College Wrestling: ISU nips UNI in a doozy

AMES - Down big halfway through the meet, Iowa State roared back with wins in four the final five matches and earned every bit of its 21-20 wrestling victory over Northern Iowa last night.

The hosts left happy and relieved, rallying for their second straight dual victory after a string of six straight defeats. The mood wasn't as good in the other locker room.

The Panthers were looking for their first win at Hilton Coliseum since 2003 and just their second in Ames in more than a half-century.

“It would have been big for us,” first-year UNI Coach Doug Schwab said. “We need a marquee win as a team. But it's tough to win when you give up that many bonus points.”

Three of the Cyclones' five victories came with extra points.

Back-to-back lopsided victories by Andrew Sorenson (165) and Jon Reader (174) quickly got ISU back in the dual after trailing 12-0 and 16-3 at the midway point.

Jerome Ward (197) and heavyweight Kyle Simonson ended the meet with wins. Ward's 12-3 major decision over Andy O'Laughlin turned out to be humongous.

Simonson took the mat knowing any victory gave his team the win. He hadn't dealt with pressure like that much.

“You feel it a little bit, but that's what makes it fun,” he said.

Simonson got a second-period reversal and almost three minutes of riding time in a 3-2 victory over Blayne Beale.

“Working out with (former ISU NCAA champion Jake) Varner for so many years, that's where he dominated was on top,” Simonson said. “If you can ride, you can have success. A lot of matches are decided by that one riding point.”