WRESTLING: Cyclones down No. 6 Virginia Tech

The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State athletics communications. 

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State wrestling team (6-1, 0-0 Big 12) took down No. 6 Virginia Tech (8-2, 0-0 ACC) by a score of 21-12. The Cyclone’s winning efforts were aided by three bonus-point victories.

ISU got off to a slow start; dropping the first two matches at 141 and 149 to go down 6-0. The Cardinal and Gold squad would answer by winning five consecutive matches.

At 157, redshirt senior Luke Goettl got the scoring going for the Cyclones. He defeated Virginia Tech’s Jake Spengler via major-decision, 11-1. Goettl tallied three takedowns in his match and was able to secure a cradle that led to a three-point near-fall. He also worked hard on top, garnering 4:33 of riding time.

Redshirt senior Michael Moreno also secured bonus points for the Cyclones at 165. Moreno defeated Chad Strube by a score of 9-1. In his match, he grabbed two takedowns, two reversals and 1:44 of riding time to get the major.

The 174-pound match featured No. 11-ranked Tanner Weatherman and No. 9 Zach Epperly. Weatherman brought the 5,603-strong Cyclone faithful to their feet with an exciting finish. Epperly took a 3-2 lead with an escape to begin the third. With just six seconds left on the clock, Weatherman got a single leg and executed to score a takedown and a 4-3 decision over Epperly.

Redshirt sophomore Lelund Weatherspoon then battled the Hokies’ Austin Gabel at 184. The two traded escapes to begin the second and third periods making it 1-1. At the end of seven minutes of action, the score still remained tied. Nearing the end of the first sudden-victory period, Weatherspoon scored a takedown with just four seconds left on the clock. The two points sealed the match, giving the Cyclone a 3-1 decision over Gabel.

At 197, it was redshirt senior Kyven Gadson extending his dual win streak to 37 with a 10-2 decision over Jared Haught. Gadson grabbed four takedowns in his match while securing 3:12 of riding time.

Junior Earl Hall cemented the ISU victory with a 7-3 decision over Kevin Norstrem in the dual finale. Hall took Norstrem down twice in the match, also tacking on a reversal.

The victory over No. 6 Virginia Tech is Iowa State’s first over a top-10 team (NWCA Coaches’ Poll) since Jan. 31, 2010, when the No. 2-ranked Cyclones defeated No. 6 Cornell by a score of 24-13.

Iowa State will be back in action next Sunday at 2 p.m. as they take on No. 8 Oklahoma State in Hilton Coliseum.

Match-by-Match

125: Joey Dance (VT) dec. Kyle Larson (ISU), 3-2.
133: Earl Hall (ISU) dec. Kevin Norstrem (VT), 7-2. (1:49 RT)
141: Devin Carter (VT) dec. John Meeks (ISU), 9-8.
149: Sal Mastriani (VT) dec. Gabe Moreno (ISU), 9-3. (1:43 RT)
157: Luke Goettl (ISU) maj. dec. Jake Spengler (VT), 11-1. (4:33 RT)
165: Mike Moreno (ISU) maj. dec. Chad Strube (VT), 9-1. (1:44 RT)
174: Tanner Weatherman (ISU) dec. Zach Epperly (VT), 4-3.
184: Lelund Weatherspoon (ISU) dec. Austin Gabel (VT), 3-1 SV-1
197: Kyven Gadson (ISU) maj. dec. Jared Haught (VT), 10-2 (3:12 RT)
285: Ty Walz (VT) dec. Quean Smith (ISU), 7-3.