AMES — The Cyclone wrestling team closed out its dual season on Sunday with a 23-15 loss against No. 5 Missouri. Iowa State was able to split with the Tigers having won five out of the 10 bouts but ultimately lost due to bonus points.
Bonus points won the dual for No. 5 Missouri
“Missouri is a bonus point team,” head coach Kevin Dresser said afterwards. “They got a lot of guys that can light it up and they lit us up in a couple of places. That was the difference today.”
The matches that brought in major bonus point wins for the Tigers were over some of Iowa State’s most consistent wrestlers.
Redshirt freshman Austin Gomez (133) lost by technical fall before the full seven minutes were up. Ian Parker (141) and Marcus Coleman (174) were each pinned before the third period.
“I told them, ‘We put schedules together to give you guys different feels,'” said Dresser. “Missouri is a different feel than just about anybody out there because they have so much funk.”
Overall, the Cyclones only managed to garner a total of nine takedowns in the entire dual. Three of those takedowns came from matches that resulted in a loss.
Dresser stays hopeful in what is next for the Cyclones.
“We learned that we’ve got some guys that wrestling is very important to. We have a lot of guys that are very coachable so far,” Dresser said. “Now we have to get extra excited for this time of year. The guys need to get extra excited. I told them, ‘It’s kind of like you play the NFL season all year long then you make the playoffs and you start all over 0-0.’ We’re 0-0 again and we get a chance to start all over and hopefully much wiser. I’ve liked the team all year long. I feel like they’re solid quality guys.”
Gannon Gremmel and Jarrett Degen were highlights
The day began at heavyweight with Gannon Gremmel. The redshirt sophomore has been on a positive incline with his season. Against Mizzou, the Dubuque native was able to win in double-overtime against a ranked opponent, 5-3. This win marks Gremmel’s 24th win of the season.
Gremmel was able to stay tough on his defense to not allow himself to be taken down in some close instances in overtime that could have cost him his match.
“I did like the way Gremmel dictated the pace,” Dresser said. “He seemed excited. He stayed in there in some tough situations. When you get into overtime, overtime it’s a gut check. I didn’t feel like he had a gut check against UNI. He lost the gut check on Thursday but he won the gut check today.”
Fun way to start the dual with a Gannon Gremmel win in double overtime 👀 pic.twitter.com/sE9u9zYquc
— CycloneFanatic.com (@cyclonefanatic) February 24, 2019
Jarrett Degen walked into his match facing off against No. 8 Brock Mauller. When stepping on the mat, the 149-pounder for Mizzou only had one prior loss, which happened to be to Degen.
The redshirt sophomore handed Mauller his second season loss with an 11-4 win he secured with two takedowns, three escapes, two back points and riding time.
“That was good for him because he didn’t have a good night against UNI,” Dresser said. “The thing with Jarrett Degen he’s always going to be in there. I think anybody who gets him on a bracket sheet at the Big 12 or NCAA’s they go, ‘Oh my gosh I got Jarrett Degen,’ you don’t know what you’re going to get.
The victory over Mauller brought Degen a confidence boost before he begins training for the Big 12 Championships.
“A little bit more confidence. I needed that one after UNI especially,” said Degen. “I’m ready to go.”
Emotional Senior Night for Willie Miklus
Dresser was able to set up the dual with Willie Miklus closing out the night for the Cyclones.
Miklus won his match against his former teammate, Wyatt Koelling, in a 4-0 decision. Although ending your dual career with your 97th win is pretty great, it was more than just a win for Miklus.
“It was emotional,” Miklus said. “It was a bigger deal than I wanted to let on. I didn’t want to admit that it was huge to me. It definitely is and definitely was.”
Miklus was able to win in front of his former team, both his fan bases and most importantly his family.
“It was amazing,” Degan said. “It was real nice having an older guy on the team to look up to, model after. Tonight was awesome to see him get that win and watch everyone give him a standing ovation. But he’s not done yet.”
Match-By-Match Results
285: Gannon Gremmel (ISU) dec. Zach Elam (MU), 5-3 SV-2
125: Alex Mackall (ISU) dec. Dack Punke (MU), 4-2
133: John Erneste (MU) tech. fall Austin Gomez (ISU), 22-6 (6:20)
141: Jaydin Eierman (MU) pinned Ian Parker (ISU), 4:53
149: Jarrett Degen (ISU) dec. Brock Mauller (MU), 11-4
157: Jarrett Jacques (MU) dec. Chase Straw (ISU), 5-2
165: Connor Flynn (MU) dec. Logan Schumacher (ISU), 4-2
174: Daniel Lewis (MU pinned Marcus Coleman (ISU), 2:03
184: Sam Colbray (ISU) dec. Dylan Wisman (MU), 3-2
197: Willie Miklus (ISU) dec. Wyatt Koelling (MU), 4-0
