Editor’s note: This is part three of a 10-part series breaking down the Iowa State wrestling roster weight-by-weight. While athletes switching to different weights is inevitable, for the sake of simplicity and consistency, this series will base the weights off of past weights.

The 141-pound weight for Iowa State saw its share of struggles, but it also provided excitement at points during the year.

The 2018-19 season will see familiar faces anchoring the weight, and Cyclone fans will expect 141-pounds to be a strength.

Ian Parker

Parker began the 2017-18 season at 133-pounds and picked up some solid wins, including a win over former Drexel 133-pounder Austin DeSanto, who transferred to Iowa after the season.

In the middle of the season, Kanen Storr left the Iowa State program, and Parker made the jump to 141-pounds — a move that reenergized the Saint Johns, Michigan, native.

Iowa State spent the weekend in Oklahoma during Parker’s weight change. To begin the weekend, Parker knocked off Oklahoma’s Mike Longo, 4-2.

Parker topped the win over Longo by defeating Oklahoma State’s Dean Heil — a two-time NCAA Champion and four-time NCAA Qualifier — 3-1.

After bursting onto the scene in Oklahoma, Parker was shut down for a while due to injury. He returned for the Cy-Hawk dual and lost to Vince Turk, 13-5. At the Big 12 Tournament, Parker went 3-2 and just missed the cut for an NCAA bid.

Looking ahead to next season, Parker is in a better position than last season due to his defined spot in the Cyclones’ lineup.

With Austin Gomez at 133, Parker should be locked into the 141-pound spot. Looking strictly at Parker’s 141-pound results, Iowa State fans should be optimistic.

Outside of Parker’s first match back from injury, the only losses Parker took at 141 were by margins of two points or fewer. On the flip side, Parker’s wins were all one-or-two point margins of victory (other than a 5-0 win over Air Force’s Alec Opsal).

Parker is a valuable piece to Iowa State who is able to keep any match close.

Kristian Vazquez

Vazquez finished 14-13 in the 2017-18 season. He finished fifth at the Willie Myers Open and the Pat ‘Flash’ Flanagan Open. Vazquez finished sixth at the Grand View Open and won the Cyclone Open.

While he’s primarily wrestled in tournaments, Vazquez can provide experience for the Cyclones.