OKLAHOMA CITY – Nate Gallick wouldn’t have imagined it any other way – the setting, the opponent or the finish.

In the match and the rivalry that defined his career, he was ultimately victorious.

Gallick beat Oklahoma’s Teyon Ware, 3-2, in the 141-pound NCAA Championship Saturday, exorcising any demons and answering any questions left from the past.

“To a lot of people, it didn’t matter how many times I beat him. The fact that he beat me at the National Tournament [in the 2005 finals] – that was all that mattered,” Gallick said. “That was big for me. I didn’t want to end my career without winning a national title. Now that I’ve done it, it feels good.”

In the past four years, Gallick won seven of the eight matchups against the Oklahoma two-time national champion, but lost 3-2 in last year’s NCAA Championships.

In front of a strong Oklahoma crowd, Gallick was looking to put a period on the rivalry, and quickly set the tone of the match with the first takedown a little over a minute into the match.

Wrestling on the edge of the mat in the first period, a low single caught Ware’s left leg. Gallick didn’t let him flee out of bounds and steered him back in before wrapping up both legs to finish the move.

He earned both a takedown and the tactical edge.

“Getting that takedown kind of sets the pace of the match,” he said. “[Ware] has to come back at me a little bit more. A one-point advantage is big between us.”

The Sooner escaped 11 seconds later. Ware started down in the second period and tied the score, 2-2, with another escape.

In the third period, Gallick started down with the chance to regain the lead.

With ISU coach Bobby Douglas yelling “concentrate” from the corner, he exploded out, earning the escape and the lead in just two seconds.

He wrestled a strategically defensive match from there on out, and wasn’t cited for stalling until the final seconds.

“He executed his match-plan to perfection,” Douglas said. “And he had to.”

Gallick celebrated with just a small pump of his fist after his hand was raised in victory.

Ware took off his leg-bands, shook Gallick’s hand and walked over to Douglas, who returned the senior’s handshake with a hug.

It signified the respect of the two competitors.

“Teyon [Ware] is a tremendous champion and it took a tremendous effort to beat him,” Douglas said.

Douglas said he has enjoyed coaching Gallick as he reflected on what he is like to coach.

“I watched him train when he first came in with one thing in mind, and that was to win a national title,” Douglas said. “He did everything by the book. He is a class act and I’m awfully proud of him.

“When you work with someone like Nate [Gallick], it’s very difficult to let go of the emotions. For the moment, [seeing him win] was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had.”

After winning his title, Gallick spoke of relief, as well as jubilation.

“It is my last year, so I put in a lot of work, and between Coach Douglas and I, we have lost a lot of hours of sleep thinking about that match,” Gallick said.

“It was a great way to go out. It was kind of the perfect season for me. I couldn’t ask for something better.”