IOWA CITY — Nick Passolano started the annual intrastate wrestling rivalry between Iowa and Iowa State exactly where he left off last year.

Last year’s hero with the meet’s only pin started the meet with a win for the No. 2 Cyclones on their way to a 19-16 victory over No. 9 Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday.

“It was a great match,” ISU head coach Bobby Douglas said. “Both teams fought their hearts out; we just had a little more fight.”

This is Iowa State’s first victory in Iowa City since a 17-15 victory on Jan. 7, 1977. The win also gives Iowa State its second consecutive victory over the Hawkeyes after not defeating them since 1987.

“A win is a win, it doesn’t matter if it is in Iowa City, in Ames or anywhere else,” Douglas said. “We wanted to win real bad and we prepared for it. The guys did a real good job.”

Iowa leads the series 50-15-2.

Passolano scored an immediate takedown against freshman Luke Lofthouse en route to a 12-8 decision to put the Cyclones ahead 3-0.

Passolano controlled Lofthouse early in the match and appeared to have a chance at a major decision before his aggressive technique caught up with him as he tired late in the match.

In the third period, the two grapplers each scored four points — Lofthouse on two takedowns and Passolano on three escapes and a bonus point for riding time.

In the marquee match of the meet, sophomore Kurt Backes dropped a heartbreaker at 184 pounds to second-ranked Paul Bradley.

Bradley, who gave up a last-second takedown to Backes in last year’s dual, got revenge by taking down Backes with 25 seconds remaining to earn a 7-6 victory.

The Cyclones, however, never trailed. Ahead 7-6 with one match until intermission, junior Grant Nakamura pinned Lucas Magnani to give the Cyclones the 13-6 lead going into the break.

With a 12-4 lead in the third period, Nakamura rolled Magnani to his back and got the pin with 30 seconds left in the contest.

“I was just going in trying to get the win or maybe a major decision,” Nakamura said. “I was in the right place at the right time and I got the pin.”

Douglas said he didn’t count on a pin at any weight class.

“It’s pretty difficult to pin going against Iowa,” Douglas said.

At 157 pounds, Trent Paulson came out with a fire under him — jumping out to a 5-0 lead early in the second period.

Hawkeye junior Joe Johnston battled back but couldn’t overcome Paulson’s early surge. With a late escape and a riding time bonus, Paulson won by decision, 10-8.

“We lost a heartbreaker at 165 and we won a tough match at 157; what a tremendous match,” Douglas said.

The win improves Iowa State’s record to 7-0 and Iowa falls to 1-1.

Iowa State next travels to Lincoln, Neb., on Dec. 18 to compete with Dana, Wyoming and Findlay before competing at the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill., where it finished runner-up in 2003.

— ISU Media Relations

contributed to this article.

Iowa State 19, Iowa 16

174 — Nick Passolano (ISU) dec. Luke Lofthouse (I), 12-8

184 — Paul Bradley (I) dec. Kurt Backes (ISU), 7-6

197 — Trevor Smith (ISU) maj. dec. Dane Pape (I), 9-1

Hwt. Matt Fields (I) dec. Scott Coleman (ISU), 4-2

125 — Grant Nakamura (ISU) pinned Lucas Magnani (I), 6:37

133 — Mario Galanakis (I) dec. Jesse Sundell (ISU), 6-3

141 — Nate Gallick (ISU) dec. Alex Tsirtsis (I), 2-1 tb

149 — Ty Eustice (I) maj. dec. Aron Scott (ISU), 15-6

157 — Trent Paulson (ISU) dec. Joe Johnston (I), 10-8

165 — Mark Perry (I) dec. Travis Paulson (ISU), 5-2