Wrestling Weekend That Was: Iowa State, UNI remain perfect in Big 12

Iowa State and Northern Iowa have yet to stumble in conference duals but a bigger hurdle looms for both. Iowa heavyweight Sam Stoll took the mat. Wartburg's streak and girls' progress continued in Waverly on Saturday. Solon stayed closer to home for chance to compete. This is the Wrestling Weekend That Was:

Iowa State, UNI unbeaten in Big 12

Iowa State and UNI both posted victories Sunday to remain unbeaten in Big 12 Conference duals, improving to 3-0. The Cyclones dropped West Virginia, 36-3, at Morgantown, W. Va. ISU has five conference duals left, including Friday's meet with Oklahoma at Hilton Coliseum, and is one win away from the most conference dual wins since the 2009-10 season.

The Cyclones have outscored Big 12 foes by an average of 32-5.3 and carry a 6-1 overall mark with the loss coming to fourth-ranked Iowa by a point. They have climbed to 16th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Dual Rankings.

Second-year ISU head coach Kevin Dresser seems to be well ahead of schedule in resurrecting the program, going 14-11 overall since he took the helm.

UNI hosted Air Force for Military Appreciation Night at the West Gym. The 15th-ranked Panthers posted a 29-9 win, taking seven bouts and five with bonus points. Interestingly, all three UNI dual wins have come against conference teams, going 0-4 outside the conference.

UNI is in its second season in the Big 12 and matched its Big 12 win total from a year ago. The Panthers have a home weekend, hosting Northern Colorado Friday and the Sooners on Sunday.

Bigger challenges remain for both teams. Neither has faced Big 12 power and third-ranked Oklahoma State. Iowa State will get first crack, traveling to Stillwater, Okla., on Sunday. The Panthers head to Oklahoma State on Feb. 1. Both will be big underdogs to stay unbeaten in the conference. Regardless of how things play out against the Cowboys, something will have to give Feb. 21 when Iowa State heads to West Gym. Last year, UNI beat the Cyclones, 31-7.

Sam Stoll's stroll

Iowa heavyweight Sam Stoll has made sporadic appearances this season. He wrestled in his third event this season, capping the Hawkeyes' 30-6 victory over No. 20 Rutgers Friday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Stoll cruised to a 10-0 decision to improve 4-0 this season.

Wartburg streak grows

Wartburg hasn't lost a conference dual in almost 25 years. The third-ranked Knights defeated Central, Dubuque and Buena Vista in the American Rivers Conference Duals on Saturday at home.

Wartburg increased its conference streak, which includes Iowa Conference competition, to 211 consecutive. The Knights' last conference dual loss came to Buena Vista in February 1994.

Not a boys club

NOT A BOYS CLUB: The Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Girls State Wrestling tournament was held Saturday at Waverly-Shell Rock. The tournament consisted of 87 girls from more than 50 IHSAA schools in 10 divisions.

The champions represented nine schools and 15 programs had a finalist. Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Chloe Clemons (126) became the 31st high school state wrestling champ for the school. Union Community's Hannah Michael recorded the event's first win and pin, finishing fourth at 106 pounds.

» Read more: 87 wrestlers compete in Iowa's first girls' state wrestling tournament

Solon wins Clyde Bean Duals

Solon was originally scheduled to compete in a two-day tournament at Ida Grove OABCIG. Weather prevented the Spartans from traveling across state. Solon then made arrangements to compete at Anamosa's tournament before weather wiped that from the slate. Solon was able to join the Clyde Bean Duals at Iowa City High and won the four-team dual tournament, going 3-0.

'Our kids were down to weight and wanted to wrestle,' Solon Coach Blake Williams said. 'We kept getting closer and closer to home. I'm glad they let us in.'

City High also recognized its 1999 Class 3A state tournament team during the event Saturday.

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