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Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclone Wrestlers Fall to Second-Ranked Oklahoma State, 26-14
01.29.2006 | Wrestling
STILLWATER, Okla. - The No. 9 Iowa State wrestlers (10-5, 1-1) concluded their weekend trip in Oklahoma by facing No. 2 Oklahoma State (13-1, 3-0) and suffering their first Big 12 loss, falling 26-14 Sunday afternoon in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cyclones were victorious at three weights, with two of those resulting in bonus points.
"Today we didn't wrestle bad," head coach Bobby Douglas said. "The riding time that the Cowboys got on us really hurt. We're going to go back to Ames and get better. We'll have them next in our house during the Big 12 Championship in a few weeks."
Two-time All-American Nate Gallick continued his winning ways with a 25-9 technical fall over Ethan Kyle in 7:00 at 141 pounds. The second-ranked Gallick (25-0, 2-0) tallied 11 takedowns, a two-point nearfall and acquired 3:19 in riding time. With the win over Kyle, Gallick is one victory shy of becoming the 29th Cyclone to reach 100 career wins. Gallick can crack the century mark next Sunday afternoon.
At 157 pounds, No. 3 Trent Paulson registered a 5-3 decision over No.13 Kevin Ward. Paulson scored a takedown at the 1:50 mark in the first period only to have Ward answer with an escape to make the score 2-1. Opting to start from the down position in the second period, Paulson escaped to increase the lead to 3-1. Ward, the 2005 Big 12 champion, was able to escape early in the third, but Paulson closed the door as he took down Ward with 56 seconds remaining for the final margin. Paulson improves his record to 18-1 overall and 2-0 in conference action.
The third win for Iowa State came by way of a pin by 184-pound All-American Kurt Backes (15-5, 2-0). Wasting no time, Backes shot early on OSU's Jack Jensen, getting a takedown to jump to a 2-0 lead. Backes let Jensen free so he could work from the neutral position. Again, Backes took down the Cowboy and was able to stick Jensen's shoulders to the mat at the 1:33 mark.
"The cradle was there so I was able to get the pin," Backes said. "We're almost there as a team and we have another shot at them [Oklahoma State] at Big 12's and that is where it will really count."
ISU concludes the regular season with a three-dual homestand, followed by the Big 12 Championships on March 4 in Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State will play host to Penn State on Feb. 5 at noon. That dual will be held at Ames High School due to a scheduling conflict at Hilton Coliseum.
No. 2 Oklahoma State 26, No. 9 Iowa State 14
125 - Coleman Scott (OSU) maj. dec. Ben Hanisch (ISU), 10-0 133 - Nathan Morgan (OSU) dec. Jesse Sundell (ISU), 7-4 141 - Nate Gallick (ISU) tech. fall Ethan Kyle (OSU), 25-9; 6:00 149 - Zack Esposito (OSU) maj. dec. Aron Scott (ISU), 15-5 157 - Trent Paulson (ISU) dec. Kevin Ward (OSU), 5-3 165 - Johny Hendricks (OSU) dec. Travis Paulson (ISU), 7-3 174 - Brandon Mason (OSU) dec. Grant Turner (ISU), 4-0 184 - Kurt Backes (ISU) pinned Jack Jensen (OSU), 1:33 197 - Jake Rosholt (OSU) dec. Joe Curran (ISU), 14-7 HWT - Steve Mocco (OSU) wins by forfeit
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