Dec. 5, 2004
IOWA CITY, IA – The University of Iowa wrestling team lost a hard-fought match to intra-state rival Iowa State, 19-16, Sunday night in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The win marked Iowa State’s first in the arena, which was built in 1983. Iowa fell to 1-1 with the loss, while Iowa State improved to 7-0.
While each team won five matches, the difference maker was Grant Nakamura’s 6:37 pin over Iowa’s Lucas Magnani at 125 pounds. Iowa State jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Nick Passolano’s 12-8 decision over Luke Lofthouse at 174, but Hawkeye junior Paul Bradley scored a takedown with 28 seconds left in the match to defeat Kurt Backes, 7-6, and tie the team score at 3-3. Cyclone Trevor Smith fought back with a 9-1 major decision over Dane Pape at 197, but Hawkeye freshman Matt Fields answered with a 4-2 win over Scott Coleman at heavyweight. Nakamura’s pin made the team score 13-6 in favor of the Cyclones heading into the intermission. Hawkeye junior Mario Galanakis scored a 6-3 win over Jesse Sundell at 133 to make the team score 13-9. Hawkeye freshman Alex Tsirtsis put up a good fight against top-ranked Nate Gallick at 141, taking the match to the first tiebreak period, but he could not escape and lost a 2-1 decision. It was Tsirtsis’ first loss since entering high school, as he went undefeated (236-0) at Griffith High School and was 6-0 at Iowa. Hawkeye junior Ty Eustice pulled the team to within striking distance with his 15-6 major decision over Aron Scott at 149, improving to 6-1 on the season. Down 5-0 in the second period to Cyclone Trent Paulson at 157, Hawkeye junior Joe Johnston scored four takedowns in the last 2:37, but came up short with a 10-8 loss, and Iowa State jumped to a 19-13 lead. Hawkeye redshirt freshman Mark Perry scored a 5-2 win over Travis Paulson to end the dual at 165, but his three team points was not enough for an Iowa win.
Iowa will face Northern Iowa (0-1) Thursday at 7 p.m. in the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
Iowa State 19, Iowa 16
174 Nick Passolano (ISU) dec. Luke Lofthouse (I), 12-8
184 Paul Bradley (I) dec. Kurt Backes (ISU), 7-6
197 Trevor Smith (ISU) maj. dec. Dane Pape (I), 9-1
Hwt. Matt Fields (I) dec. Scott Coleman (ISU), 4-2
125 Grant Nakamura (ISU) pinned Lucas Magnani (I), 6:37
133 Mario Galanakis (I) dec. Jesse Sundell (ISU), 6-3
141 Nate Gallick (ISU) dec. Alex Tsirtsis (I), 2-1 tb
149 Ty Eustice (I) maj. dec. Aron Scott (ISU), 15-6
157 Trent Paulson (ISU) dec. Joe Johnston (I), 10-8
165 Mark Perry (I) dec. Travis Paulson (ISU), 5-2