Completed Event: Men's Wrestling versus Harold Nichols Cyclone Open on January 18, 2026 , , One Champ
Final
Men's Wrestling
Harold Nichols Cyclone Open
One Champ
Iowa State University Athletics
No. 7 Cyclone Wrestlers Upended by No. 5 Minnesota, 21-13
12.10.2005 | Men's Wrestling
Minneapolis, Minn. - The seventh-ranked ISU wrestlers fell 21-13 against the fifth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers Friday evening at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The Gophers snapped a three-dual losing streak to the Cyclones and improve to 6-0 on the season. Iowa State is now 3-2.
"It was a battle of skills and wills," head coach Bobby Douglas said. "Minnesota showed why they're one of the top teams in the country."
ISU's second-ranked two-time All-American Nate Gallick remained undefeated at 141 pounds, using four first-period takedowns to major decision Minnesota's Manuel Rivera, 15-5, in the opening matchup. Gallick, 10-0 on the season, tech. falled Rivera last year in Ames and now has 84 career wins.
Iowa State's sixth-ranked 2004 All-American Travis Paulson topped Minnesota's fourth-ranked All-American Matt Nagel at 165 pounds, 3-1. Paulson registered a decisive takedown as the second period expired and nearly put Nagel on his back. Nagel had beaten defending national champion Johny Hendricks from Oklahoma State at the NWCA All-Star Classic.
At 184 pounds, ISU's Kurt Backes used a strong 1:03 second period ride and a takedown at the end of the second period to improve to 2-0 in his career against sophomore Gopher NCAA qualifier Roger Kish, winning by a 6-3 decision.
Cyclone Joe Curran had a 4-1 decision at 197 pounds against Mitch Kuhlman to improve to 6-4 in his freshman season. Curran, now 4-0 in duals, was coming off of the dual's only pin against Iowa on Adam Fellers.
With the Cyclones trailing 18-13 heading into the final match, Cyclone senior NCAA qualifier Jesse Sundell was matched up against Minnesota's third-ranked All-American Mack Reiter at 133 pounds and almost pulled the unthinkable. With Sundell trailing in the second period, he pulled a reversal and three-point near fall and nearly pinned Reiter. Reiter recovered in the third period and prevailed by a score of 14-8 to clinch the dual.
Minnesota received bonus points from Travis Lang (125), freshman Dustin Schlatter (149) and Cole Konrad (HWT).
The ISU/Minnesota dual will be aired Sat. Dec. 10 on Fox Sports Net North at 5 p.m. CST. The Cyclones will be back in action Sun. Dec. 18 when they play host to Cal Poly at 2 p.m.
141 - Nate Gallick (ISU) maj. dec. Manuel Rivera, 15-5
149 - Dustin Schlatter maj. dec. Aron Scott (ISU), 19-6
157 - C.P. Schlatter dec. Trent Paulson (ISU), 5-4
165 - Travis Paulson (ISU) dec. Matt Nagel, 3-1
174 - Gabriel Dretsch dec. David Bertolino (ISU), 9-4
184 - Kurt Backes (ISU) dec. Roger Kish, 6-3
197 - Joe Curran (ISU) dec. Mitch Kuhlman, 4-1
HWT - Cole Konrad maj. dec. Richard Schopf (ISU), 19-6
125 - Travis Lang maj. dec. Ben Hanisch (ISU), 8-0
133 - Mack Reiter dec. Jesse Sundell (ISU), 14-8
Players Mentioned
PL
/ Men's Wrestling
PL
/ Men's Wrestling
PL
/ Men's Wrestling
PL
/ Men's Wrestling
PL
/ Men's Wrestling
PL
/ Men's Wrestling
PL
/ Men's Wrestling
PL
/ Men's WrestlingPollard, Dresser, Metcalf, St. John Wrestling Press Conference
Thursday, April 16
Kevin Dresser Interview (NCAA Championships Session 6)
Saturday, March 21
Kevin Dresser Interview (NCAA Championships Session 4)
Friday, March 20
Yonger Bastida Press Conference (Semifinals)
Friday, March 20
