Last season, Jakob Allison was simply a kid on the Iowa State wrestling club. 

This season, Allison has been thrust into a starting spot for Kevin Dresser. On Saturday, Allison shined. 

“Look at our 125,” Dresser said. “He’s a daggone club kid. He’s the Iowa State intermodal champion and he scored more points than anyone on our team. I told [the team] that’s the guy when there’s a fight and we start picking sides. He’s maybe not the greatest wrestler, but the dudes a little fighter.”

Iowa State 125-pound sophomore Jakob Allison trotted out onto the mat before his match with Wyoming’s Trent Olson. 

After the referee blew his whistle, Olson jumped on top of Allison and picked up a takedown. Not a good start for Allison and the Cyclones. 

About 20 seconds later, Allison was flirting with getting pinned in the first period. 

The scrappy 125-pounder maneuvered his way out of the near fall, but Allison now faced a 6-1 deficit. 

Towards the end of the period, Allison connected on an attack, snagging two points. 

“I could feel him get tired,” said Allison. “As soon as I put my hands on him, I knew right then and there, I’m not out of this match, I’ve got this.”

Allison was attempting to pin Olson, but Olson was saved by the period ending. 

Allison was in control, earning four points on the near fall and held a 7-6 lead. 

In the second period, Allison continued his momentum, pinning Olson. 

Allison was 0-1 in dual matches prior to entering Saturday, so the pin was a pleasant surprise for Iowa State. 

In the first two dual matches this season,

Iowa State relied on a couple of weights to carry the load. 

On Saturday against Wyoming, not all of Dresser’s reliable wrestlers pulled through for cardinal and gold in a 24-14 defeat. 

 

One of the faces of the Cyclone wrestling program, redshirt freshman 141-pounder Kanen Storr, failed to register a win against Wyoming. 

Storr has emerged as one of the bright spots for Iowa State. The Michigan native was coming off an eighth-place finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. 

Storr faced some quality talent in Las Vegas, and on his return to Ames, he received another tough competitor. 

Awaiting Storr, was redshirt senior Bryce Meredith. Meredith is the consensus No. 4 ranked 141-pounder by Intermat, Flowrestling and Trackwrestling. 

Meredith proved he belongs in the top five. 

At 1:12, Meredith snagged a pin over Storr. All of a sudden, the Cyclones were in a hole. 

The team score flipped from a 6-3 Iowa State lead to a 9-6 Wyoming lead. 

Redshirt freshman Jarrett Degen was next for the Cyclones. Degen hasn’t been in Ames for long, but the Virginia Tech transfer has established himself as a key contributor to Iowa State’s success. 

Down 9-6, the Cyclones desperately need not only a win, but also some bonus points. 

Degen managed to get Iowa State back in the win column, but the redshirt freshman only won 7-3, resulting in only three team points. 

After the 165 and 174 matches, Iowa State was in a deeper hole. 

Trailing 18-12, the Cyclones looked to redshirt senior 184-pounder Dane Pestano to rebuild some momentum. 

Pestano lost in a one-point decision, and by the time the dual was at the heavyweights, it was too late. 

Outside of Allison, the other positive for Iowa State is that it receives time to rebound. 

The Cyclones don’t compete again until Jan. 5, providing the Cyclones time to rest and time to improve. 

“If you don’t want to rock and roll [after the holiday break], stay home with Grandma because we’re gonna rock and roll,” Dresser said.