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Iowa State University Athletics
Gallick Moves on to Semifinals at NCAA Wrestling Championships
03.17.2006 | Wrestling
Oklahoma City, Okla. - Nate Gallick guaranteed All-American status for the third straight year as he defeated West Virginia's Brandon Rader in a 141-pound quarterfinal bout to advance to tonight's semifinals at the 76th NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. Trent Paulson, Travis Paulson and Kurt Backes remain alive in the wrestlebacks. Oklahoma State still leads the team race with 76 points. The Cyclones are tied for 24th place with Wisconsin with 20 points.
Gallick initiated a wild-scramble as the first period ended and threwdown the Mountaineer for an early 2-0 lead. Gallick proceeded to ride out Rader the entire second period. Rader, just a freshman, had pinned his first and second-round opponents before meeting up with the top-seeded Gallick. Gallick faces Michigan State's Andy Simmons in tonight's semifinals. Gallick has defeated the fourth-seeded Spartan twice in his career, both in the Midlands Championship finals in sudden victory.
"Five wins and you are a national champion, I've got three," Gallick said. "At this point in the tournament there are no easy matches, everybody comes after you. Now I'm going to get something to eat and take a nap."
Top-seeded Trent Paulson had beaten Iowa's 2005 national runner-up Joe Johnston at 157 pounds twice this season, once in the finals at the Kaufman-Brand Open and in the December dual. Johnston struck early with a first period takedown but Paulson countered with a quick escape. Johnston chose neutral to begin the second period and scored another takedown. Trailing by two heading into the third period, Paulson chose down and escaped early to make it 4-3. Paulson took several shots but was fought off by the Hawkeye who capitalized for a takedown in the waning seconds of the match. The top four seeds at 157 pounds are gone from the championship bracket as third-seeded Alex Tirapelle fell to No. 11 seed Derek Zinck from Lehigh. Paulson faces Oregon State's Tony Hook as the Beaver eliminated second-seeded C.P. Schlatter of Minnesota.
Eighth-seeded All-American Travis Paulson went up against Michigan's undefeated and top seed Ryan Churella in a 165 pound quarterfinal bout. Paulson struck first with a takedown midway through the first period. The junior exploded for another takedown in the second period after Churella chose down. Churella, down 4-2 in the third, pulled a four-point move as the pair went into a scramble with a takedown and two-point nearfall. That was enough for the Wolverine as he held on to advance to the semifinals and remain undefeated. Paulson will meet Missouri's Matt Pell in the wrestlebacks.
"Gallick wrestled smart," Douglas said. "We had a good strategy for both Paulson matches and there is no question that Travis was the aggressor throughout the entire match. He was scored on going for another takedown. We've got to keep fighting."
No. 7 seed All-American Kurt Backes won his first match in the 184-pound consolation bracket, scoring a takedown just four seconds into the match on Michigan's Tyrel Todd. Backes rode out Todd the remainder of the first period and scored a quick reversal to open up the second. Backes used almost three minutes of riding time to his advantage for an 8-3 victory. Backes then faced Lehigh's David Helfrich, who pinned two opponents in the wrestlebacks. Backes controlled the tie-up through the first period and capitalized on a double-leg as time wound down for a 2-0 lead. Backes got a quick escape to open the second period and added an additional third-period takedown and a minute and a half of riding time to down Helfrich, 6-2. That sets the stage for a rematch between Backes and Penn State's Eric Bradley. Backes downed the previously top-ranked Nittany Lion with a major decision in their February meeting en route to winning Big 12 Wrestler of the Week honors.
The fourth session begins at 6 p.m. this evening.
Quarterfinal Results
141 - No. 1 Nate Gallick (Iowa State) dec. No. 9 Brandon Rader (West Virginia), 3-0
157 - No. 9 Joe Johnston (Iowa) dec. No. 1 Trent Paulson (Iowa State), 6-3
165 - No. 1 Ryan Churella (Michigan) dec. No. 8 Travis Paulson (Iowa State), 6-4
Consolation Results
184 - No. 7 Kurt Backes (Iowa State) dec. Tyrel Todd (Michigan), 8-3
184 - No. 7 Kurt Backes (Iowa State) dec. David Helfrich (Lehigh), 6-2
Semifinal Matchup
141 - No. 1 Nate Gallick (Iowa State) vs. No. 4 Andy Simmons (Michigan State)
Consolation Matchups
157 - No. 1 Trent Paulson (Iowa State) vs. Tony Hook (Oregon State)
165 - No. 8 Travis Paulson (Iowa State) vs. Matt Pell (MIssouri)
184 - No. 7 Kurt Backes (Iowa State) vs. No. 8 Eric Bradley (Penn State)
Team Scoring
Oklahoma State - 76
Iowa - 47.5
Oklahoma - 47
Minnesota - 44.5
Penn State - 39.5
Lehigh - 39
Arizona State/Hofstra - 38.5
Michigan - 38
Cornell - 33
Players Mentioned
Pollard, 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
