AMES — It’s going to be a busy weekend inside Hilton Coliseum, and Iowa State wrestling made sure it started the right way.
The No. 4 Cyclones won eight of 10 matches and beat No. 18 West Virginia, 32-7, on Friday night, pushing their win streak over the Mountaineers to eight straight and improving to 23-2 all-time in the series.
The dual never really felt in doubt. On paper, this was one Iowa State was expected to win. Even without three starters in the lineup — Evan Frost (133), Isaac Dean (184) and Rocky Elam (197) — the Cyclones were in control.
How they got there, and who led the way, is what mattered most.
Because if you were one of the 6,456 fans in the building, you know the tone was set at 125. And it was set by No. 11 Stevo Poulin.
Poulin walked onto the mat looking to flip the script against No. 8 Jett Strickenberger, who had won the previous four meetings.
He walked off with a statement 14-4 major decision.
The New York native built a 7-1 lead in the opening period behind an early takedown and four near-fall points, then kept the pressure on the rest of the way. In past matchups, he had struck first and let things slip late. Friday, he finished.
“I think it’s just a testament to my training,” Poulin said. “I’ve talked about improving my gas tank all year. Going out there, I knew that was something that guy lacks.”
Kevin Dresser liked what he saw from his veteran 125-pounder and believes he’s peaking at the right time.
“Stevo is just really climbing right now,” Dresser said. “He’s getting more confidence. He’s putting more offense out there. It’s a great time of year to get this kind of confidence.”
If 125 set the tone, 157 created separation.
No. 8 Vinny Zerban delivered, knocking off No. 6 Ty Watters, 5-2.
It was tight throughout. Watters led 1-0 late. Zerban escaped to tie it. Then with :44 left in the third period, he found the opening and finished the takedown that broke it open. West Virginia challenged the call, but after review, it was upheld.
That was the difference.
It wasn’t flashy. It was disciplined. Zerban stayed in position and capitalized when it mattered, bringing Hilton to its feet.
“They knew they were in big matches, and they responded,” Dresser said. “They competed well. At 125, 157 and 174, those are matches we probably weren’t favored on paper. But those guys got themselves ready to go this week. I could see them really get dialed into training.”
No. 13 MJ Gaitan followed with a ranked win of his own, edging No. 14 Brody Conley, 5-4, using riding time to secure it. After falling behind early, the California native responded with a second-period takedown and controlled the final stretch.
By that point, the outcome wasn’t in question.
The Cyclones were efficient. Controlled.
Because there won’t be much time to sit on it.
Hilton flips to back-to-back basketball games next. Then Sunday night, the mat gets rolled back out for a 7 p.m. showdown against in-state rival No. 15 Northern Iowa.
“We have to be ready,” Dresser said when looking ahead to Sunday. “Whether we go there or they come here, they want to win.”
Time to go Panther hunting.
Watch post-dual press conference with Dresser, Poulin and Zerban here.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
No. 4 Iowa State 32, No. 18 West Virginia 7
125: No. 11 Stevo Poulin (ISU) maj. dec. No. 8 Jett Strickenberger (WVU), 14-4
133: No. 19 Gunner Andrick (WVU) dec. Adrian Meza (ISU), 5-0
141: No. 3 Anthony Echemendia (ISU) maj. dec. Jordan Titus (WVU), 12-3
149: No. 11 Jacob Frost (ISU) dec. Willie McDougald (WVU), 6-5
157: No. 8 Vinny Zerban (ISU) dec. No. 6 Ty Watters (WVU), 5-2
165: No. 15 Connor Euton (ISU) tech. fall Sasha Gavronsky (WVU), 20-4 (6:02)
174: No. 13 MJ Gaitan (ISU) dec. No. 14 Brody Conley (WVU), 5-4
184: No. 17 Ian Bush (WVU) maj. dec. Aiden Riggins (ISU), 14-0
197: CJ Carter (ISU) tech. fall Cole Tolley (WVU), 22-6 (6:02)
285: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (ISU) tech. fall Brock Kehler (WVU), 21-6 (2:45)
