The job security of the ISU wrestlers was tested at the intra-squad wrestle-offs.

Mats were rolled out at the Lied Recreational Athletic Center for the first meet of the season Friday to determine the starters for the team’s first dual meet. Redshirt freshman Jerome Ward knocked off junior Joe Curran, 8-3, without a clear starter in the 184-pound match.

Ward scored three takedowns, a riding time point and an escape for the victory over Curran, who started as at 197 pounds as a true freshman in 2005-2006.

Two top-15 ranked wrestlers were challenged to one-point decisions.

Second-ranked junior Nick Gallick, who placed fifth at the NCAA Tournament last season, beat true freshman Dalton Jensen in the 141-pound match. Gallick built up a riding time advantage in the second period and escaped quickly in the third for the win. Jensen is a two-time state champion from Missouri Valley who wrestled at 125 pounds last season.

Thirteenth-ranked sophomore Tyler Clark (125) scored a takedown with 1:16 left against true freshman Andrew Long to win a 7-6 match. Long, a three-time state champ from Creston, reversed Clark and scored a two-point near fall in the first period. After another reversal by Long in the third period, Clark trailed, 6-4.

Junior Northern Illinois transfer Duke Burk (174) did not wrestle in the meet due to minor injury.

Wrestle-off results

125 — Tyler Clark dec. Andrew Long, 7-6

133 — Nick Fanthorpe tech. fall Anthony Valles, 6:30

141 — Nick Gallick dec. Dalton Jensen, 2-1

149 — Mitch Mueller pinned Justin Hale, 6:14

157 — Cyler Sanderson pinned Matt Brown, 1:58

165 — Jon Reader tech. fall Nate Carr Jr., 4:26

174 — Chris Pursel dec. Mike Finch, 8-4

184 — Jerome Ward dec. Joe Curran, 8-3

197 — Jake Varner major dec. Kyle Simonson, 10-0

HWT — David Zabriskie dec. Eric Thompson, 6-2

174 Exhibition — Andrew Sorenson dec. Billy Lewis, 6-2