Here is a look at the five most interesting matches in this weekend's wrestling duals against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State:
Heavyweight
No. 1 Jared Rosholt (OSU) vs. No. 3 David Zabriskie (ISU)
They're wrestling for the seventh time, and Rosholt (24-0) has won the last two meetings comfortably. Zabriskie (21-2) won the first four meetings by a point. I wrote a story about this match, and the fact that Duke Burk will be back.
125 pounds
No. 6 Tyler Clark (ISU) vs. No. 10 Joey Fio (OU)
Clark (18-3) scored a 9-0 major decision over Fio (13-3) in last year's dual, but Fio beat Clark, 5-4, for third-place at the Big 12 Championships.
165 pounds
No. 6 Jon Reader (ISU) vs. No. 11 Brandon Mason (OSU)
Mason (21-4) has slipped in the rankings after losing two of his last three matches. The three-time Iowa state champion from Lewis Central was a three-year starter and an All-American (2007) at 174 pounds, but dropped down a weight this season. Reader (18-4 may have a tough time escaping from bottom because of Mason's ability to ride. If he gets a takedown early, he could pick neutral.
174 pounds
No. 8 Duke Burk (ISU) vs. No. 9 Jeff James (OU)
Burk has a 5-3 record, but has only wrestled seven matches this season. He hasn't competed since the end of December, when he injured his shoulder. He will return to wrestle James (14-1), who has only wrestled two ranked wrestlers. James lost to Alton Lucas of Hofstra, but beat seventh-ranked Mike Miller of Central Michigan.
197 pounds
No. 1 Jake Varner (ISU) vs. No. 9 Clayton Foster (OSU)
Varner (18-1) beat departed-OSU senior Jack Jensen twice last season by a 2-1 score. He has yet to wrestle Foster (21-1), whose only loss is to unranked Brandon Halsey of Cal-State Bakersfield (Bakersfield is Varner's hometown). Varner intended to become a Cowboy before making his recruiting visit to Iowa State.
Heavyweight
No. 1 Jared Rosholt (OSU) vs. No. 3 David Zabriskie (ISU)
They're wrestling for the seventh time, and Rosholt (24-0) has won the last two meetings comfortably. Zabriskie (21-2) won the first four meetings by a point. I wrote a story about this match, and the fact that Duke Burk will be back.
125 pounds
No. 6 Tyler Clark (ISU) vs. No. 10 Joey Fio (OU)
Clark (18-3) scored a 9-0 major decision over Fio (13-3) in last year's dual, but Fio beat Clark, 5-4, for third-place at the Big 12 Championships.
165 pounds
No. 6 Jon Reader (ISU) vs. No. 11 Brandon Mason (OSU)
Mason (21-4) has slipped in the rankings after losing two of his last three matches. The three-time Iowa state champion from Lewis Central was a three-year starter and an All-American (2007) at 174 pounds, but dropped down a weight this season. Reader (18-4 may have a tough time escaping from bottom because of Mason's ability to ride. If he gets a takedown early, he could pick neutral.
174 pounds
No. 8 Duke Burk (ISU) vs. No. 9 Jeff James (OU)
Burk has a 5-3 record, but has only wrestled seven matches this season. He hasn't competed since the end of December, when he injured his shoulder. He will return to wrestle James (14-1), who has only wrestled two ranked wrestlers. James lost to Alton Lucas of Hofstra, but beat seventh-ranked Mike Miller of Central Michigan.
197 pounds
No. 1 Jake Varner (ISU) vs. No. 9 Clayton Foster (OSU)
Varner (18-1) beat departed-OSU senior Jack Jensen twice last season by a 2-1 score. He has yet to wrestle Foster (21-1), whose only loss is to unranked Brandon Halsey of Cal-State Bakersfield (Bakersfield is Varner's hometown). Varner intended to become a Cowboy before making his recruiting visit to Iowa State.
