Friday, February 9, 2007
Missouri v. Iowa State
Sorry for the delay, but by 2-3 p.m. I will have an extensive interview with Missouri coach Brian Smith, Tiger wrestlers Josh Wagner and Matt Pell, as well as thoughts from David Zabriskie, Grant Turner, Kurt Backes, and the Paulson brothers about the weekend. The story on Askren will be continued as well.
The Funkmaster
Missouri wrestler Ben Askren picked geography as a major out of slight interest in the subject, but the 2006 Hodge Trophy winner is planning to go back to school to pursue a degree in sports psychology and is in the process of writing a book.
The Tiger star said he and MU head track coach Rick McGuire are working on a book about the mental aspects of wrestling.
Askren, a three time All-Academic Big 12 team member, might also try to break down the Funk, the scrambling ability that's left the rest of the nation looking for some way to beat him.
"I'm looking into doing a wrestling technique DVD," Askren said.
The senior from Hartland, Wisc., is seen as the best wrestler in college wrestling by most, and is expected not only to repeat as the 174-pound NCAA champion but to breeze through his two matches this weekend. Askren faces Northern Iowa's Alex Dolly on Friday night, then Iowa State's Grant Turner on Sunday afternoon.
Second-ranked Missouri will have to beat the third-ranked Cyclones for the unofficial, regular-season Big 12 title. Both teams are 3-0 in the conference.
"It's going to be a really exciting matchup," Askren said. "Every match is a tossup. A lot of our guys haven't wrestled much ... 133, 149, 184, 197 should be interesting. Pretty much every one should be interesting."
The Tiger star said he and MU head track coach Rick McGuire are working on a book about the mental aspects of wrestling.
Askren, a three time All-Academic Big 12 team member, might also try to break down the Funk, the scrambling ability that's left the rest of the nation looking for some way to beat him.
"I'm looking into doing a wrestling technique DVD," Askren said.
The senior from Hartland, Wisc., is seen as the best wrestler in college wrestling by most, and is expected not only to repeat as the 174-pound NCAA champion but to breeze through his two matches this weekend. Askren faces Northern Iowa's Alex Dolly on Friday night, then Iowa State's Grant Turner on Sunday afternoon.
Second-ranked Missouri will have to beat the third-ranked Cyclones for the unofficial, regular-season Big 12 title. Both teams are 3-0 in the conference.
"It's going to be a really exciting matchup," Askren said. "Every match is a tossup. A lot of our guys haven't wrestled much ... 133, 149, 184, 197 should be interesting. Pretty much every one should be interesting."
Monday, January 22, 2007
Gallick misses Nebraska meet due to illness
Going into the Nebraska dual, Iowa State freshman Nick Gallick had not only the confidence of an upset of Oklahoma State's third-ranked Coleman Scott but also an illness.
"He was just a little sick," Cael Sanderson said. "We thought he'd heal faster by not worrying about cutting weight and just getting some rest."
Gallick practiced on Monday and should be ready for this weekend's duals against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. His replacent, fellow freshman Laramie Shaffer, beat Cornhusker freshman Mike Rowe, 9-6.
Rowe has been ranked as high as 11th this season. Gallick beat Shaffer, 7-2, in wrestle-offs this season with a first-period takedown and three-point nearfall.
"Shaffer did an incredible job stepping in there and beating a ranked guy," Sanderson said. "And being drawn out of the hat to be the first one up isn't easy. So we were really happy with him, he did a great job. Big match."
"He was just a little sick," Cael Sanderson said. "We thought he'd heal faster by not worrying about cutting weight and just getting some rest."
Gallick practiced on Monday and should be ready for this weekend's duals against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. His replacent, fellow freshman Laramie Shaffer, beat Cornhusker freshman Mike Rowe, 9-6.
Rowe has been ranked as high as 11th this season. Gallick beat Shaffer, 7-2, in wrestle-offs this season with a first-period takedown and three-point nearfall.
