Despite falling to Rider 22-15, the Iowa State wrestling team moves closer and closer to putting together a consistent dual.

That word, consistent, has been the deciding factor in its defeat against Rider this week and also the loss against Drexel two weeks ago.

“In terms of wins and losses, we let another win slide through our hands,” said coach Kevin Dresser.

This week, one of Iowa State’s top wrestlers, 133-pounder Ian Parker, lost by fall to Anthony Cefolo after Parker was caught in a bad position and then thrown to his back by Cefolo.

Even Dresser believed that Parker should have won the match. Instead of at least a three-point decision in favor of Iowa State, Rider was able to earn six points from the fall in a nine-point turn.

“At 133, that was probably the difference in the dual meet in terms of what we thought would happen. No question we were favored there,” Dresser said.

After the meet, Dresser applauded Parker’s effort, but noted he can’t be caught like he did.

In addition to Parker losing by fall, many of the other Cyclone athletes that the team leans on failed to produce extra points such as Marcus Harrington, Kanen Storr, Jarrett Degen and Dane Pestano. Extra points from their respective victories would have helped the Cyclones close the gap.

“We really had to go up and get bonus points and none of us did that,” Storr said.

Harrington, who wrestled at heavyweight, was only able to score three points in the first two periods to leave the score at 3-1 against Ryan Cloud. In the third period, Harrington’s pace was overwhelming as he rattled off two takedowns. The final score of the match was an 8-3 decision.

At 141-pounds, Storr failed to score in the first period, but in the next two periods he rattled off four takedowns and looked like he was on pace for a major decision up 10-3, but in the last minute of the third period Storr lost his groove. His opponent, Tyson Dippery, was able to control the rest of the match to only allow an 11-6 decision as Storr had 1:00 in riding time.

Next up, Jarrett Degen made his debut at a dual at 149-pounds against Gary Dinmore. The match was fairly even at first as Dinmore was able to earn a takedown early in the first period against the lanky Degen. In the end, Degen was able to win a gritty 5-2 decision and separated himself by being superb at times riding on top where he rode for 2:47.

After the dual, Dresser noted that Degen and Storr are amongst the top competitors in the room.

“In the room I definitely noticed [Storr] working hard and I just try to one up him and I’m sure he’s trying to one up me,” Degen said.

Two other major matches that determined the outcome of the dual were two losses by Chase Straw at 157-pounds and Hank Swalla at 174-pounds.

In Straw’s match, Straw was able to push B.J. Clagon to the very final seconds of the match with a chance to win or head into overtime with the score at 11-10 in favor of Clagon, but Straw had 1:22 in riding time in his favor. Instead of extending the match to sudden victory, Straw was caught in a bad position and Clagon was able to score a reversal with two seconds left to give Clagon the victory.

Swalla’s 18-3 tech fall loss against Dean Sherry sealed the victory for Rider as Sherry gave Rider five team points to extend their lead to 22-9.

Despite a second disappointing loss, Dresser believes that those in doubt need to “Trust the Process” and next week “The Process” makes its way to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.