Hall’s fall lifts Iowa State over UNI

CEDAR FALLS — Iowa State's Earl Hall has a flair for big moves.

The senior 133-pounder delivered for the Cyclones and provided the difference in a heated dual against Northern Iowa.

Eighth-ranked Hall pinned No. 15 Josh Alber, lifting 16th-ranked Iowa State to an 18-16 victory over UNI Friday night at the West Gym.

The 2014 All-American had beaten Alber twice already this season. Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson anticipated bonus points from Hall.

'We expected Earl to win and we expected him to win big here,' Jackson said. 'The fall was fortunate for us. We needed it. It decided the dual, for the most part, and we're happy with the way he went out there and competed.'

Hall used a first-period takedown for a 2-1 advantage. Jauch was solid on top early in the second, but Hall reversed him to his back, cinching up a cradle for a fall in 4:17.

'He went into the crab position … it's what I was hoping for,' Hall said. 'I got the position, got my hips out and just caught him on his back.'

The bottom position has been a point of emphasis for Hall. He said it needed work. Jackson saw Hall transfer the work in the room to the mat.

'He went out and connected to a couple of the areas that we've been waiting for him to connect to that's getting off the bottom the right way,' Jackson said. 'Once he did what he's trained to do it created opportunity for him to find a way to pin the kid.'

The pin catapulted the Cyclones back into the lead, 9-6, through four matches, and gave the team a boost. Nathan Boston followed with a 5-0 win over Trevor Jauch, giving Iowa State a 12-6 edge at the midway point.

'I think you saw that in the first five weight classes,' Jackson said. 'I think Boston went out there with a lot of confidence. Just to compete hard and wrestle to win.'

Iowa State won the final two bouts, getting decisions from Lelund Weatherspoon at 174 and Dane Pestano at 184. Pestano beat Drew Foster, 8-2 to secure the win.

Pestano hasn't been in that situation in the past but Jackson was confident in him.

'He's been solid all year,' Jackson said.

The Panthers clawed their way back after intermission, winning three straight bouts to take a 16-12 advantage.

Senior Adam Perrin scored a 14-4 over NCAA qualifier Dante Rodriguez, catching him on his back for an early four-point move and never looking back.

Perrin added three more takedowns and a reversal. He competed in just his third match, missing much of the season due to a shoulder injury.

'He went out there and inspired me,' said freshman 157-pounder Bryce Steiert, who followed with a 12-6 win over Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer. 'They had to hold me back, so I didn't get too much energy worked off. I truly do feed off something like that.'

In the marquee match of the dual, UNI's 13th-ranked Cooper Moore avenged a loss to No. 9 Tanner Weatherman, scoring a takedown in the sudden victory overtime for a 3-1 win.

'This time he didn't take advantage of my mistake and pin me off it,' Moore said. 'I thought I gave myself some opportunities to score. I just have to capitalize on that earlier in the match. I don't think it should have went to overtime.'

Moore was tended to by medical personnel during a video review that awarded him the decisive takedown. He wore a walking boot on his left foot after the dual, but said it was minor and he would 'find a way to compete.'

UNI (3-8) received back-to-back wins from heavyweight Blaize Cabell and seventh-ranked Dylan Peters at 125.

Cabell, ranked 16th, scored two takedowns in the first and two more in the third for a 9-4 win over former Waterloo West state champion Marcus Harrington, who bumped up from 197.

Peters, who recently returned from a leg injury, found himself in a 4-2 deficit in the second to Kyle Larson. Peters, a 2014 All-American, battled back with the final three takedowns for a 9-7 victory.

Larson tried to escape late, but Peters emphatically returned him to the mat three times for the rideout.

Iowa State (9-5) juggled its lineup a bit. Pat Downey, who is certified at 184, entered the lineup and opened with a decision at 197. Harrington filled in at heavyweight.

'I thought the matchups allowed us to do that,' said Jackson, noting that heavyweight Quean Smith was not prepared to wrestle after dealing with a death in the family. 'We started thinking that (Thursday) during practice on what we will do.'

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