"Shaffer did an incredible job stepping in there and beating a ranked guy," Sanderson said. "And being drawn out of the hat to be the first one up isn't easy. So we were really happy with him, he did a great job. Big match."
Knipp transfers to Wartburg
Jason Knipp, Iowa State's 149-pound starter for the past two season, joined the Wartburg wrestling team over the semester break.
Knipp, who was unseated by freshman Cyler Sanderson in wrestle-offs, let ISU coaches know of his intentions to transfer right before the season began.
"He graduated in December, so everything worked out," Cael Sanderson said. "He just wasn't read to be finished, and he knew it would be tough for him to get a spot here unless there was a major injury."
Knipp was called for stalling in his wrestle-off in November with Cyler Sanderson and lost, 1-0. Sanderson beat him weeks later in the Harold Nichols Open, 3-2.
The stocky Gilbertville native struggled to get down to 149 pounds and is currently wrestling at 165 pounds for the Knights. He competed at the Midlands Tournament wrestling unnattached in an Iowa State singlet, placing fifth at 157 pounds, but wrestled for Wartburg at National Duals two weeks later.
"I think '57 is his weight class, but he is strong, he can wrestle '65," Cael Sanderson said. "But '49, he was having a hard time getting down there. He's not the same guy when he is 30 pounds lighter, which nobody is."
Knipp is currently 5-1 as a Knight and was 34-20 during his sophomore and junior seasons with the Cyclones.
"He is a great kid. And he is a Cyclone — he knows that," Sanderson said. "We were real happy with him, and he contributed a ton to this team. He was real important to this team, too, so it was tough to see him go, but he wanted to wrestle so we're not going to keep someone away from that."
Knipp, who was unseated by freshman Cyler Sanderson in wrestle-offs, let ISU coaches know of his intentions to transfer right before the season began.
"He graduated in December, so everything worked out," Cael Sanderson said. "He just wasn't read to be finished, and he knew it would be tough for him to get a spot here unless there was a major injury."
Knipp was called for stalling in his wrestle-off in November with Cyler Sanderson and lost, 1-0. Sanderson beat him weeks later in the Harold Nichols Open, 3-2.
The stocky Gilbertville native struggled to get down to 149 pounds and is currently wrestling at 165 pounds for the Knights. He competed at the Midlands Tournament wrestling unnattached in an Iowa State singlet, placing fifth at 157 pounds, but wrestled for Wartburg at National Duals two weeks later.
"I think '57 is his weight class, but he is strong, he can wrestle '65," Cael Sanderson said. "But '49, he was having a hard time getting down there. He's not the same guy when he is 30 pounds lighter, which nobody is."
Knipp is currently 5-1 as a Knight and was 34-20 during his sophomore and junior seasons with the Cyclones.
"He is a great kid. And he is a Cyclone — he knows that," Sanderson said. "We were real happy with him, and he contributed a ton to this team. He was real important to this team, too, so it was tough to see him go, but he wanted to wrestle so we're not going to keep someone away from that."
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Iowa State beats No. 20 Nebraska, 25-12
Here are the results:
133 - Laramie Shaffer (ISU) dec. Mike Rowe, 9-6
141 - Dominick Moyer (NU) dec. Mitch Mueller, 4-2
149 - Cyler Sanderson (ISU) dec. Robert Sanders, 12-8
157 - Trent Paulson (ISU) dec. Chris Oliver, 9-3
165 - Travis Paulson (ISU) maj dec. Stephen Dwyer, 9-1
174 - Marc Harwood (NU) pin Grant Turner, 4:06
184 - Jake Varner (ISU) maj dec. Levi Wofford, 10-2
197 - Craig Brester (NU) dec. Kurt Backes, 4-3
285 - David Zabriskie (ISU) tech fall Tom Rice, 17-1 (5:41)
125 - Nick Fanthorpe (ISU) dec. Paul Donahoe, 6-3
Note: Schaffer wrestling at 133, No. 8 Moyer topping No. 10 Mueller, Harwood pinning Turner, Brester - a freshman - beating Backes, Zabriskie coming up big to clinch the dual, Fanthorpe reversing then taking down No. 8 Donahoe twice in the third-period to win. Look for an in-depth story in Tuesday's Iowa State Daily.
