Cyclones Spotted in U.S. Rankings

AMES, Iowa ? Several Iowa State wrestlers were recently recognized as some of the best freestyle wrestling talent in the country in TheMat.com's U.S. Senior Freestyle rankings, released last week.

Two former Iowa Staters and one current Cyclone are the top grapplers in their weight divisions. Trent and Travis Paulson, natives of Council Bluffs, Iowa, are the top-rated individuals in the 66-kilogram (145.5-pound) and the 74-kilogram (163-pound) divisions. Trent Paulson earned All-America honors three times for Iowa State and was the 2007 NCAA 157-pound champion. Travis Paulson notched All-American status three times as a Cyclone, with fifth-place being his best finish as a senior.

ISU's most recent NCAA champion, Jake Varner is the top wrestler in the 96-kilogram (211.5-pound) division. Varner capped his junior year with a NCAA title at 197 pounds and is a three-time finalist heading into his senior campaign.

Current and former ISU wrestlers will take to the mat for the 2009 World Team Trials, presented by the U.S. Marines, May 30-31 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Participating wrestlers with Iowa State ties include: Kurt Backes, David Bertolino, Chris Bono, Nick Gallick, Trent Paulson, Travis Paulson, Jon Reader and Jake Varner.

TheMat.com U.S. Senior Freestyle Rankings
Date Ranked: 05/08/2009

55 KG/121 LBS.
1. Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Obe Blanc, Naples, Fla. (Gator WC)
3. Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (New York AC)
4. Michael Martinez, Pagosa Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
5. Ben Kjar, Centerville, Utah (Wolverine WC)
6. Ben Ashmore, Dallas, Texas (Sunkist Kids)
7. Brad Pataky, Clearfield, Pa. (Penn State)
8. Jeff Sato, Pismo Beach, Calif. (Athletes in Action)
9. Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
10. T.J. Hill, Farmington, Mo. (New York AC)

60 KG/132 LBS.
1. Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa (Gator WC)
2. Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
3. Matt Valenti, New York, N.Y. (New York AC)
4. Andy Simmons, Williamstown, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Nick Gallick, Tucson, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Drew Headlee, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
7. Kyle Jahn, Bolingbrook, Ill. (Unattached)
8. Ed Gutnik, Providence, R.I. (Gator WC)
9. Yero Washington, Jersey City, N.J. (Sunkist Lions)
10. Jordan Oliver, Easton, Pa. (Gator WC)

66 KG/145.5 LBS.
1. Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
2. Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator WC)
3. Brian Stith, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)
5. Jared Frayer, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
6. Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
7. Chris Bono, Ringgold, Ga. (Sunkist Kids)
8. Joe Johnston, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
9. Zach Kemmerer, Landsdale, Pa. (Unattached)
10. Darrion Caldwell, Rahway, N.J. (Unattached)

74 KG/163 LBS.
1. Travis Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
2. Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa. (New York AC)
3. Dustin Schlatter, Massilon, Ohio (Minnesota Storm)
4. Ryan Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
5. Jon Reader, Davison, Mich. (Cyclone WC)
6. Andrew Howe, Cedar Lake, Ind. (New York AC)
7. Matt Pell, Charlottesville, Va. (Cavalier WC)
8. Cyler Sanderson, Heber City, Utah (Sunkist Kids)
9. Lloyd Rogers, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Sunkist Kids)
10. Ryan Morningstar, Lisbon, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)

84 KG/185 LBS.
1. Jake Herbert, Wexford, Pa. (New York AC)
2. Eric Luedke, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)
3. Bryce Hasseman, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
4. David Bertolino. Norman, Okla. (Underdog WC)
5. Tom Meester, Sioux Falls, S.D. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Brandon Sinnott, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Gator WC)
7. Travis Pascoe, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
8. Carl Fronhofer, Hoboken, N.J. (Sunkist Lions)
9. Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
10. Alex Clemsen, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)

96 KG/211.5 LBS.
1. Jake Varner, Bakersfield, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Kyle Cerminara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
3. Wynn Michalak, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Gator WC)
4. Dallas Herbst, Winneconne, Wis. (Badger WC)
5. Brandon Halsey, Vista, Calif. (No Mercy)
6. Sean Stender, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
7. Micah Burak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Athletes in Action)
8. Eddie Phillips, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen)
9. Mike Tamillow, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
10. Clayton Foster, Kamiah, Idaho (Gator WC)

120 KG/264.5 LBS.
1. Steve Mocco, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
2. Tervel Dlagnev, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
3. Les Sigman, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
4. Dom Bradley, Blue Springs, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Ryan Tomei, Irwin, Pa. (Pitt)
6. Ryan Gritter, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Gator WC)
7. Michael Irving, Durham, N.C. (Gator WC)
8. Zach Rey, Hopatcong, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC)
9. Trey McLean, Merlin, Ore. (Unattached)
10. Kyle Massey, Champlin, Park, Wis. (Badger WC)

Players Mentioned

David Bertolino

Nick Gallick

Nick Gallick

Cyler Sanderson

Cyler Sanderson

Jake Varner

Jake Varner

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics