No . 4 Oklahoma State beats Big 12 rival Iowa State for 12th straight time, but had to battle hard in 22-15 win
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by Roger Moore, Special to TheMat.com
Oklahoma State's Nick Piccininni goes for backpoints at 125 pounds. Video capture from FloWrestling.
STILLWATER, Okla. – Entering Sunday’s dual, Oklahoma State had outscored rival Iowa State, 103-9, over the last three meetings. The third-ranked Cowboys did manage to beat the Cyclones for a 12th straight time, but it required much more effort this time around.
Wrestling at home for the first time since Dec. 9, the Cowboys won six of 10 and remained unbeaten with a 22-15 victory. ISU’s fourth win was an injury default in the dual’s final bout.
“There is no question that is the best team we’ve wrestled all year,” said OSU head coach John Smith, who picked up his 421st career win to tie him for fifth all-time in Division I dual wins with longtime Drexel coach Jack Childs. “There has been some teams that have made great improvement since we’ve faced us, but, for us, I thought we were challenged today. It’s another good dual meet and you like to have good dual meets in the months of January and February.”
For Iowa State, Sunday marked the first loss since a narrow setback at Iowa back on Dec. 1.
“There were a couple of matches we were right there and thought could have gone our way,” ISU boss Kevin Dresser said. “With (Austin) Gomez … and, for the most part, I thought we fought hard all day.
“We’ve got to continue to make some tweaks individually here and there and we have to keep putting time in. Everyone wants to start looking to the Big 12s and nationals, but there is a lot of time between now and then.”
Sunday’s dual started at 157 pounds and the visitors took an early lead when Chase Straw (13-8) beat Wyatt Sheets by a 3-2 score for the second time this season. The hosts quickly took control thanks to an 8-2 decision by Andrew Shomers (8-5), a first-period pin by Joe Smith (14-1), and an entertaining 9-3 win by Jacobe Smith (18-2) over Sam Colbray at 184 pounds.
Iowa State rebounded at 197 pounds where sixth-year senior Willie Micklus (14-2) held off Dakota Geer, 9-6. The former Missouri Tiger countered a late Geer shot to escape with the three-point win. Geer tie the match at 6-6 with 1:10 remaining.
“Things are starting to go our way,” Micklus said. “It’s frustrating that we lost, but things are headed in the right direction. I’m feeling better, still things to work on, but anytime you can come into Gallagher-Iba and get your hand raised it is a good day.”
Micklus’ victory cut the OSU lead to 12-6 and marked the first time in four meetings ISU won more than one match in a dual with the Cowboys.
Derek White (19-1) continued his solid season, beating Gannon Gremmel, 7-1, at 285 pounds and OSU’s lead was back to nine at 15-6. The dual really turned in the hosts’ favor midway through the 125-pound bout where, after a scoreless three minutes, OSU’s unbeaten Nick Piccininni (22-0) caught Alex Mackall in a scramble and cradled him to his back and a 6-0 lead midway through the second period. The 2017 All-American turned it on and won going away, 14-2, to give the hosts a 19-6 advantage with three bouts remaining.
Another great match-up at 133 pounds followed – a common theme nationwide. Coming off his first collegiate loss, Daton Fix and Austin Gomez battled for seven good minutes.
Fix edged Gomez in the Southern Scuffle finals to start 2019; this time Gomez took a 3-1 lead into the final period. Gomez, early in the final period, was called for locked hands while leading and immediately after, Fix, while locked up with the Cyclone, used an inside trip to complete a reversal and a 4-3 lead. Over two minutes of riding time was the difference in a 5-4 victory as Gomez had a leg picked up in the final seconds but could not finish. Fix improved to 22-1 while two of Gomez’s three losses have come to the Cowboy.
ISU’s Ian Parker beat national champion Dean Heil in last season’s dual in Ames. This time the sophomore controlled All-American Kaid Brock, 6-3, to move to 19-2 this season. The dual ended on a sour note as OSU All-American 149-pounder Boo Lewallen, out since Nov. 17, made his return to the mat against Jarrett Degen.
Leading 9-4 and looking sharp Lewallen re-injured his shoulder and had to injury default.
“That’s probably it for Boo,” John Smith said. “This is the third or fourth time he’s come back from major injury. He’s a tough kid. I just don’t know what to say because it kills me.”
Oklahoma State (10-0) remains at home, hosting Northern Iowa and Lehigh next weekend. At 421 wins, Smith is four behind former Iowa State and Arizona State boss Bobby Douglas for fourth on the all-time list. Longtime Oregon State coach Dale Thomas is DI’s all-time leader at 616 from 1957-90.
Only 195 to go for Smith.
“I think (Dale Thomas) is probably safe,” acknowledged Smith.
No. 3 Oklahoma State 22, No. 15 Iowa State 15
*157-Chase Straw (I) dec Wyatt Sheets, 3-2
165-Andrew Shomers (O) dec Logan Schumacher, 8-2
174-Joe Smith (O) pin Marcus Coleman, 2:42
184-Jacobe Smith (O) dec Sam Colbray, 9-3
197-Willie Micklus (I) dec Dakota Geer, 9-6
285-Derek White (O) dec Gannon Gremmel, 7-1
125-Nick Piccininni (O) maj dec Alex Mackall, 14-2
133-Daton Fix (O) dec Austin Gomez, 5-4
141-Ian Parker (I) dec Kaid Brock, 6-3
149-Jarret Degen (I) by injury default over Boo Lewallen, 5:42
*dual started at 157
STILLWATER, Okla. – Entering Sunday’s dual, Oklahoma State had outscored rival Iowa State, 103-9, over the last three meetings. The third-ranked Cowboys did manage to beat the Cyclones for a 12th straight time, but it required much more effort this time around.
