Despite the loss of ranked 141-pounder Kanen Storr, the Iowa State wrestling team was ready to prove themselves in their first road Big 12 dual of the season against Oklahoma.

Instead, Iowa State faltered out of the gate and the loss of Storr was crippling for the team as Oklahoma captured a 21-16 lead.

Ian Parker starts at 141-pounds

After the departure of starter Storr on Tuesday, Iowa State was left with only redshirt junior Kristian Vasquez at 141-pounds.

Vasquez had never competed for the Cyclones in his career at Iowa State, so it was most likely that Parker or fellow 133-pounder Markus Simmons would make the jump to 141.

Over the course of the season, it was Parker who earned the majority of starts at 133-pounds.

Against Oklahoma, the Iowa State coaching staff elected to start Simmons at 133-pounds and bumped Parker to 141.

Simmons lost his bout 3-2, but Parker was able to secure a win against a quality opponent.

In Parker’s match, he faced Oklahoma’s Mike Longo, who had beaten Storr 2-1 earlier in the season at the Lindenwood Open.

Parker and Longo were scoreless entering the second period where Parker was on bottom. From there, Parker was able to earn an escape and takedown to put him up 3-0 after the second period.

In the third, Longo began on bottom and scored two points on a reversal. Up 3-2 and on bottom, Parker then escaped ending the match with a 4-2 decision.

Though Parker was able to earn the victory, Iowa State has become dependent on bonus points from their top wrestlers and Iowa State has only won matches when Storr didn’t score at least a major decision.

Sam Colbray wins another gritty match

One of the heroes of the West Virginia dual, Sam Colbray was able to keep his momentum going and secured a 2-1 decision.

Both Colbray and Oklahoma’s Andrew Dixon earned escapes during the match, but in sudden victory Dixon was called for stalling which ended the match with a Colbray win.

In his last two victories, Colbray has been able to push the pace against his opponent and draw stalling calls in sudden victory to secure the win. Last week Colbray did that against then-No. 13 Jake Smith from West Virginia.

Next up for Colbray is No. 3 Preston Weigel from Oklahoma State and Colbray will need to continue to make his opponents uncomfortable by pushing the pace if there is any chance of an upset.

Iowa State’s backups struggle

Iowa State had three wrestlers who aren’t naturally starters and put Iowa State down early on the scoreboard.

Sinjin Briggs is Iowa State’s fourth string 125-pounder and it showed against Oklahoma. Briggs was pinned in 37 seconds against No. 17 Christian Moody putting the Cyclones down 6-0.

During the Virginia Duals, Briggs was often able to avoid losing by fall and instead grinding out major and technical decisions keeping Iowa State within striking distance, but he was unable to avoid the fall against Moody.

At 133-pounds, the aforementioned Simmons lost a decision putting Iowa State down 9-0.

Logan Breitenbach then did not compete at 165-pounds and Iowa State elected to wrestle redshirt sophomore and 157-pounder Brady Jennings against Oklahoma’s Dawaylon Barnes.

Jennings was able to to keep the match close and only trailed 8-5 entering the third period, but was pinned by Barnes in 6:17. That fall put the Sooners up 18-6 and that lead allowed Oklahoma to coast to a 21-16 win.

Final Results:

125: Christian Moody (OU) falls Sinjin Briggs (ISU) in 0:37.

133: Jake Rubio (OU) defeats Markus Simmons (ISU) by 3-2 decision.

141: Ian Parker (ISU) wins in a 4-2 decision against Mike Longo (OU).

149: Davion Jeffries (OU) beats Jarrett Degen (ISU) by 9-5 decision.

157: Chase Straw (ISU) wins a 4-3 decision against Justin Thomas (OU).

165: Dawaylon Barnes (OU) pins Brady Jennings (ISU) in 6:17.

174: Yoanse Mejias (OU) wins a 2-1 decision versus Danny Bush (ISU).

184: Dane Pestano (ISU) defeats Matthew Waddell (OU) by 11-3 major decision and earns 1:28 in riding time.

197: Sam Colbray (ISU) wins a 2-1 decision in sudden victory versus Andrew Dixon (OU)

285: Marcus Harrington (ISU) beats Connor Webb (OU) in a 7-4 decision.

FINAL: Oklahoma 21, Iowa State 16