AMES – Following a dominant performance against Arizona State that featured seven individual wins and an exciting win by fall for newcomer Carter Fousek, No. 14 Iowa State gets set for its third dual of the season against a ranked opponent in No. 15 Pittsburgh.
After an exciting showing, Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser was pleased with the team’s dominant performance.
“We had nine sophomores and one true freshman, all out of the same class,” Dresser said. “They got the job done, even though it’s been difficult finding who to put out there and when.”
Entering the dual with No. 15 Pittsburgh, the Cyclones fell from No. 13 to No. 14 in the coaches poll. The Panthers are expected to wrestle seven contenders, including No. 10 Mac Stout at 197.
Iowa State is expected to return sophomore Cody Chittum, senior Evan Bockman and potentially redshirt freshman Tate Naaktgeboren alongside sophomore Nando Villaescusa. Bockman and Chittum both missed Friday’s dual against the Sun Devils.
“[Chittum] let me know that he was sick around 12:30 [Friday] morning, and from there it was next man up,” Dresser said. “He’s expected to return on Sunday, but nothing is guaranteed.”
In his place, Fousek wrestled at 157, debuting inside Hilton Coliseum. Fousek is one of many young talents projected to see mat time as the season nears an end.
At heavyweight, freshman Daniel Herrera has his hands full against No. 13 Dayton Pitzer. Herrera is 19-8 on the season compared to Pitzer’s 9-2 record. Herrera lost his two previous heavyweight matches against Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson and Arizona State’s Cohlton Schultz.
“I like the improvement that we’re seeing out of Herrera,” Dresser said. “He’s a unique style to beat, and he wrestles in a very deep spot at heavyweight.”
Herrera and Chittum are not the only Cyclone wrestlers looking to secure ranked wins over Pittsburgh opponents. For the first time this season, neither Evan nor Jacob Frost are lined up to face ranked opponents.
At 149, Paniro Johnson is expected to wrestle No. 23 ranked Finn Soloman or graduate Reece Heller. Solomon and Heller eclipsed over 10 wins on the season, with Solomon at a record of 11-6 and Heller at 10-2.
“The old [Johnson] would be proud of how the new [Johnson] has been going out there and competing,” Dresser said. “To do well at this level, your number one guys have to be ready, and he’s continued to face the challenges thrown his way.”
Iowa State has hosted two ranked opponents in the standard dual format, conceding to then-No. 3 Oklahoma State and then-No. 20 Stanford earlier this season. With a win, the Cyclones would record the first-ranked win inside Hilton Coliseum.
In addition, Sunday’s competition is the final home wrestling dual of the season. An Iowa State win would improve the team’s home record to 4-2 on the season and mark the third straight win over Pittsburgh.
The dual with the Panthers is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday for the White Out dual. It will be streamed live on ESPN+.
