Session One
Eight Cyclone wrestlers won their opening-round matches, including bonus-point victories from Dante Rodriguez (major decision), Gabe Moreno (maj. dec.), Lelund Weatherspoon (maj. dec.), Kyven Gadson (fall) and Quean Smith (fall). Five advanced to the quarterfinal rounds, as Gadson added a 19-6 major decision to add to the team-point tally.
Earl Hall, Gabe Moreno, Michael Moreno, Tanner Weatherman and Kyven Gadson each won their first two matches, advancing to the tournament's quarterfinal round. Hall used a big five-point move coming out of a scramble to defeat CSU-Bakersfield's Ian Nickell, 11-9. Gabe Moreno dominated his opener, majoring Western Wyoming's Ezekiel Mamalis, 14-0, on 5 minutes, 12 seconds of riding time.
ISU Quarterfinalists WT
Earl Hall 133
Gabe Moreno 149
Michael Moreno 165
Tanner Weatherman 174
Kyven Gadson 197
Freshman Dante Rodriguez picked up a huge victory on the back side of the 141-pound bracket, defeating Cornell’s No. 11-ranked Mark Grey. Rodriguez trailed 5-1 before going on a 9-1 scoring run and closing the match with a takedown and a three-point near-fall to secure the win in the final minute of the match.
Smith’s pin in his opener took just 11 seconds, as the Detroit, Michigan, native scored a quick takedown and put California Baptist’s David Dill on his back to secure the fall. The pin is tied for the third-fastest pin in program history and is the second-fastest of his career (:07, 2013 Harold Nichols).
The Cyclones stood third in the team standings, tallying 36 points in the opening session of competition.
Session Two
After a slow start that saw Hall and Rodriguez lose to begin the night session, G. Moreno won a thriller over Rutgers’ Ken Theobold. Moreno trailed late in the match, and he scored a reversal as time expired to send the match into overtime. In the OT period, Moreno wasted no time, scoring a quick takedown and tacking on a three-point near-fall to defeat Theobold by a score of 13-8 and advance to the 149-pound semis.
Older brother Michael Moreno followed suit at 165, picking up a 14-6 major decision over Navy’s Peyton Walsh. The No. 3-ranked Urbandale, Iowa, native scored four takedowns and a reversal in the semifinal-clinching effort.
ISU Semifinalists WT
Gabe Moreno 149
Michael Moreno 165
Tanner Weatherman 174
Kyven Gadson 197
In a tight match at 174, Tanner Weatherman defeated sixth-seeded Zach Epperly (Virginia Tech) by a score of 3-2 to advance to the semis.
At 197, Kyven Gadson was pitted against sixth-seeded Jared Haught of Virginia Tech. Gadson scored an early takedown and used a late five-point move to take the match, 8-3. Gadson was Iowa State’s fourth and final semifinal qualifier.
Earl Hall dropped his quarterfinal bout but is still alive on the back side of the bracket.
Competition is set to resume tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT, with a consolation round that will be followed by the semifinal bouts.
Cyclone #CKLV Notebook
*The Cyclones are currently in xth-place overall in team competition.
*Eight Cyclones won their opening-round matches, with five advancing to the quarterfinals.
*Quean Smith pinned his first-round opponent in 11 seconds, tying the third-fastest pin in ISU history.
*Gabe Moreno, Michael Moreno, Tanner Weatherman and Kyven Gadson are each into the semifinal round of their respective weight classes.
*Smith’s 11-second pin is the second-fastest of his ISU career, also pinning an opponent in 7 seconds at last year’s Harold Nichols Open.
*Kyven Gadson’s round-one pin is his sixth of the season. The Waterloo, Iowa, native tacked on a major decision in round two
*141-pounder Dante Rodriguez picked up a big come-from-behind victory over No. 11 Mark Grey (Cornell), winning 10-6.
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