Press release and photo courtesy of Iowa State athletics communications.
FARGO, N.D. – No. 14 Iowa State (0-2, 0-2 Big 12) fell to North Dakota State (1-0, 1-0 Big 12), 25-16, in the inaugural dual at the newly renovated Scheels Center.
Iowa State won four out of the 10 bouts on Sunday afternoon. The Cyclones got wins from redshirt sophomore Nathan Boston, redshirt senior John Meeks, redshirt senior Lelund Weatherspoon and redshirt junior Patrick Downey III.
At 133 pounds, Boston opened up the dual with a major-decision victory over NDSU’s Albert Landeros, 15-5. The redshirt sophomore built a big lead in the first, scoring on three takedowns. He kept the pressure on, tacking on a takedown in the second and two in the third.
Meeks followed up Boston’s victory with a dominating performance of his own. He picked up three takedowns and a two-point near-fall in the first period. He cruised to an 11-4 victory over Joe Umlauf, padding his lead with an escape and a takedown.
NDSU scrapped back and won the next three matches, holding a 10-7 advantage at the intermission.
The second half of the dual began much like the first. The Cyclones picked up a pair of back-to-back emphatic victories.
Weatherspoon got the Cardinal and Gold back on the right track after the break. He jumped out to a quick lead over Carter Nielsen. The Jackson, Mich., native scored on four takedowns, an escape, a stall point and notched 1:16 in riding-time to take this match by 11-4 decision.
In the 184-pound match, Downey wasted no time in bringing the Bison’s Tyler McNutt’s shoulders to the mat. The fall marked the first on the season for both Downey and the Cyclones.
Iowa State held a 16-10 advantage with three matches remaining. North Dakota State went on to win the final three bouts, each by bonus-point decision.
Match of the Night: 184-pounds
For the second straight dual, Patrick Downey III turned out a great performance for ISU. After asserting himself as a pinning machine last season, he made light work of Tyler McNutt locking in a first period fall.
Next Up
Iowa State returns home next weekend to host the 2016 Harold Nichols Cyclone Open. The annual open tournament is set to take place on Sunday, Nov. 13, with wrestling beginning at 10 a.m.
ISU vs. NDSU Match-by-Match
133: Nathan Boston (ISU) maj. dec. Albert Landeros (NDSU), 15-5. (2:15 RT)
141: John Meeks (ISU) dec. Joe Umlauf (NDSU), 11-4.
149: Mitch Friedman (NDSU) dec. Blayne Briceno (ISU), 5-4.
157: Clay Ream (NDSU) Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (ISU), 19-5.
165: Andrew Fogarty (NDSU) dec. Dane Pestano (ISU), 10-7.
174: Lelund Weatherspoon (ISU) dec. Carter Nielsen (NDSU), 11-4. (1:16 RT)
184: Patrick Downey III (ISU) fall Tyler McNutt (NDSU), 1:54.
197: Cordell Eaton (NDSU) maj. dec. Joe Teague (ISU), 12-4.
285: Ben Tynan (NDSU) fall Samuel Colbray (ISU), 4:04.
125: Josh Rodriguez (NDSU) tech. fall. Kyle Larson (ISU), 24-9.
