Iowa State wrestling continues to roll, defeats Fresno State

Redshirt+Sophomore+Chase+Straw+wrestles+against+Northern+Colorado+wrestler+Tyler+Kinn+Jan.+5+in+Hilton+Coliseum.%C2%A0+The+cyclones+were+narrowly+defeated+by+the+UNC+Bears+20-22.%C2%A0

Mikinna Kerns/Iowa State Daily

Redshirt Sophomore Chase Straw wrestles against Northern Colorado wrestler Tyler Kinn Jan. 5 in Hilton Coliseum.  The cyclones were narrowly defeated by the UNC Bears 20-22. 

Trevor Holbrook

After a strong 2-1 performance from Iowa State on Friday, the Cyclones carried that momentum into the second day of the Virginia Duals.

On Saturday, Iowa State cruised to a 25-16 win over Fresno State.

Action began with freshman 125-pounder Sinjin Briggs. After the walk-on went 0-3 on Friday, with the three losses coming from technical falls, Briggs lost via a 15-3 major decision.

At 133, redshirt sophomore Markus Simmons started. Simmons wasted no time, pinning Trevor Williams in 2:30. Iowa State led 6-4.

Redshirt freshman 141-pounder Kanen Storr executed back-to-back pins for the Cyclones. Storr pinned Chris Deloza in 2:05, stretching Iowa State’s lead to 12-4.

Dante Rodriguez competed for Iowa State at 149. The redshirt junior lost 22-11, cutting Iowa State’s lead to 12-8.

Next in line, redshirt sophomore Chase Straw received the start at 157. Straw continued his strong weekend, adding a 16-5 major decision and extending the lead to 16-8.

Fresno State gained some ground on the Cyclones at 165 when Redshirt junior Skyler St. John dropped his match, 8-4, trimming Iowa State’s lead to 16-11.

Ames native Hank Swalla eked out a 5-3 decision in sudden victory. Swalla put Iowa State in front, 19-11 with three matches left.

Fresno State sacrificed a team point due to unsportsmanlike conduct, changing the score to 19-10.

Iowa State acquired six more team points after redshirt senior Dane Pestano snagged a pin. Iowa State led 25-10.

Even with Iowa State in the driver’s seat, the 197-pound match came down to the wire. Redshirt freshman Sam Colbray faced Fresno State’s Josh Hokit, who also led Fresno State’s football team in rushing touchdowns this season.

Hokit proved he belonged on the mat, defeating Colbray 7-2 in a tiebreaker.

In the final match, redshirt freshman Gannon Gremmel started at 285. The young heavyweight came close to victory, but Gremmel eventually lost in a 7-6 decision.