COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Iowa State wrestling team (8-5 overall, 1-2 Big 12) dropped its opening match of the NWCA National Duals 19-16 to Kent State (11-9 overall, 4-3 MAC) this afternoon at St. John Arena.
Heading into the final bout the dual was tied 16-16. Kent State got the win it needed to take home the dual win, as Mimmo Lytle knocked off Quean Smith, 3-2.
The Cyclones and Golden Flash split matches 5-5, but a pin by KSU’s Tyler Small over Gabe Moreno proved to be the difference in the dual.
All-American 165-pounder Michael Moreno picked up the lone bonus point one of the dual for the Cyclones, dropping KSU’s T.J. Keklak 17-5. The Urbandale, Iowa, native racked up 4:10 of riding time in the match, notching six takedowns en route to victory.
Moreno, ranked No. 10 in the latest InterMat poll, improved to 22-6 overall and 9-3 in duals with the major decision victory. He increased his team leading dual takedown mark to 35.
No. 1 Kyven Gadson earned a 7-3 win over the Golden Flashes’ Cole Baxter. Gadson scored two takedowns and a reversal in the match en route to victory. The Waterloo, Iowa, native has won 27-straight dual matches since Nov. 25, 2012.
Explosive sophomore Earl Hall ended a four-match losing streak, defeating Kent State’s Alfredo Gray 9-2. The Homestead, Fla., native improved to 15-10 overall on the year and 4-4 in duals.
Luke Goettl avenged a 7-2 loss at the Southern Scuffle to Kent State’s Michael DePalma, defeating him 11-8 today. Goettl had two three-point nearfalls in the match.
Freshman Lelund Weatherspoon was also victorious for the Cyclones today at 184 pounds. Weatherspoon trailed late in the second period before scoring a four-point move with 1 second left to take a 6-4 lead to the third period.
The Jackson, Mich., native held on for the 6-5 win, improving his overall record to 22-9 and dual record to 6-4.
No. 8 Tanner Weatherman was upset by unranked Caleb Marsh 8-7. The Huxley, Iowa, native was unable to get the final takedown he needed to prevail as he fell to 20-11 overall on the season and 18-7 in duals.
Iowa State is back in action again this afternoon to take on Hofstra, who fell 29-10 to No. 13 Ohio State in the first round. Wrestling begins at 4 p.m. CT at St. John Arena.
Match-By-Match Results:
125: Earl Hall (ISU) dec. Alfredo Gray (KSU), 9-2 (2:20 RT)
133: Mark McGuire (KSU) maj. dec. Shayden Terukina (ISU), 9-0
141: Tyler Small (KSU) WBF Gabe Moreno (ISU), 1:50
149: Luke Goettl (ISU) dec. Michael DePalama (KSU), 11-8 (1:34 RT)
157: No. 4 Ian Miller (KSU) dec. John Nicholson (ISU), 10-4
165: No. 10 Michael Moreno (ISU) maj. dec. T.J. Keklak (KSU), 17-5 (4:10 RT)
174: Caleb Marsh (KSU) dec. No. 8 Tanner Weatherman (ISU), 8-7
184: Lelund Weatherspoon (ISU) dec. Cory Campbell (KSU), 6-5
197: No. 1 Kyven Gadson (ISU) dec. Cole Baxter (KSU), 7-3
285: Mimmo Lytle (KSU) dec. Quean Smith (ISU), 3-2