Wrestling at home for the first time since Dec. 9, the Cowboys won six of 10 and remained unbeaten with a 22-15 victory. ISU’s fourth win was an injury default in the dual’s final bout.
“There is no question that is the best team we’ve wrestled all year,” said OSU head coach John Smith, who picked up his 421st career win to tie him for fifth all-time in Division I dual wins with longtime Drexel coach Jack Childs. “There has been some teams that have made great improvement since we’ve faced us, but, for us, I thought we were challenged today. It’s another good dual meet and you like to have good dual meets in the months of January and February.”
For Iowa State, Sunday marked the first loss since a narrow setback at Iowa back on Dec. 1.
“There were a couple of matches we were right there and thought could have gone our way,” ISU boss Kevin Dresser said. “With (Austin) Gomez … and, for the most part, I thought we fought hard all day.
“We’ve got to continue to make some tweaks individually here and there and we have to keep putting time in. Everyone wants to start looking to the Big 12s and nationals, but there is a lot of time between now and then.”
Sunday’s dual started at 157 pounds and the visitors took an early lead when Chase Straw (13-8) beat Wyatt Sheets by a 3-2 score for the second time this season. The hosts quickly took control thanks to an 8-2 decision by Andrew Shomers (8-5), a first-period pin by Joe Smith (14-1), and an entertaining 9-3 win by Jacobe Smith (18-2) over Sam Colbray at 184 pounds.
Iowa State rebounded at 197 pounds where sixth-year senior Willie Micklus (14-2) held off Dakota Geer, 9-6. The former Missouri Tiger countered a late Geer shot to escape with the three-point win. Geer tie the match at 6-6 with 1:10 remaining.
“Things are starting to go our way,” Micklus said. “It’s frustrating that we lost, but things are headed in the right direction. I’m feeling better, still things to work on, but anytime you can come into Gallagher-Iba and get your hand raised it is a good day.”
Micklus’ victory cut the OSU lead to 12-6 and marked the first time in four meetings ISU won more than one match in a dual with the Cowboys.
Derek White (19-1) continued his solid season, beating Gannon Gremmel, 7-1, at 285 pounds and OSU’s lead was back to nine at 15-6. The dual really turned in the hosts’ favor midway through the 125-pound bout where, after a scoreless three minutes, OSU’s unbeaten Nick Piccininni (22-0) caught Alex Mackall in a scramble and cradled him to his back and a 6-0 lead midway through the second period. The 2017 All-American turned it on and won going away, 14-2, to give the hosts a 19-6 advantage with three bouts remaining.
Another great match-up at 133 pounds followed – a common theme nationwide. Coming off his first collegiate loss, Daton Fix and Austin Gomez battled for seven good minutes.
Fix edged Gomez in the Southern Scuffle finals to start 2019; this time Gomez took a 3-1 lead into the final period. Gomez, early in the final period, was called for locked hands while leading and immediately after, Fix, while locked up with the Cyclone, used an inside trip to complete a reversal and a 4-3 lead. Over two minutes of riding time was the difference in a 5-4 victory as Gomez had a leg picked up in the final seconds but could not finish. Fix improved to 22-1 while two of Gomez’s three losses have come to the Cowboy.
ISU’s Ian Parker beat national champion Dean Heil in last season’s dual in Ames. This time the sophomore controlled All-American Kaid Brock, 6-3, to move to 19-2 this season. The dual ended on a sour note as OSU All-American 149-pounder Boo Lewallen, out since Nov. 17, made his return to the mat against Jarrett Degen.
Leading 9-4 and looking sharp Lewallen re-injured his shoulder and had to injury default.
“That’s probably it for Boo,” John Smith said. “This is the third or fourth time he’s come back from major injury. He’s a tough kid. I just don’t know what to say because it kills me.”
Oklahoma State (10-0) remains at home, hosting Northern Iowa and Lehigh next weekend. At 421 wins, Smith is four behind former Iowa State and Arizona State boss Bobby Douglas for fourth on the all-time list. Longtime Oregon State coach Dale Thomas is DI’s all-time leader at 616 from 1957-90.
Only 195 to go for Smith.
“I think (Dale Thomas) is probably safe,” acknowledged Smith.
No. 3 Oklahoma State 22, No. 15 Iowa State 15
*157-Chase Straw (I) dec Wyatt Sheets, 3-2
165-Andrew Shomers (O) dec Logan Schumacher, 8-2
174-Joe Smith (O) pin Marcus Coleman, 2:42
184-Jacobe Smith (O) dec Sam Colbray, 9-3
197-Willie Micklus (I) dec Dakota Geer, 9-6
285-Derek White (O) dec Gannon Gremmel, 7-1
125-Nick Piccininni (O) maj dec Alex Mackall, 14-2
133-Daton Fix (O) dec Austin Gomez, 5-4
141-Ian Parker (I) dec Kaid Brock, 6-3
149-Jarret Degen (I) by injury default over Boo Lewallen, 5:42
*dual started at 157
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