AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State wrestling team (6-3 overall, 1-1 Big 12) defeated Arizona State (7-10 overall, 2-1 Pac-12) on Friday night in Hilton Coliseum by a score of 23-18. The win was the Cyclones’ fifth-straight dual victory.
“We started a little slow tonight,” Iowa State head coach Kevin Jackson said. “We did the same thing at Rutgers and we had to wrestle hard in the last five matches to get the win. I see some good things and I see some bad things. Just like the East Coast swing, I expect a better performance on Sunday.”
The Cyclones won five of the nine contested matches, coming away with four wins that resulted in bonus points, including No. 9 Kyven Gadson’s major decision over No. 7 Jake Meredith at 197 pounds. Gadson improved his record on the season to 14-2 with the statement win in front of the home crowd. The Sun Devil’s highly touted senior dropped to 22-6 on the year with the loss.
Gadson is now 5-2 on the year against ranked opponents. He remains a perfect 8-0 in duals with four wins coming by major decision.
The meet started at 141 pounds and the Cyclones trailed 6-3 when redshirt sophomore 165-pounder Michael Moreno stepped on the mat and turned the tide.
Already leading 4-1 late in the first period with two takedowns in his favor, Moreno rolled Sun Devil wrestler Ray Waters to his back and got the pin with 45 seconds remaining in the opening period.
Ryak Finch was later able to slam the door shut on Arizona State’s comeback hopes with the Cyclones’ second pin of the dual. Finch, the 125-pound native of Stafford, Ariz., took the mat as Iowa State held a 17-12 lead.
Finch fell behind 2-0 early on a Dalton Miller takedown, but he scored a reversal with 33 seconds left in the first period and took Miller to his back for the pin on the edge of the mat.
Iowa State will be back in action Sunday to take on No. 2 Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. (CST) in a senior day battle at Hilton Coliseum.
Olympic Gold Medalist Jake Varner will be in attendance, as his Olympic Gold Medal banner is set to be unveiled during the 10-minute intermission on Sunday.
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Match-By-Match Results:
125: Ryak Finch (ISU) WBF Dalton Miller (ASU), (2:30)
133: Ares Carpio (ASU) win by forfeit
141: Matt Kraus (ASU) dec. Luke Goettl (ISU), 6-5
149: Max Mayfield (ISU) dec. Preston McCalmon, 7-2
157: Joel Smith (ASU) dec. Logan Molina, 6-0
165: Michael Moreno (ISU) WBF Ray Waters, (2:15)
174: Tanner Weatherman (ISU) mdec. Rush Hall, 15-4
184: Kevin Radford (ASU) dec. Mikey England (ISU), 10-9
197: Kyven Gadson (ISU) mdec. Jake Meredith (ASU), 9-1
285: Levi Cooper (ASU) dec. Matt Gibson (ISU), 5-2
