Cyclone Wrestling in Preseason Polls

Iowa State's wrestling team has garnered a top-10 ranking in two preseason polls, Intermat/NWCA and W.I.N. Magazine. The Cyclones occupy individual rankings in all but two weight classes in the Intermat/NWCA poll. Amateur Wrestling News has also released its individual preseason poll in which three Cyclones sit in the top 10.

As a team, ISU is ranked sixth by both Intermat/NWCA and W.I.N. Magazine. Across the board in the preseason top-spot is 2006 NCAA runner-up Minnesota, while four-time defending national champion Oklahoma State is second. Oklahoma, which finished third at the NCAA Championship in 2006, is ranked third by W.I.N. Magazine and fourth by Intermat/NWCA. Missouri takes the third spot on the Intermat/NWCA poll. Iowa comes in fourth on W.I.N. Magazine's poll and fifth in Intermat/NWCA's.

Nick Gallick, a redshirt freshman and younger brother of NCAA champion Nate Gallick, breaks into the Intermat/NWCA poll at No. 16 at 133 pounds. Gallick replaces two-time NCAA qualifier Jesse Sundell. At 141 pounds, another redshirt freshman, Mitch Mueller, is ranked 17^th by W.I.N. Magazine and 20^th by InterMat/NWCA. Mueller will take over the 141-pound spot after Nate Gallick claimed a NCAA title for ISU last season. As the 149-pound rotation has yet to be set, three Cyclones are being recognized for their talent at the weight. Senior Jason Knipp, junior Aron Scott and redshirt freshman Cyler Sanderson grab the 17^th spot on the Intermat/NWCA poll.

Trent Paulson, a senior two-time All-American, has been listed as the preseason favorite at 157 pounds by Amateur Wrestling News. InterMat/NWCA and W.I.N. Magazine list Paulson as second, behind Brian Stith of Arizona State. Paulson finished fourth and Stith finished second at last year's NCAA tournament. W.I.N. Magazine lists two-time All-American Travis Paulson as third, while Amateur Wrestling News and InterMat/NWCA rank him fifth. Paulson is listed behind defending champion Johny Hendricks of Oklahoma State and Iowa's Mark Perry. Perry returns to 165 pounds after spending last season at 174 pounds.

As the Iowa State 174-pound starting job is up for grabs, InterMat/NWCA places both David Bertolino and Grant Turner as No. 16 for Iowa State, while W.I.N. Magazine lists Bertolino as 17^th.

Making his debut as a Cyclone at 184 pounds will be redshirt freshman Jake Varner. The two-time California state champion jumps into the rankings at No. 10 and 15 by InterMat/NWCA and W.I.N. Magazine respectively. Varner is the only freshman listed at 184 pounds on the W.I.N. Magazine poll. An All-American and three-time NCAA qualifier at 184-pounds, senior Kurt Backes will move up to 197 pounds this season. Backes occupies the sixth spot on Amateur Wrestling News and W.I.N. Magazine's rankings. InterMat/NWCA puts Backes as eighth.

Iowa State will open the 2006 ? 07 season against Buena Vista on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. at Ames High School.

Cyclone Wrestling in Preseason Polls

Players Mentioned

Kurt Backes

David Bertolino

Nick Gallick

Mitch Mueller

Travis Paulson

Trent Paulson

Cyler Sanderson

Aron Scott

Grant Turner

Jake Varner

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Iowa State University Athletics

Cyclone Wrestling in Preseason Polls

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Players Mentioned

Kurt Backes

David Bertolino

Nick Gallick

Mitch Mueller

Travis Paulson

Trent Paulson

Cyler Sanderson

Aron Scott

Grant Turner

Jake Varner

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