Completed Event: Wrestling versus Harold Nichols Cyclone Open on January 18, 2026 , , One Champ
Final
Wrestling
Harold Nichols Cyclone Open
One Champ
Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclones Hit the Road for Old Dominion Match
11.19.2011 | Wrestling
NOTES
AMES, Iowa - The No. 24 Iowa State wrestling takes on Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., Sunday at noon (CST) for its third dual competition of the season. Last year the Cyclones defeated the Monarchs 26-11 in Hilton Coliseum in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. Iowa State enters Monarch territory after hosting the annual Harold Nichols Cyclone Open on Sunday, in which five Cyclones claimed titles.
Two recent open champs will compete for the first time in a Cyclone singlet after receiving the nod from Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Jackson. Freshman Shayden Terukina competed unattached and after a dominating performance claimed the 133-pound title and a starting spot in the lineup. Redshirt junior Matt Gibson pinned two of his four opponents en route to the heavyweight title, and will represent Iowa State for the first time in Cardinal and Gold. Freshman Luke Swalla and redshirt junior Chris Spangler will make their debuts as well against the Monarchs.
Terukina impressed many fans in Hilton Coliseum with two technical falls and a pin at 4:27 in the semifinal round. The Kamehameha, Hawaii native's determination led him to a comeback victory in the championship after trailing 7-6 entering the final period. Terukina's four matches at the open gave him a look into the competition at the collegiate level.
"Since it was my first tournament I really got a feel for what college competition is like and going into these duals it will be even tougher, but I'm happy I got to wrestle at the open and it kind of releases pressure off me now," Terukina said.
Both Terukina and Gibson implemented one of Jackson's main philosophies, which is taking advantage of fall opportunities. Gibson hopes to extend his success last Sunday the open to the Old Dominion meet. "I want to go out and wrestle to my potential," Gibson said. "I want to continue to show everybody that I want to wrestle and that the Cyclone family is getting stronger as the year goes on."
Of the 10 Iowa State wrestlers competing against Old Dominion, five are ranked in the top 20 of their weight division. The Cyclones started just three ranked wrestlers in the duals against Army and Boston.
"I think we're going to take a stronger team in than we took to the competition in Boston," Jackson said. "Our guys made a connection to how we want to wrestle in the technical approach and the tactical approach at the open."
Redshirt senior Andrew Sorenson moved up a notch in the rankings at 165 pounds this week to No. 6 after claiming a Cyclone Open title and pinning two of his opponents less than five minutes. Spangler has yet to compete this season, but the Naperville, Ill., native enters the weekend ranked seventh nationally at 174 pounds.
Redshirt freshman Ryak Finch has continued to wrestle in commanding fashion. Finch ranks No. 12 at 125 pounds and is coming off a day at the Cyclone Open in which he posted a 17-0 technical fall in the first period of a match and two pins in the semifinal and final rounds.
Old Dominion is 3-1 in dual competition this season with victories over Chattanooga, Buffalo and Cleveland State, and sport two ranked wrestlers. Sophomore John Nicholson is No. 14 overall at 157 pounds and Te Edwards is slated at No. 10 in the 174-pound weight class.
"Old Dominion is a big hand fighting team that tries to dominate the hand fight to create a pressure situation for their opponents," Jackson said. "It's something that we have to look forward to and deal with, but I think if we have the same mental attitude and energy we will be ready."
Iowa State will play host to No. 4 Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. (CST) Friday Nov. 25 in Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones hope to bring home a victory before opening Big 12 competition.
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