Gallick beat Jaggers, 6-2 in the 141-pound bout. It was the first ever meeting between the two wrestlers. Jaggers was the sixth seed in the 2008 NCAA Championship at 141 pounds. The Buckeye beat the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 seeds en route to the title. Monday, Gallick got a reversal and back points to earn the victory. Gallick used the reversal and transitioned into a spladle to earn three back points in the second period to go up 5-1. The ISU All-American hung tough in the third to build up riding time and closed out the victory, 6-2.
"We came to this meet to wrestle the best opponents we could find," Iowa State head coach Cael Sanderson said.
"Nick did a great job beating the defending NCAA champion. Jaggers is obviously really tough, so this was a good test match for us."
The top-rated Varner, a two-time NCAA finalist, dominated the second-rated Hudson 13-1. Varner was tough from his feet and from the top position in his first action against the Maryland wrestler. His 12-point victory margin is the largest for an ISU grappler in a full match at the All-Star Classic since Bob Holland defeated Navy's Dan Muthler by a score of 24-11 in 1975.
"Jake was aggressive out there," Sanderson said. "He got several takedowns and back points."
ISU All-American Cyler Sanderson, ranked seventh nationally, was pinned by fifth-ranked Jordan Leen of Cornell, a two-time All-American in 5:59. Leen held a 3-2 advantage before the fall. The Sanderson family is no stranger to the NWCA All-Star Classic with three other cardinal-and-gold clad brothers hitting the mat for ISU. Head coach Cael Sanderson was a four-time participant from 1999-02. Associate head coach Cody Sanderson represented Iowa State at 133 pounds in 2000 and Cole Sanderson wrestled for the Cyclones at 157 pounds in 2001.
"They both were in a scramble and Leen came out on top," Sanderson said.
The all-star matches are contested as exhibitions which will not count toward the record of any of the wrestlers. Cael Sanderson said the trip was worth the effort.
"You can only get better by wrestling the individuals who can really challenge you," said the ISU head coach.
ISU stands at 46-16-3 all-time in the NWCA All-Star Classic for a .731 winning percentage. Since 1967, Cyclone wrestlers have been participants in the event 65 times.
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