The No. 9 Iowa State men’s wrestling team opened its season on a strong note Sunday night, building an early 20-point lead en route to a 29-12 victory over Bucknell at Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones (1-0) flexed their muscles across the lower weight classes, sweeping the first five bouts of the dual. Dru Ayala kicked off the action at 125 pounds with a 5-2 decision over Jackson Heslin, who was making his collegiate debut. At 133 pounds, No. 15 Garrett Grice doubled the Iowa State advantage with an 8-2
decision against Blue Stiffler.
Iowa State’s momentum accelerated in the middle weights behind back-to-back technical falls. No. 2 Evan Frost dominated Bryce Manera at 141 pounds, securing a 19-3 technical fall in 5:07. His brother, No. 9 Jacob Frost, followed at 149 pounds with a 21-3 technical fall over Cade Wirnsberger in 3:38. No. 13 Paniro Johnson then stretched the Cyclones’ lead to 20-0 with a 16-5 major decision against Ryan Lawler at 157 pounds.
Bucknell (0-1) answered at 165 pounds when No. 15 Noah Mulvaney pinned No. 13 Connor Euton at 6:13. Euton had built an early 10-4 third-period lead before Mulvaney notched a takedown and caught Euton in a cradle to earn the fall.
Iowa State regained its footing at 174 pounds as Tate Naaktgeboren was awarded a victory by medical forfeit over reigning EIWA champion No. 17 Myles Takats. Naaktgeboren led 4-1 in the third period before Takats suffered a leg injury and was forced to withdraw at 6:45, adding six team points to Iowa State’s tally.
The Bison captured consecutive overtime decisions in the upper weight classes. At 184 pounds, No. 29 Tyler Bienus edged Sawyer Bartelt 4-1 in a double-overtime tiebreaker. At 197 pounds, No. 21 Dillon Bechtold earned a late takedown for a 4-1 sudden-victory decision over Brayden Thompson.
With the dual victory already in hand, No. 15 Coby Merrill capped off the Cyclones’ opening win at heavyweight. The U23 World Bronze Medalist earned a 6-2 decision against Lucas Lawler at 285 pounds.
RESULTS
125: Dru Ayala (ISU) dec. over Jackson Heslin (BU), 5-2 (ISU 3-0)
133: No. 15 Garrett Grice (ISU) dec. over Blue Stiffler (BU), 8-2 (ISU 6-0)
141: No. 2 Evan Frost (ISU) tech fall over Bryce Manera (BU), 19-3, 5:07 (ISU 11-0)
149: No. 9 Jacob Frost (ISU) tech fall over Cade Wirnsberger (BU), 21-3 3:38 (ISU 16-0)
157: No. 13 Paniro Johnson (ISU) major dec. over Ryan Lawler (BU), 16-5 (ISU 20-0)
165: No. 15 Noah Mulvaney (BU) fall over No. 13 Connor Euton (ISU), 6:13 (ISU 20-6)
174: Tate Naaktgeboren (ISU) MFL over No. 17 Myles Takats (BU), Injury 6:45 (ISU 26-6)
184: No. 29 Tyler Bienus (BU) dec. over Sawyer Bartelt (ISU), TB-1, 4-1 (ISU 26-9)
197: No. 21 Dillon Bechtold (BU) dec. over Brayden Thompson (ISU), SV-1 4-1 (ISU 26-12)
285: No. 15 Coby Merrill (ISU) dec. over Lucas Lawler (BU), 6-2 (ISU 29-12)
