Big weekend, but bad news for Iowa State

If Iowa State is to win its first national title since 1987, it'll have to do it without Nick Gallick.

WRESTLING

ISU's senior two-time All-American had surgery last Friday to remove a bone spur from his hip and will miss the rest of season, Coach Kevin Jackson said Monday.

“Losing a guy like Nick, one of your leaders, definitely hurts us,” Jackson said. “The injury was a lot more serious than originally thought. But all teams have injuries and are missing guys. That's sports. We'll move forward.”

The 141-pounder hadn't wrestled since a sudden victory win over Iowa's Dan LeClere during a Dec. 6 dual meet at Hilton Coliseum. Gallick was able to practice off and on since then, but never could fully shake the pain.

Rehabilitation will last about seven to eight months, Jackson said. ISU is planning an appeal to the NCAA to try and get Gallick an additional year of eligibility.

Gallick red-shirted as a freshman.

The Tucson, Ariz., native finished fifth and third at the last two national tournaments and was 5-0 this year.

“I really believe he can dominate that weight class,” Jackson said earlier this month. “I'm convinced he's a national finalist. He is very capable of dominating anyone he wrestles, but he hasn't seen any mat time.”

Sophomore Dalton Jensen takes Gallick's spot in the lineup permanently.

Jensen is 12-8 this season after losses this past weekend to a pair of top 10-ranked opponents.

“Now that he knows he's the guy I'm sure he'll be even more focused,” Jackson said. “Dalton knows he has to get better, and he's willing to work to do that.”

The No. 2-ranked Cyclones (9-2) accomplished something over the weekend they hadn't done since 1971 - win at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the same season.

On Friday, they beat the Sooners, 21-12. Two days later they took down OSU with a 20-18 decision, thanks to bonus points from Jake Varner (197) and Andrew Long (125).

Varner, ranked No. 1 with a 20-0 record, scored a second period pin of OSU's Alan Gelogaev.

“Varner stepped up and wrestled like the best wrestler in the country,” Jackson said. “I had thought all week that he could pin the kid.”

Long got a technical fall victory over No. 9 Chris Notte. The fifth-ranked freshman is 21-3 on the season, the only losses coming to Iowa's Matt McDonough. He'll face defending NCAA champion Troy Nickerson on Sunday when ISU travels to Ithaca, N.Y., for a dual meet against No. 6 Cornell.

“That is the match-up of the night,” Jackson said. “Hopefully he performs well and gives himself a chance to win. I think that's going to tell us where exactly Andrew Long is in his hunt to be the national champion.”