In a rough patch for ISU wrestling, Max Mayfield showed up.

The reserve wrestler from Davenport took ninth-ranked Jamal Parks to two sudden victory periods before giving up the match-deciding takedown to lose, 6-4, in Iowa State’s (6-7, 0-3 Big 12) 29-13 loss to No. 6 Oklahoma State (8-2-1, 3-1) on Sunday.

“I guess you’re always aware [of the opponent’s ranking], but it doesn’t really matter,” Mayfield said. “You’ve just got to go out and wrestle your match no matter who it is. So I didn’t care if he was ranked or what he was ranked.”

After being scraped earlier in the match, Mayfield had gotten a bloody nose that called for a medical timeout. Toward the end of the third period, tied 3-3 in front of an excited crowd, he took the bloodied coil out of his nose and tossed it at the media table.

Despite ultimately losing the match, coach Kevin Jackson said Mayfield’s effort was one of the most positive aspects of the dual.

“I’m proud of Max as far as his effort is concerned,” Jackson said. “That’s all we ask our guys to do is to go out there and compete to the best of their ability. I can take those losses because he competed to the best of his ability.”

Andrew Sorenson also gave a strong effort in his 5-3 decision over Dallas Bailey to avenge a 4-3 loss to the Cowboy grappler earlier this year at the National Duals.

“I had to have some payback, especially after the way I looked Friday,” said Sorenson, who lost to Oklahoma’s Tyler Caldwell in a 9-1 major decision Friday.

After a scramble toward the end of the second period resulted in a reset in the middle, Jackson yelled, “Single-leg works,” at Sorenson, which was immediately followed by a single-leg attack that went for a takedown for the junior 165-pounder to go up, 4-2.

“That’s one of my areas that I need to get better at is finishing single-legs,” Sorenson said. “I end up there a lot, and I knew I needed to finish those single-legs. The key is just getting it up quick and turning the corner hard. If I finish those shots, the match is that much easier.”

Sorenson had been in a similar situation in his loss to Bailey at the National Duals. The only difference from last time was the way Sorenson finished his attack.

“He had the guy in the same situation last time, and he didn’t finish his attack,” Jackson said of Sorenson. “I think he recognized that he can get to the guy’s legs, but he just has to finish once he gets there.”

Weatherman on the mend

Trent Weatherman has recovered after being choked unconscious in his loss to Oklahoma’s Chase Nelson on Friday night.

“He’ll be back next week. He did not pass the concussion test originally, but he’ll pass it probably tomorrow or later on this week,” Jackson said. “But he looks fine, he feels fine and he’s confident that he’ll be ready to go next week.”

The loss, which came in the last match of Iowa State’s 33-7 loss to Oklahoma on Friday, caused a wave of silence across those in attendance.

“It’s scary to see one of your fellow teammates go down,” said ISU captain Jon Reader. “Trent’s a tough guy, he just bounced right back and he was in the room the next day, and the trainers kind of wanted to make sure he was OK for the next couple of days, so they held him out of the match.”

Even though Weatherman was sidelined for Iowa State’s 29-13 loss to Oklahoma State on Sunday, Jackson said he expects the 157-pounder to be back in the lineup this weekend when the team travels to New York state to face Binghamton and top-ranked Cornell.

Reader remains perfect

Jon Reader’s consistency has been a key contributor to his success this season, remaining perfect at 26-0 and leading the team in most bonus points scored.

“I still don’t think he’s reached the level of competition that he’s capable of reaching,” Jackson said of Reader. “I think he’s capable of even more.”

Even after recording a major decision three-straight times against ranked opponents, Reader stays humble with the same mentality he has carried since first stepping on the mat this season.

“Right now, the record doesn’t really mean anything, rankings don’t mean anything to me,” said Reader, who is No. 1 at 197 pounds in intermatwrestle.com’s top 20 poll. “It’s just about focusing on what I need to get done each match.

“If the bull’s-eye is on my back, then the bull’s-eye is on my back, but I know I train as hard as anybody in the country, if not harder at my weight,” he said.