Seven to the Big 12 Finals as ISU Leads

03.07.2009 | Men's Wrestling

By: cyclones.com

LINCOLN, Neb. ? The Iowa State wrestling team's quest for a historic Big 12 Conference three-peat has reached the halfway mark. The early returns are good. ISU has seven Big 12 finalists and currently stands in first place with 56 points at the NU Coliseum. The Cyclones will have a shot at individual titles in the 125, 133, 141, 149, 184, 197 and 285-pound weight classes. Nebraska is in second with 43 points and is followed by Missouri's 40 points. The Huskers and the Tigers each have five finalists. Oklahoma is fourth in the team standings with 20 points and Oklahoma State is fifth with eight points.

Complete Event Coverage
Complete Results - First Session		Photo Album

Both top-ranked Cyclones will be going for their second Big 12 titles this evening. Jake Varner shut-out OSU's Clayton Foster 5-0 in semifinal action at 197 pounds. David Zabriskie took Nebraska's redshirt freshman heavyweight Tucker Lane's best shot, but once again Zabriskie prevailed over the Husker. Zabriskie finished off Lane with a takedown at the 0:26 mark in the second sudden victory period to win, 4-2 (SV2). Varner will wrestle NU's Craig Brester in the finals. Varner decisioned the Husker in their last meeting, 3-2. Zabriskie faces Missouri's Mark Ellis in a heavyweight title match that will feature the nation's top two wrestlers.

ISU's Tyler Clark advanced to the finals in the 125-pound class by edging Oklahoma State's Obenson Blanc by decision, 4-3. Clark, the No. 3 seed, used a flurry in the second period, where he caught the second-seeded Blanc fleeing the mat and scored a takedown on the edge of the circle. Clark faces Oklahoma's Joey Fio in the 125-pound final.

Both of the Cyclone “Nicks” advanced to the final round tonight with decisions. Nick Fanthorpe decisioned Nebraska's Matt Vacanti 5-3 and Nick Gallick blanked Jamal Parks of Oklahoma State, 2-0. Fanthorpe will get Chris Notte of OSU for the Big 12 133-pound title. Gallick will get a rematch with Missouri's Marcus Hoehn at 141 pounds. Hoehn beat Gallick in the last meeting between the two wrestlers on a stalling warning in overtime.

Cyclone 149-pounder Mitch Mueller tallied four takedowns to power his way to a strong 10-4 decision of NU's Robert Sanders in the semifinal round. Mueller will face Kyle Terry of Oklahoma for the title at 149 pounds.
Redshirt freshman Iowa Stater Jerome Ward will get his first taste of Big 12 finals action after edging OU's Pat Flynn in extra time, 2-1 (TB1). Ward faces Nebraska's Vince Jones for spot on top of the Big 12 184-pound podium.

The Cyclones had one wrestler fall in pigtail action with fifth-seeded 174-pounder Duke Burk, who drew No. 4-seed Jeff James of Oklahoma. Burk fought back from a 4-0 deficit to tie the match at 5-5 in the third period, but lost 6-5 due to a 1:12 riding time advantage built up by James. Burk will face off with Newly McSpadden of Oklahoma State in consolation action.

Cyclones Cyler Sanderson (157) and Jon Reader (165) fell in semi-final action. Sanderson was edged by Missouri's Michael Chandler 7-5 and Reader dropped a tough overtime bout to Stephen Dwyer of Nebraska, 7-3 (TB1). The Cyclone 157-pounder faces Chad Terry of Oklahoma in consolation action and Reader also gets a Sooner in Ryan Smith.

Finals action begins at 7 p.m. and is being telecast live on Fox Sports Midwest, Fox Sports Southwest and Comcast Chicago. Live statistics are available on Cyclones.com.

Quarterfinal Matches
174 pounds ? Jeff James (OU) dec. Duke Burk (ISU), 6-5

Semi Final Matches
125 pounds ?Tyler Clark (ISU) dec. Obenson Blanc (OSU), 4-3
133 pounds - Nick Fanthorpe (ISU) dec. Matt Vacanti (NU), 5-3
141 pounds - Nick Gallick (ISU) dec. Jamal Parks (OSU), 2-0
149 pounds - Mitch Mueller (ISU) dec. Robert Sanders (NU), 10-4
157 pounds ? Michael Chandler (MU) dec. Cyler Sanderson (ISU), 7-5
165 pounds ? Stephen Dwyer (NU) dec. Jon Reader (ISU), 7-3 (TB2)
184 pounds ? Jerome Ward (ISU) dec. Pat Flynn (OU), 2-1 (TB1)
197 pounds ? Jake Varner (ISU) dec. Clayton Foster (OSU), 5-0
HWT - David Zabriskie (ISU) dec. Tucker Lane (NU), 4-2 (SV2)