Third-ranked Iowa State (9-3, 3-0 Big 12) took down No. 4 Oklahoma State (8-3, 0-2 Big 12) 21-12, for the second time this year Sunday afternoon. For the first time in 36 years the Cyclones defeated the Cowboys twice in a season, and did so in style.

Freshman sensation, Jake Varner got the ball rolling for the Cyclones with a hard-fought 8-4 decision over Jack Jensen. Varner fought through illness and kept the pressure on to cap a 2-0 weekend.

“Jake did an outstanding job this weekend,” said coach Cael Sanderson. “We were uncertain if he was even going to wrestle either match on Friday. He pushed through that and fought for the team and came up with two big wins for us.”

Varner’s decision drew the Cyclones to within three points after the Cowboys took the first two matches of the day.

Senior, Kurt Backes kept the heat on with a pin at the 5:07 mark over Jared Shelton, giving the Cyclones a 9-6 lead.

“Cael was like, ‘we need a pin here. Get that pin.’ So it was kind of like a flashback in practice,” said Backes. “He sat out and left his head down and I kind of warped it up into a cradle and luckily I rolled him to his back and it was there.”

Backes defeated Shelton for the second time in two weeks, but improved on a 22-9 major decision at the National Duals.

“I think last time I was just going for the tech [technical fall],” said Backes. “I wasn’t really working for the pin but I was working more on my conditioning or working on my technique more than trying to work for the pin.”

Underrated heavy weight, David Zabriskie used his quickness and great conditioning to take his second 4-3 decision over Jared Rosholt in two weeks, sparking the crowd of 3,181 before intermission. Zabriskie (18-6) has improved greatly throughout the season and is making his mark on some formidable opponents.

“He’s a tough kid,” said Sanderson. “If you look at the wrestlers that he’s lost to, they’ve all been the top kids in the country. The only exception I think was one match that he lost in the Midlands. He’s right in there with the best guys. He’s a competitor.”

Nick Fanthorpe got the Cyclones going after intermission with a huge takedown in the second period that gave him the lead for good over 14th-ranked Tyler Shinn. Fanthorpe battled off Shinn’s last second shots and came away with a 4-1 victory. Fanthorpe’s win showed the marked improvement he’s had by avenging a 7-2 loss to Shinn just two weeks ago.

“Just more concentrating on the fundamentals. Working with the coaches and working my offense a little bit more into the match,” said Fanthorpe. “Just doing the stuff the coaches are telling me on top, on bottom and on my feet. [I’m] just concentrating on those little things and trying to wrestle a good match.”

Nick Gallick (133) and Mitch Mueller (141) lost two close decisions to the Cowboys, closing the Cyclone’s lead to 15-12.

Cyler Sanderson got the Cyclones back on the winning end with a tough 4-3 decision over B.J. Jackson, leaving Newly McSpadden as the Cowboys’ last hope.

Trent Paulson quickly closed out any hope the Cowboys had by scoring early and often in a 11-5 decision over McSpadden. Paulson got his offense going and closed out a 2-0 weekend for him.

The Cyclones capped off the weekend with a victory over the Cowboys after a 27-9 smothering of Oklahoma on Friday night. The victory gives the Cyclones a 3-0 mark in the Big 12 Conference with only one conference match left against Missouri on Feb. 11.