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Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclone Wrestlers Capture Three Crowns at Big 12 Championships
03.04.2006 | Men's Wrestling
Ames, Iowa - Iowa State's Nate Gallick became the 11th three-time conference champion in school history and All-Americans Trent Paulson and Kurt Backes captured conference titles to lead the Cyclones at the Big 12 Championships Saturday in Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State qualified five wrestlers for the NCAA Tournament, March 16-18 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Oklahoma State won its eighth Big 12 title in 10 years, winning the meet with 80 points and qualifying nine wrestlers for the NCAA meet. Oklahoma, which qualified eight wrestlers for the NCAA Championships, was second with 52.5 points. Nebraska, which qualified nine wrestlers for the NCAA meet, was third with 52. ISU was fourth and Missouri, which qualified seven wrestlers for the NCAA tournament, finished fifth with 42.
Gallick downed Oklahoma's Teyon Ware at 141 pounds, Paulson decisioned defending Big 12 champion Kevin Ward from Oklahoma State at 157 pounds and Kurt Backes topped Missouri's Raymond Jordan at 184 pounds for his second consecutive conference crown. Travis Paulson finished third and Jesse Sundell qualified for his second NCAA Championships.
"There's been a lot of pressure all season on our frontline guys," ISU head coach Bobby Douglas said. "They've had to go for extra points all year. I'm not happy with the results but I'm satisfied with the team's best effort. We were the underdog in several matches but we still made them dogfights."
The three-time conference champion Gallick captured outstanding wrestler honors and won his seventh career match in eight meetings against Ware, a two-time national champion. Gallick escaped in the second sudden victory and scored a takedown as time expired on the edge of the mat to earn his third straight 141-pound Big 12 title. Gallick became just the 11th ISU wrestler to win at least three conference championships.
"He's the hardest in the nation to wrestle," Gallick said. He's fast, strong and a great athlete. He has every gift that I have in wrestling and something more. I knew he had more riding time than I did in overtime. I knew I either had to ride him out or go after him and get a takedown. I took a chance and it worked out for me."
2005 All-American Trent Paulson earned his first conference crown with a 2-0 decision against Ward. Paulson has three career wins against Ward and avenged a first round loss suffered to the Cowboy at the 2005 Big 12 Championship.
"I've got to take this in stride and not let it go to my head," Paulson said. "Ward is a great wrestler and I have to be ready to face him again at the NCAA meet. I rode him for a long time because I knew he was a very good rider."
Kurt Backes, who pinned Nebraska's Travis Pascoe in the 184-pound finals in 2005, defended his crown successfully by decisioning Jordan, seeded third.
"I feel like I am peaking at the right time," Backes said. I'm feeling good right now. I prepare myself the best I can and try to get as good as I can get. It's been a long season and we have two weeks left. I'm just doing well right now and looking forward to freestyle." 2004 All-American Travis Paulson placed third at 165 pounds with a 4-1 decision to earn his third NCAA Championships appearance in as many seasons.
Sundell, who placed third at the 2005 Big 12 Championships in Omaha, earned his second national tournament appearance by placing fourth and earning a wild-card selection.
The NCAA Championships take place March 16-18 in Oklahoma City at the Ford Center. Fox Sports Net will be showing the Big 12 Championships on March 12 at 12:30 p.m.
Wrestlebacks
125 - Paul Donahoe (Nebraska) maj. dec. Ben Hanisch (ISU), 14-4
133 - Jesse Sundell (ISU) dec. Joe Comparin (Oklahoma), 4-0
149 - Jason Knipp (ISU) pinned Josh Wagner (Missouri), 3:59
165 - Travis Paulson (ISU) dec. Jarrod King (Oklahoma), 11-4
174 - Brandon Mason (Oklahoma State) dec. David Bertolino (ISU), 5-2
197 - Joel Flaggert (Oklahoma) maj. dec. Joe Curran (ISU), 10-2
Third-Place Bouts
133 - Patrick Aleksanyan (Nebraska) dec. Jesse Sundell (ISU), 10-9
149 - Robert Sanders (Nebraska) dec. Jason Knipp (ISU), 6-3
165 - Travis Paulson (ISU) dec. Marc Harwood (Missouri), 4-1
HWT - Jon May (Nebraska) dec. Richard Schopf (ISU), 5-2
Finals Results
125 - Sam Hazewinkel (Oklahoma) dec. Coleman Scott (Oklahoma State), 2-1
133 - Nathan Morgan (Oklahoma State) dec. Tyler McCormick (Missouri), 5-1
141 - Nate Gallick (Iowa State) dec. Teyon Ware (Oklahoma), 5-3 SV2
149 - Zack Esposito (Oklahoma State) dec. Matt Storniolo (Oklahoma), 12-8
157 - Trent Paulson (Iowa State) dec. Kevin Ward (Oklahoma State), 2-0
165 - Johny Hendricks (Oklahoma State) dec. Matt Pell (Missouri), 2-1 TB1
174 - Ben Askren (Missouri) maj. dec. Jacob Klein (Nebraska), 17-6
184 - Kurt Backes (Iowa State) dec. Raymond Jordan (Missouri), 4-2
197 - B.J. Padden (Nebraska) dec. Jake Rosholt (Oklahoma State), 4-0
HWT - Steve Mocco (Oklahoma State) dec. Jake Hager (Oklahoma), 4-1
Team Scoring
Oklahoma State - 80
Oklahoma - 52.5
Nebraska - 52
Iowa State - 47.5
Missouri - 42
Iowa State's Three-Time Big 12 Champions
Ron Gray (1957-59)
Dan Gable (1968-70)
Pete Galea (1973-76)*
Al Nacin (1973-75)
Mike Land (1977-79)
Tim Krieger (1987-89)
Eric Voelker (1987-89)
Eric Akin (1992-94)
Dwight Hinson (1996-98)
Joe Heskett (1999, 01, 02)
Cael Sanderson (1999-2002)*
Nate Gallick (2004-06)
* denotes four-time conference champion
Players Mentioned
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