Three Big Takeaways: Carr rides to the finals

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Lee Chinyama

David Carr at the ISU vs. OSU wrestling meet on Jan. 29.

Anthony Hanson, Sports Reporter

Iowa State wrestler David Carr kept his national championship hopes alive Friday night by advancing to the finals after a pair of wins.

Five Cyclones won their first matches in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the BOK Center and advanced to the fourth session. In the evening session, Carr defeated Princeton’s Quincy Monday by riding time points.

Marcus Coleman responded to his quarterfinal loss from Thursday night with a win and secured his second All-American finish.

Zach Redding and Casey Swiderski fell one win short of the podium Friday night. Swiderski fell to Parker Filius from Purdue and Redding lost to Aaron Nagao from Minnesota.

Carr’s ride to the finals

Carr is searching for another national title after coming short in 2022. In the semifinals on Friday night, he was challenged early.

In session three on Thursday, Carr defeated Shane Griffith from Stanford by a 2-1 decision to move into the quarterfinals. Carr moved on to face another familiar opponent in the semifinals. Carr faced Monday in November and Carr won 2-1 after receiving a riding time point.

Carr and Monday continued a rivalry shared by their fathers in NCAA Championships 40 years ago. Nate Carr for Iowa State and Kenny Monday for Oklahoma State faced off in the NCAA Championships in 1982.

In the first period, the younger Monday gained an edge. The Princeton senior held a 4-0 lead over Carr. The Cyclone made a quick response. Carr scored a reversal in the first period and added a takedown in the second.

In the third, Carr stayed on top to secure the riding time point. Carr’s ride out secured him a spot in the national finals. Carr, who is now 26-0 on the season, will face another familiar opponent.

For the third time since Feb. 15, Carr will face Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole. Carr and O’Toole have been No. 1 and No. 2 in each of their two matchups so far.

The third and final edition of Carr and O’Toole’s matchup will crown a national champion.

Coleman becomes two-time all-American

Iowa State’s Marcus Coleman moved onto the consolation semifinals on Saturday after he pinned his opponent in the round of 12. Coleman defeated Iowa’s Abe Assad in the quarterfinals on Thursday but fell in his first matchup on Friday.

He fell to the consolation bracket after losing to Trey Munoz of Oregon State. Coleman’s next opponent was No. 8 Matt Finesilver of Michigan in the round of 12. Facing elimination, Coleman recorded the win in a 4-3 decision. Coleman secured himself a spot on the podium with the win but his evening wasn’t over.

Next, Coleman faced Will Feldkamp to have a chance to climb the podium. The Iowa State senior was down 6-1 in the first period but turned the tables on Feldkamp and recorded a pin with about 20 seconds remaining in the first.

Cyclone careers end

Several Cyclones failed to stay alive on the consolation bracket and faced elimination Friday night. Others wrestled their final matches in a Cyclone uniform.

Swiderski and Redding lost their consolation matches on Friday and suffered elimination.

Seniors Jason Kraisser and Sam Schulery were eliminated from national championship contention Friday night and ended their Cyclone careers.

Schuyler lost his second-round match at the NCAA tournament this weekend but recorded two wins in the wrestle-backs. Schuyler, a transfer from Buffalo, beat Jacob Bullock and Josh Heindselman in the consolation second and third rounds. He lost to Trent Hillger of Wisconsin in the round of 12.

Kraisser’s NCAA tournament bid ended in the consolation third round. He lost to Vinny Zerban by major decision.

Iowa State junior Yonger Bastida suffered his elimination in the consolation third round after a loss by 2-1 decision to Michael Beard. Bastida was an all-American last season but will leave Tulsa without a podium finish this year. Bastida has been “dinged up” since the beginning of Big 12 conference play, Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser said Wednesday.