Wrestling picks up its first dual win of the season

AMES, Iowa – No. 18 Matt Gibson (8-2, 2-1) sealed the first dual win of the season, 22-18 for Iowa State (1-2, 0-0 Big 12) over North Dakota State (2-4, 0-0 WWC). The Cyclones were down 18-16 heading into the final match of the day at 285 pounds. 

“It’s good to get a win,” head coach Kevin Jackson said. “Obviously it was a lot tighter than we’d like it to be, but any time you give up 12 bonus points, it makes it tough to win.”

Iowa State won its final four matches of the day, as they were pitted in an 18-6 hole through the first six matches of the dual. At 174 pounds, redshirt freshman Tanner Weatherman started the four-match win streak with a 3-1 decision over NDSU’s Kurtis Julson.

“Our heavyweights came through for us with Boaz Beard winning, Kyven Gadson getting bonus points and Matt Gibson finishing it all off,” Jackson said.”

Gibson, a redshirt senior from Vallejo, Calif., pinned (4:07) the Bison’s Evan Knutson to score the Cyclones six points and the dual win. With the win, Gibson improved his season record to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in dual meets.

No. 18 Boaz Beard and No. 17 Kyven Gadson followed suit, notching wins at both 184 pounds and 197 pounds. Beard improved his record on the year to 2-1 overall and 2-1 in dual meets with a 7-5 decision over No. 18 Mac Stoll. 

Gadson, a Waterloo, Iowa native, continued his winning ways scoring a major decision, 17-4 over NDSU’s Kallen Kleinschmidt to cut the Bison’s lead in the dual to 18-16. With the win, the redshirt sophomore improved his record on the year to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in dual meets.  

Iowa State notched two more wins in the dual at 141 pounds and 157 pounds. No. 17 Luke Goettl (6-3, 1-2) defeated NDSU’s Mark Erikson 10-3 at 141 pounds. Redshirt freshmen Logan Molina (10-6, 1-2) defeated NDSU’s Hayden Zillmer 8-6  to notch his 10th victory of the season.

With the win, Molina is now tied with redshirt sophomore Mike Moreno for the team lead in wins at 10.

“We still didn’t wrestle our best, and we didn’t compete at the level we’re capable of,” Jackson said. “I see a tighter connection with our team. I see a bonding going on with some more cheering for each other and guys kind of pulling together and building this team and this program.”

Iowa State will be back in action at the 50th Anniversary of the Midland’s Championships in Evanston, Ill. on Dec. 30-31.

Complete results:

125: No. 5 Trent Sprenkle (NDSU) injury default over No. 20 Ryak Finch (ISU), 3:53

133: Josh Rodriguez (NDSU) dec. John Meeks (ISU), 6-2

141: No. 17 Luke Goettl (ISU) dec. Mark Erickson (NDSU), 10-3

149: Joe Garner (NDSU) dec. Max Mayfield (ISU), 5-4

157: Logan Molina (ISU) dec. Hayden Zillmer (NDSU), 8-6

165: No. 6 Steven Monk (NDSU) WBF over No. 19 Mike Moreno (ISU), (4:43)

174: Tanner Weatherman (ISU) dec. Kurtis Julson (NDSU), 3-1

184: No. 17 Boaz Beard (ISU) dec. N0. 18 Mac Stoll (NDSU), 7-5

197: No. 17 Kyven Gadson (ISU) mdec. Kallen Kleinschmidt (NDSU), 17-4

285: No. 18 Matt Gibson (ISU) WBF over Evan Knutson (NDSU), 4:07