133 - Laramie Shaffer (ISU) dec. Mike Rowe, 9-6
141 - Dominick Moyer (NU) dec. Mitch Mueller, 4-2
149 - Cyler Sanderson (ISU) dec. Robert Sanders, 12-8
157 - Trent Paulson (ISU) dec. Chris Oliver, 9-3
165 - Travis Paulson (ISU) maj dec. Stephen Dwyer, 9-1
174 - Marc Harwood (NU) pin Grant Turner, 4:06
184 - Jake Varner (ISU) maj dec. Levi Wofford, 10-2
197 - Craig Brester (NU) dec. Kurt Backes, 4-3
285 - David Zabriskie (ISU) tech fall Tom Rice, 17-1 (5:41)
125 - Nick Fanthorpe (ISU) dec. Paul Donahoe, 6-3
Note: Schaffer wrestling at 133, No. 8 Moyer topping No. 10 Mueller, Harwood pinning Turner, Brester - a freshman - beating Backes, Zabriskie coming up big to clinch the dual, Fanthorpe reversing then taking down No. 8 Donahoe twice in the third-period to win. Look for an in-depth story in Tuesday's Iowa State Daily.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Introduction to Iowa State wrestling
Cael Sanderson's first year as head coach, NCAA title hopes for three returning All-Americans, the promising futures of six freshmen who have the hopes of a program pinned on their success.
There is a collection of storylines for the ISU wrestling team in the 2006-07 season. March holds promise for the first time in years, as the quick improvement of the Cyclones has fans excited about tournament time.
But first the team will have to contend with the toughest conference in collegiate wrestling — the Big 12.
Fielding the deepest roster since Sanderson wore a singlet, Iowa State has legitimized themselves as NCAA Championship contenders with strong showings at the Midlands Open and the NWCA-Cliff Keen National Dual Tournament. Iowa State opens the conference season in Lincoln, Neb. on Saturday, Jan. 20, taking on the 20th ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Throughout the season, Iowastatedaily.com and this blog will update you on all 10 Cyclone starters and will provide extensive dual previews, results and information on incoming recruits, general wrestling news, and links articles of interest. These resources will allow us provide readers the most comprehensive look at the ISU wrestling of any news outlet.
Send questions and comments to Luke Plansky at lplansky@iastate.edu or isdsports@gmail.com.
— Luke Plansky is a sophomore in journalism and mass communications. He has covered the ISU wrestling team since the start of the 2005-06 season and will cover all home duals and travel to most road duals and tournaments.
There is a collection of storylines for the ISU wrestling team in the 2006-07 season. March holds promise for the first time in years, as the quick improvement of the Cyclones has fans excited about tournament time.
But first the team will have to contend with the toughest conference in collegiate wrestling — the Big 12.
Fielding the deepest roster since Sanderson wore a singlet, Iowa State has legitimized themselves as NCAA Championship contenders with strong showings at the Midlands Open and the NWCA-Cliff Keen National Dual Tournament. Iowa State opens the conference season in Lincoln, Neb. on Saturday, Jan. 20, taking on the 20th ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Throughout the season, Iowastatedaily.com and this blog will update you on all 10 Cyclone starters and will provide extensive dual previews, results and information on incoming recruits, general wrestling news, and links articles of interest. These resources will allow us provide readers the most comprehensive look at the ISU wrestling of any news outlet.
Send questions and comments to Luke Plansky at lplansky@iastate.edu or isdsports@gmail.com.
— Luke Plansky is a sophomore in journalism and mass communications. He has covered the ISU wrestling team since the start of the 2005-06 season and will cover all home duals and travel to most road duals and tournaments.
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