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Luke Plansky
February 12, 2007

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Kurt Backes punctuated Iowa State’s convincing upset of second-ranked Missouri with an exclamation point, pinning No. 1-ranked Max Askren to secure a 27-12 win Sunday afternoon.

Backes arched his back, reached back and grabbed the Tiger freshman’s head, pressing Askren’s shoulders to the mat for a quick and controversial defensive fall just 11 seconds into the second period. Wins in five of the first six matches gave Iowa State (11-3, 4-0 Big 12) its first sweep of the four Big 12 schools since the 1987-88 season.

That team went on to win the school’s last NCAA Championship.

“This dual kind of proves that we’re a different team now than we were at the beginning of the season,” said senior Trent Paulson (157), who tech falled Tiger Nick Marable, 20-5. “Everything is falling into place at the right time, and we are going to be the team to beat come March.”

Backes (197) handed Askren the first loss of his young career in controversial fashion.

The Columbia crowd showered the mat with boos after a split-second fall call.

Missouri coach Brian Smith didn’t have a good angle to see the pin and didn’t argue with the call.

“It was a pin. That’s what the ref called and that’s what you gotta live with,” Smith said. “You move on.”

Backes, ranked 10th, gave the nation a reminder who is a front-runner in the Big 12. While important, the two-time Big 12 champion reminded that one win doesn’t make his season.

“I just put him in a bad position,” Backes said. “I just like that position. I feel real comfortable there, ever since high school I guess.”

Iowa State had built an 18-3 lead before Missouri star Ben Askren pinned ISU 174-pounder Grant Turner. Fifth-ranked Tiger Raymond Jordan (184) took down sixth-ranked Jake Varner with 26 seconds to take a 5-4 lead.

Missouri was without 133-pound All-American Tyler McCormick and 157-pound starter Michael Chandler because of illness and injury, respectively.

The only negative result from the weekend was the injury to Iowa State’s Mitch Mueller (141). The freshman hurt his right elbow and injury-defaulted in Friday night’s 38-6 win over Rider.

Laramie Shaffer, a 133-pounder, stepped in for Mueller against Missouri and was also injured. Iowa State coach Cael Sanderson said Mueller will likely be out “for awhile” but didn’t disclose his injury.

“Our game plan was just to get in there and hustle and get after them,” Sanderson said. “And it worked out.”

The televised dual will be rebroadcast on FOX Sports Midwest on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 23 at noon.

Next up for the Cyclones is a trip to east coast. Iowa State takes on Virginia Tech on Friday at 6 p.m. CST and close out their dual season on Sunday at 11 a.m. CST at Virginia.

No. 3 Iowa State at No. 2 Missouri

Match Results

Final Score: ISU – 27, MU – 12

125 – Nick Fanthorpe vs. John Olanowski – 7-1 – ISU

Fanthorpe controlled the Tiger to get Iowa State rolling in a 8-1 win.

133 – Nick Gallick vs. Tim Kephart -14-3 – ISU

Gallick nearly stuck Kephart in the first period but the streaking freshman settled for a 14-3 major decision win.

141 – Laramie Shaffer vs. Ashtin Primus – 8-3 – MU

Shaffer wrestled for injured starter Mitch Mueller. Shaffer, a true 133-pounder, had his shots countered and was handicapped by a knee injury.

149 – Cyler Sanderson vs. Josh Wagner – 5-2 – ISU

Sanderson used two takedowns in the third period to come away with 5-2 victory over the seventh-ranked Tiger, the biggest win of his young Cyclone career.

157 – Trent Paulson vs. Nick Marable – 17-5 – ISU

Paulson put together his most aggressive match of the season in his 17-5 tech fall victory. He got his offense going early with three takedowns in the first period and gave Iowa State a 15-3 lead.

165 – Travis Paulson vs. Matt Pell – 2-0 – ISU

Paulson used a reversal with only 11 seconds left in the second period and a rideout in the third to take a 2-0 decision, evening his career record with Pell at 2-2.

174 – Grant Turner vs. Ben Askren – Pin – MU

The top-ranked, 2006 NCAA Champion never let Turner into the match, body-locking and pinning the Cyclone at the 1:02 mark.

184 – Jake Varner vs. Raymond Jordan – 6-4 – MU

The Missouri sophomore earned a takedown with 26 seconds left. Varner took a 4-3 lead in the third period, but Jordan took the win due to a riding-time advantage.

197 – Kurt Backes vs. Max Askren – Pin – ISU

Backes clinched the meet for Iowa State with a defensive pin over the previously undefeated, No. 1 ranked freshman at the 3:11 mark.

HWT – David Zabriskie vs. Mark Ellis – 8-4 – ISU

Zabriskie fell off the raised platform the mat was on, but came back with two takedowns in the third period to take an 8-4 victory to close the dual.

– Caleb Nemmers

Iowa State dismantles Rider, 38-6:

Iowa State won nine out of 10 matches against Rider on Friday night, claiming a 38-6 dual win.

Grant Turner snapped a five-match losing streak against Rider’s Doug Umbehauer.

Iowa State’s only loss came after Mitch Mueller’s injury default. The freshman appeared to dislocate his elbow and was taken to the hospital. His status is uncertain, and he didn’t make the trip to Columbia, Mo., for Sunday’s meet against the Tigers.

– Luke Plansky