ISU wrestlers careful to not lose focus on next matches
By Mike Dean Iowa State Daily
Ames, IA (U-WIRE) — Less than a week remains until the third-ranked ISU wrestlers host top-ranked, two-time defending national champion Oklahoma State.
Iowa State’s final tuneup for the much-anticipated showdown comes Friday when the Cyclones host Lock Haven and Stanford.
Neither team is ranked in the top 20, leaving the Cyclones with a good chance of being 14-0 heading into the match against Oklahoma State.
The Cyclones carry seven ranked wrestlers into the match — Lock Haven has zero, Stanford has one.
“Stanford and Lock Haven have some really good wrestlers, “senior 174-pounder Nick Passolano said. “We’re just preparing for Stanford and Lock Haven, and after this weekend we’ll prepare for Oklahoma State.”
With the Cyclones as heavy favorites to leave Hilton Coliseum with two substantial victories under their belts, the focus this week has turned to an individual matchup.
Though Stanford has only one ranked wrestler, Matt Gentry, he is the top-ranked wrestler at 157 pounds and is the defending national champion at that weight. Gentry brings a 57-match winning streak to Ames, where he will face fifth-ranked Trent Paulson.
Gentry, who hasn’t wrestled a match since winning the Midlands Championships, sat out three duals Jan. 8 to recover from the flu. At the Midlands, Gentry defeated Trent 5-1 in the semifinals on his way to the title.
Trent rebounded from his loss to Gentry by running off four consecutive victories, including a Midlands consolation victory over New York Athletic Club’s Scott Owen.
“It was a big confidence boost after he beat Owen the second time, “165-pounder Travis Paulson said. “He dominated that match and last week against UNI; I think he wrestled one of his best matches all year.”
Against Northern Iowa, Travis sustained an injury to his ribs and will not wrestle in Friday’s duals. Travis, who has missed some workouts this week while in rehabilitation, said Trent prepared himself well for his match against Gentry.
“I think he’s prepared well, but it’s gotta be tough without me in the room, “Travis said with a smile. “But I can tell he’s been working hard this week.”
Passolano said Trent’s work ethic and determination make him one of the nations elite wrestlers.
“Trent’s been good, “Passolano said. “He’s been getting some really good workouts in. He’s been staying positive, and I think he’s ready. This is a big match for him to build his confidence with and get him ready for Oklahoma State.
“He’s been leading the team for us. He’s been going out there and wrestling great and if he wrestles well, he’ll do fine.”
After facing the champ, Trent now has a new attitude and perspective before facing Gentry again.
“Last time, I had it in my head that I was wrestling the defending national champion, “Trent said. “I psyched myself out some, but this time I’m ready to battle.”
Trent said he hopes to avenge the only blemish on his record and that the earlier loss to Gentry served as motivation to reach the top.
“I train hard every week, “Trent said. “But ever since the last time I wrestled him, he’s the person I’ve wanted to wrestle.”
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