#2 ISU Topples #7 Minnesota
By CN Staff
Date: Jan 9, 2005
Ames, Iowa – Second-rated Iowa State spotted Minnesota the first three matches and then roared back, winning the last five bouts to beat the No. 7 Gophers wrestlers for the third straight year, 21-12 Sunday in Hilton Coliseum. ISU wins by Travis Paulson, David Bertolino and Kurt Backes at 165, 174 and 184 pounds, respectively made the Cyclones 11-0 in duals this season for the first time since the 1994-95 campaign.
Minnesota still led 12-9 after six matches. The ninth-rated Paulson scored a takedown with 36 seconds remaining against Minnesota’s sixth-ranked Matt Nagel to win a 3-1 victory. Travis Paulson is now 16-3. Nagel falls to 18-4. In the 174-pound match, Iowa State freshman David Bertolino, subbing for starter Nick Passolano, beat Josh McLay, 7-2. Bertolino, a former Ohio prep champion, notched two third-period takedowns for the key win.
“I came here and hoped to be the starter, “Bertolino said. “But I’ve been working hard to be in shape and make the most of an opportunity when I got one. That is still my plan.”
Backes, took down Minnesota freshman Roger Kish three times, twice in the third period en route to an 8-3 victory. Backes, who is now 17-2 and ranked fourth nationally, tallied his final takedown with three seconds left in the match. Kish, a former four-time Michigan high school champion, is now 19-3.
“I think this helps us know where we are right now, “Backes said. “I knew (Kish) would be tough but overall we won this match on technique.”
Iowa State 197-pounder Trevor Smith iced the victory with a come-from-behind win over Matt Koz. Smith had trailed 5-0 late in the second period before complementing his team’s comeback effort with an a takedown with 12 seconds left in overtime. Smith had tied the score in regulation at 5-5 with a takedown with nine seconds remaining in the third period.
“I’m a little surprised at the score, I thought this would be right down to the wire, “Iowa State head wrestling coach Bobby Douglas. “Our guys knew what the team score was and what they had to do to make this happen. I’m really proud at how aggressive we were throughout the match.”
Iowa State plays host to 17th-rated Northern Iowa Saturday at 7 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum.
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