PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Iowa State wrestling team (2-3 overall, 0-1 Big 12) started its east coast road trip with a bang Friday night, scoring a 19-15 victory over Rutgers (10-2, 2-0 EIWA) at the Rutgers Athletic Center. Iowa State won four of its five final matches en route to its second dual win of the season.
“Obviously it’s always good to get a win,” head coach Kevin Jackson said. “We still have a lot of work to do on this trip with two more duals ahead of us. There’s little time to celebrate victories, and no time to dwell on defeat.”
The Cyclones held a 16-15 advantage heading into the final match of the dual. It was all up to No. 20 Matt Gibson again at heavyweight, much like on Dec. 16 against North Dakota State in Ames, to bring home the dual win for the Cyclones.
Gibson was victorious in a 7-5 decision over Rutgers’ Billy Smith. Gibson trailed late in the match but was able to get a late reversal on the right edge to grab the lead 6-5. Gibson then rode out Smith for the win 7-5 with 1:14 of riding time.
Redshirt freshman Tanner Weatherman provided the biggest highlight of the night for the Cyclones as he upset the No. 13 ranked wrestler in the country, Rutgers’ Greg Zannetti. Weatherman was able to get a takedown early in the first sudden victory period to seal a 9-7 win in a very entertaining match that went back and forth.
“Both Tanner and Matt Gibson were on the bottom down a point with the match on the line, and they both found a way to win,” Jackson said. “Tanner is continuing to improve and building his confidence each and every match.”
No. 20 Luke Goettl dominated his match at 141 pounds, getting a pin at the 2:35 mark over Rutgers’ Trevor Melde, who is ranked No. 18 by W.I.N. Magazine. Iowa State trailed 6-0 before Goettl was able to turn the tide and get six points for the Cyclones to knot the team score at 6-6.
Other winners tonight included No. 19 Michael Moreno at 165 pounds and No. 10 Kyven Gadson at 197 pounds. Both were victorious in convincing fashion.
Moreno won by way of an 11-6 decision over Rutgers’ Nick Visicaro. Moreno now leads the Cyclones with 15 wins on the year. Gadson won by way of a major decision over Rutgers’ Dan Seidenberg 14-6. Gadson is now 5-0 in duals for the Cyclones, as he’s posted three major decisions in those five wins.
“What I like about this team right now is we’re still not wrestling at our best, but we’re competing at a high level” Jackson said. “When you compete at high level, you give yourself a chance to win.”
Iowa State now travels to Philadelphia, Pa. for duals on Sunday with the Drexel Dragons and the Penn Quakers. The Drexel dual begins at 9 a.m. (CST) with the Penn dual following at 12 p.m. (CST).
Match-by-Match Results
125: Joe Langel (RU) dec. No. 20 Ryak Finch (ISU), 5-4
133: Vincent Dellefave (RU) dec. John Meeks (ISU), 7-6
141: No. 20 Luke Goettl (ISU) WBF (2:35) Trevor Melde (RU)
149: Ken Theobold (RU) dec. Max Mayfield (ISU), 4-0
157: No. 17 Scott Winston (RU) dec. Logan Molina (ISU), 4-0
165: No. 20 Mike Moreno (ISU) dec. Nick Visicaro (RU), 6-4
174: Tanner Weatherman (ISU) dec. No. 13 Greg Zannetti (RU), 9-7 (SV-1)
184: No. 13 Dan Rinaldi (RU) dec. Boaz Beard (ISU), 1-0
197: No. 11 Kyven Gadson (ISU) mdec. Dan Seidenberg (RU), 14-6
285: No. 20 Matt Gibson (ISU) dec. Billy Smith (RU), 7-5
