Iowa State wrestlers tied for sixth after first session

OKLAHOMA  CITY - Iowa State placed itself in the top-10 after the first session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Thursday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

The Cyclones won four of six matches, receiving pins from Michael Moreno at 165 and 174-pounder Tanner Weatherman. Iowa State had nine points, tying Cornell and Oregon State.

"Still a lot of wrestling to do," Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson said. "It's a roller coaster. You have to ride it hard.

"I thought (Michael) Moreno and Tanner looked strong."

Gabe Moreno (141) opened with a pigtail win over Oklahoma's Nick Lester, falling to Edinboro's top-seeded Mitchell Port in his second match. Moreno entered the tournament 16-19, but won his debut at the national tournament, avenging two losses to Lester.

"I thought that was a good performance by him," Jackson said of Gabe Moreno. "He got 15-pointed and beat 9-2 and comes back and advances."

Fifth-seeded Kyven Gadson, who finished the regular season ranked No. 1 nationally, beat Princeton's Abram Ayala, 6-1.

"It was good to get that win," Gadson said. "I've got to open up more and score more points."

Gadson was a topic of conversation when he was seeded much lower than his national ranking. He said he believes he is the best and tries to wrestle like it, no matter what others say.

"It doesn't bother me at all," Gadson said. "It's just a number, someone's opinion, so whatever."

Earl Hall also won at 125, while Lelund Weatherspoon dropped to the consolations at 184.