The ISU wrestling team found mixed results in their action over the holiday break.

The Cyclones, ranked second nationally, cruised to a 30-6 victory over Ohio State on Dec. 13 in Hilton Coliseum and won three duals at the Lone Star Duals in Dallas on Saturday.

In between, the Cyclones struggled to a sixth-place finish at the Midlands Championships Dec. 29-30.

At the Lone Star Duals, Iowa State finished a perfect 3-0 with blowout victories over No. 14 Boise State, No. 20 Oregon State and Lock Haven.

The Cyclones are now 10-1 on the season.

“This is what we needed. This is the kind of intensity we’re looking for,” said Cyclone coach Bobby Douglas. “This is the best we’ve wrestled since last season.”

Joe Heskett and Cody Sanderson returned to the lineup from injury and went 3-0 on the day. Heskett, ranked second at 165, used a second period takedown and near-fall to post a 6-1 victory over top-ranked Kirk White in the Cyclones 30-9 victory over Boise State.

Also finishing unbeaten were Billy Maldanado at 149, Cael Sanderson at 184 and Zach Thompson at 197.

The three wins raised Cael Sanderson’s season record to 21-0 and his career record to 59-0.

“We are just trying to get back to where we were before the break,” said Cael Sanderson. “We have had a lot of setbacks with injuries, but we are getting back on track.”

Second-ranked heavyweight Trent Hynek didn’t make the trip to Dallas, but reserve Mark Knauer stepped in and went 2-1 including an 8-5 win over 18th-rated Jason Cooley of Oregon State.

In the victory over the Buckeyes, the Cyclones dominated, winning eight of 10 matches. Cael Sanderson started the meet off by pinning Donovan Ture in 38 seconds at 184.

Hynek rolled to a 16-0 technical fall win at heavyweight with Maldanoado posting a 21-9 major decision over Josh Daugherty at 149.

At the Midlands, the Cyclones lone title came from Cael Sanderson at 184. He won his second Midlands championship with a 7-2 win over Neil Patrick of Illinois.

“I’m still not at all satisfied with where I am right now,” Sanderson said. “There were times that I did not wrestle with enough discipline. I have a lot more work to do in order to get where I need to be.”

The Cyclones finished tied with Edinboro for sixth place with 54 points and were without regulars Heskett, Cody Sanderson and Matt Azervado. No. 1 Iowa won the team title with 151 points, and Illinois finished second with 98.

Cyclone assistant coach and former national champ Chris Bono wrestled for the Sunkist Kids and won the 157-pound title which is his second Midlands win.

In the finals, Bono handed Iowa’s defending national champ T.J. Williams his first collegiate defeat with a 4-2 win.