ISU wrestling places sixth at Midlands Championships

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Lelund Weatherspoon, redshirt junior, grabs the leg of an opponent at the match against University of Wyoming on Dec. 12.

Brian Mozey

The No. 18 ISU wrestling team finished in sixth place as a team after two days at the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill. In the second day, the Cyclones had six wrestlers competing with four of them making it to the podium. 

The biggest winner for Iowa State was redshirt senior Tanner Weatherman, who finished in second place in the 165-pound class. He defeated No. 9 Adam Fierro in the semifinals earlier in the day, but was pinned in the championship by No. 3 Chad Welch from Purdue. 

Earl Hall (133-pounds) and Lelund Weatherspoon (174-pounds) each grabbed seventh place for their respective weight classes after losing to their opponents in the quarterfinals. Gabe Moreno (149-pounds) lost his last match of the day but earned eighth place. 

The other two wrestlers were Dane Pestano (184-pounds) and Quean Smith (heavyweight). Both were one win away from wrestling in the consolation bracket quarterfinals.

Iowa State will have one more tournament-style dual before Winter Break is over. The team will travel to Hampton, Va., to compete in the Virginia Duals on Jan. 8 and 9.

After that tournament, the Cyclones will enter Big 12 play until the Big 12 championships on March 5 and 6 in Kansas City.