Iowa State wrestling wins final 2 matches to top UNI

CEDAR FALLS — Sam Schuyler had been in this situation before, just not one of this magnitude.

With a heated rivalry coming down to the final bout and the nation’s second-longest dual win streak on the line in front of an opponent’s packed arena, the Iowa State heavyweight delivered.

Schuyler scored a takedown to upend Carter Isley at heavyweight for a 3-1 decision and helped the fifth-ranked Cyclones top No. 18 Northern Iowa, 16-15, Friday night in front of 4,624 at McLeod Center.

“It’s a good feeling,” said Schuyler, an NCAA qualifier who transferred from Buffalo. “It came down to me but everyone had to do their job for us to get in that position.”

The Cyclones (14-1, 7-0 Big 12) and Panthers (7-6, 6-3) split the 10 matches.

“It certainly lived up to the billing,” UNI Coach Doug Schwab said. “Our guys fought tooth and nail for everything.

“I’m proud of my guys, even in a loss, and it sucks. I’m forcing a lot of smiles, right now. We prepared and battled.”

Schuyler said he listened to his coaches, who kept him calm and motivated before his bout. Iowa State Coach Kevin Dresser said Schuyler handled the pressure well.

“He grew up a lot right there,” Dresser said. “He’s never stepped into anything like that. It was a heck of an environment.”

With the score tied 1-1 and about 15 seconds left, Isley lunged for a takedown attempt and Schuyler scooted around behind for the decisive takedown.

“He took a shot that I really wasn’t expecting,” Schuyler said. “I just hooked his arm, pulled it by and spun behind.

“It’s definitely instinct. Been there 100 times.”

Make no mistake, there are no last-match heroics without Yonger Bastida’s impressive performance at 197 pounds.

Bastida scored 10 takedowns to beat John Gunderson, 21-8, at 197, pulling the Cyclones within 15-13.

“I think 197 was a difference-maker in the meet that held a lot of emotion and toughness,” Dresser said. “He almost gets taken down right away. He’s in trouble for about a minute and then just pours it on.”

Bastida seemed to get stronger as the match advanced, shattering the perception of his lack of stamina. He rolled with five takedowns in the final frame, scoring at will and producing the dual’s lone team bonus point.

“He has a different gear once he gets going (and) as he gets in better shape you see it,” Dresser said. “He’s getting tough. He’s training harder. He’s starting to understand what it takes to train in folkstyle in the United States.

“It’s just been fun to watch him progress. He’s a competitor. He wanted to go out there and win that for the team.”

UNI opened the dual with a strong start, including a key victory in a toss-up match between the Panthers’ 18th-rated Brody Teske and No. 17 Kyven Terukina at 125.

Teske overcame a slow start for a 6-3 decision, scoring takedowns in the second and third periods after surrendering one in the first.

Teske also rebounded from a tough week, according to Schwab.

“That dude is a great wrestler,” Schwab said. “He’s a great competitor.”

Kyle Biscoglia doubled UNI’s lead with an 8-2 decision over Ramazan Attasauov at 133. Biscoglia controlled from start to finish with takedowns in the first two periods, two penalty points in the last two periods and gobs of riding time. The Panthers were up, 6-0.

Iowa State swayed momentum in its favor with three straight decisions.

Ian Parker got Iowa State on the board with a come-from-behind victory over Cael Happel at 141. Parker trailed 5-2 in the third. He then countered a Happel shot by locking up a cradle for a takedown and six nearfall. He added a penalty point for a 9-5 victory.

“He beat a really good guy,” Dresser said of Parker. “They had a lot of momentum at that time, too. For a senior to step up and kind of quiet the crowd is what we needed at that point.”

Jarrett Degen followed with a 6-2 win over Colin Realbuto at 149 to tie the dual, 6-6.

NCAA champion and top-ranked 157-pounder David Carr gave the Cyclones a 9-6 lead heading into the midway intermission.

Carr tallied five takedowns in an 11-4 decision over Derek Holschlag, who escaped in the final seconds to avoid the major decision and a team bonus point.

Dresser wasn’t shocked by many of the individual outcomes and expected the close battle.

“I knew it was going to be a dogfight, so I wasn’t surprised in that fashion,” Dresser said. “I don’t know if there was any huge upsets. I just think there was a lot of scrapping back and forth.”

Austin Yant pulled UNI even again at 165 with a 5-0 decision over Isaac Judge after the break. Yant used a takedown and added a turn for two nearfall at the end of the period to break open the match.

Lance Runyon returned the lead to UNI at 174. After a scoreless first, the Cyclones’ Joel Devine rode out Runyon in the second to keep it scoreless but amassed two minutes of riding time. Runyon answered with a rideout of his own, but earned a point for two stalling calls against Devine. Runyon won, 1-0, and UNI led 12-9 with three matches remaining.

Parker Keckeisen extended the Panthers’ lead to 15-9 with two matches left. The returning All-American and fourth-ranked 184-pounder scored two takedowns and added two nearfall and riding time in an 8-2 victory over eighth-ranked Marcus Coleman in the premier pairing of the dual.

Schwab said the dual had twists and turns with some matches slipping away from the Panthers. He said they will continue to build, winning six of their last seven duals.

“This is as good as we’ve wrestled in a stretch for a long, long time,” Schwab said. “We wrestled well tonight. Iowa State has been wrestling well (also).”

AT CEDAR FALLS

Iowa State 16, UNI 15

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

125 pounds - Brody Teske (UNI) dec. Kysen Terukina, 6-3 (2,1); 133 - Kyle Biscoglia (UNI) dec. Ramazan Attasauov, 7-2 (2,0); 141 - Ian Parker (ISU) dec. Cael Happel, 9-5 (1,2); 149 - Jarrett Degen (ISU) dec. Colin Realbuto, 5-2 (2,0); 157 - David Carr (ISU) dec. Derek Holschlag, 11-4 (5,0); 165 - Austin Yant (UNI) dec. Isaac Judge, 5-0 (1,0); 174 - Lance Runyon (UNI) dec. Joel Devine, 1-0 (0,0); 184 - Parker Keckeisen (UNI) dec. Marcus Coleman, 7-2 (2,0); 197 - Yonger Bastida (ISU) major dec. John Gunderson, 21-8 (10-0); Hwt. - Sam Schuyler (ISU) dec. Carter Isley, 3-1 (1,0).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns - ISU 20, UNI 9. Reversals - ISU 0, UNI 0. Escapes - ISU 9, UNI 21. Nearfall points - Iowa State 4, UNI 4. Penalty points (awarded) - ISU 1, UNI 3. Riding-time points - Iowa State 3, UNI 2. Total match points - ISU 57, UNI 48.