For the first time in school history, the Cyclones have won at least a share of three-straight conference team titles. Zabriskie beat Oklahoma State's Jared Rosholt to clinch to the 2007 team title for ISU. Going into that match, he knew he had to win his bout for team glory. But Saturday, as Zabriskie took the mat against Missouri's Mark Ellis, he didn't know going into his championship match, Iowa State trailed Nebraska, 73-70 in team scoring.
"Two years ago there were scoreboards everywhere to tell you what the score was," Zabriskie said. "This time there was no score to see, and so I just went out there to wrestle."
Sanderson said it was just as well.
"Dave is really mentally tough," Sanderson said. "He is so undersized for the weight class and he wins match after match after match."
ISU automatically qualified nine wrestlers for the NCAA Championships March 19-21 in St. Louis, Mo. The announcement of "at-large" qualifiers will be made by the NCAA March 11.
Cyclone Nick Fanthorpe notched his second Big 12 133-pound title with his victory over Oklahoma State's Chris Notte. Fanthorpe kept the Cowboy's offense to a minimum as he controlled Notte for the decision, 5-1. Fanthorpe stands at 20-4 on his junior campaign, heading into the NCAA Championships. He battled injury earlier in the year but is on track.
"I have been feeling better," Fanthorpe said. "It was just a matter of trusting the coaches and the trainers."
Fanthorpe and Zabriskie join elite company for winning multiple Big 12 individual titles. Cael Sanderson (4), Joe Heskett (3), Nate Gallick (3), Dwight Hinson (2), Trent Paulson (2) and Kurt Backes (2) all accomplished the feat.
"I can't say that we wrestled very well over all," Sanderson said. "We will be sharper at the NCAA meet.
Junior Cyclone Nick Gallick was denied his second 141-pound league title by Missouri's Marcus Hoehn. Gallick fell in overtime to the Tiger, 2-1 (TB1). Gallick was ridden out in his 30-second portion of the tie-breaker period after being unable to kick free from Hoehn, who had Gallick by the ankles. Gallick, a Tucson, Ariz. native, falls to 27-4.
ISU's 125-pounder Tyler Clark came up short in his first Big 12 finals appearance. The sophomore fell by decision to Oklahoma's Joey Fio, 5-3. Clark drops to 23-6.
Redshirt freshman Cyclone Jerome Ward was turned away in his first attempt at a league title by Nebraska's Vince Jones by decision, 3-0. Ward eyes his first NCAA Championships experience with a 20-10 record.
ISU junior and Iowa City native Mitch Mueller was turned away his second conference finals appearance by Oklahoma's Kyle Terry by decision, 3-0. Mueller currently sports a 20-7 record heading into his third trip to the NCAA Championships.
ISU's Reader took third place at 165 pounds with a 3-2 decision of Oklahoma State's Brandon Mason. Reader had a riding time advantage of 1:03 for the deciding point in the match.
ISU's Cyler Sanderson and Reader won their consolation matches en route to their third-place matches. Sanderson came up victorious against Oklahoma's Chad Terry by decision, 12-9. Reader blanked his own Sooner opponent, Ryan Smith, 9-0 for the major decision.
ISU wrestles at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo. March 19-21. The Cyclones finished tied for fifth-place overall last season.
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