bout of the night, it was redshirt freshman, No. 15 Markus Simmons taking on James Szymanski. In the first 30 seconds of the contest, Simmons scored on a takedown and what appeared to be four back points. After further review, Simmons was called for an illegal head lock, which negated the four-point nearfall and over two minutes in riding time.

When the referee brought the two wrestlers back to the mat, the score was reset to 2-1. Szymanski scored on a pair of escapes in the first and second periods, while Simmons tied the match at 3-3 with an escape in the third. A late flurry led to a Szymanski takedown, and ultimately a 5-3 victory for a Tar Heel victory.

Match of the Night – 184 pounds
Trailing 17-5, the Cyclones desperately needed a victory. Senior Carson Powell did just that and then some. He scored a first period takedown and turned Lance Armenta to lock up the fall in 1:24, bringing the dual score to 17-11.

Next-Up
Iowa State returns to Hilton Coliseum next Friday, Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. to take on the Panthers of Northern Iowa.

ISU v. UNC Match-by-Mach
133: Earl Hall (ISU) tech-fall, Nicholas Lirette (UNC), 18-2 (2:01).
141: Joey Ward (UNC) dec. John Meeks (ISU), 5-1.
149: Troy Heilmann (UNC) dec. Chase Straw (ISU), 9-6.
157: Joey Moon (UNC) dec. Colston DiBlasi (ISU), 9-3.
165: Jack Clark (UNC), tech-fall, Logan Breitenbach (ISU), 17-2 (5:25).
174: Ethan Ramos (UNC) dec. Lelund Weatherspoon (ISU), 7-4.
184: Carson Powell (ISU) WBF, Lance Armenta (UNC), 1:24.
197: Patrick Downey III (ISU) dec. Danny Chaid (UNC), 6-4.
285: Quean Smith (ISU) dec. Cory Daniel (UNC), 6-3.
125: James Szymanski (UNC) dec. Markus Simmons (ISU), 5-3.

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Players Mentioned

Logan Breitenbach

Colston DiBlasi

Earl Hall

John Meeks

Carson Powell

Markus Simmons

Quean Smith

Chase Straw

Lelund Weatherspoon

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics