Updated at 10:12 p.m. CST March 19

ST. LOUIS — The ISU wrestling team came here with high hopes. Riding its best dual record in more than 30 years, the Cyclones were optimistic about a top five finish.

When the final whistle blew Saturday evening, the Cyclones found themselves in 10th place with only three All-Americans headed back to Ames.

Oklahoma State wrapped up its third consecutive national championship after day two and featured national champions in five of the 10 weights.

Junior Nate Gallick led the Cyclones with a runner-up finish at 141 pounds.

Gallick was unable to overcome a three-point deficit in a 3-2 loss to Oklahoma’s Teyon Ware — Gallick’s first loss of the season.

Gallick, the top-ranked 141-pounder in the NCAA, was 4-0 against Ware before losing Saturday.

“I wanted to go out there and score,” Gallick said. “I didn’t want [another] match taken into double overtime. It just didn’t go as planned — stuff happens.”

After falling behind 3-0, Gallick scored with an escape in the third period and scored again when Ware was given his second stalling warning.

“I’ve become accustomed to his style,” Gallick said. “I was confident going into the match, [but] I left myself open a little bit.”

After falling into compromising positions and nearly being pinned in his previous three matches, good fortune finally ran out on Trent Paulson.

The sophomore started day three with an 8-7 decision over Indiana’s Brandon Becker and capped the day with a loss by fall to Ohio’s Jake Percival.

In his first match, Paulson found himself on top early but battling from behind by the end. After taking a 4-2 lead with a reversal, Becker scored a reversal at the start of the second period and scored two near fall points.

After Paulson earned his own reversal to begin the third, Becker escaped and left Paulson chasing, down 7-6.

In a scramble with under 10 seconds remaining, Trent was credited with a takedown and the victory. Becker filed a protest saying the time expired before Trent had gotten control while the wrestlers rolled on the mat. The NCAA committee denied the protest, saying there was not substantial evidence to overturn the ruling.

In the third-place match, Paulson gave up an early takedown to Percival before scoring two escapes to tie the match 2-2. In the third period, Trent held onto Percival’s leg and midsection to avoid a takedown and Percival used it to his advantage. The senior and four time All-American pinned Trent at the 6:23 mark of the third period.

Heavyweight Scott Coleman was the other placewinner for the Cyclones. In his second match of the tournament against Central Michigan’s Bill Stouffer, Coleman scored a takedown in the sudden victory period to claim seventh place.

The heavyweight closes out his career as a two-time All-American for the Cyclones after garnering eighth-place honors last year.

With the season concluded, the Cyclones will say goodbye to 174-pound NCAA qualifier Nick Passolano, 197-pounder Trevor Smith and Coleman.

The Cyclones will begin the 2005-06 season with seven returning starters in an effort to end the dominance of Oklahoma State, which has won the last three national titles.

NCAA Wrestling Championships

at St. Louis

1. Oklahoma State 153.0

2. Michigan 83.0

3. Oklahoma 77.5

4. Cornell 76.5

5. Minnesota 72.5

6. Illinois 70.5

7. Iowa 66.0

8. Lehigh 60.0

9. Indiana 58.5

10. Iowa State 57.0