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    Iowa State cruises past Upper Iowa and Wisconsin-La Crosse in season opener

    The seventh-ranked Iowa State wrestlers opened their season with wins over Div. II Upper Iowa and second-ranked Div. III foe Wisconsin-La Crosse, both 31-9, Sunday afternoon at the Dorman Gym in Fayette. ISU's Ben Hanisch, Jesse Sundell, Nate Gallick Trent Paulson, Travis Paulson and Kurt Backes each had two wins at their respective weight class. The Cyclones held a 66-18 takedown advantage over the two schools and scored eight three-point near falls while allowing none.

    "It was a good performance," head coach Bobby Douglas said. "We found out a lot about this team and we still have a lot of work to do."

    The 125-pounder Hanisch started his sophomore season strong with a 14-5 major decision against UIU's Tyler Mumbulo. Hanisch used two first period near falls to jump out to an early 8-0 lead and never looked back against Mumbulo, the 2004-05 Mike McCready Open winner. Hanisch opened last season in similar fashion, registering a major decision against Jacob Elsbernd, 13-1, in Council Bluffs.

    Sundell came out on top of 2002 All-American Ralph Acosta at 133 pounds. Acosta, who placed fifth in 2002 at the NCAA Div. III Championships, battled to tie the match as the third period expired. The senior NCAA qualifier scored on a double-leg takedown off the edge of the mat midway through the overtime session to take the match 11-9. Last year against the Peacocks, Sundell made quick work of John Gamble, scoring a pin in 1:49. In his match against Wisconsin-La Crosse's fifth-ranked Jordan Kolinski, Sundell scored a pin at the 6:55 mark as he was trailing for the duration of the match. Sundell escaped to begin the third period, scored a takedown and cradled Kolinski for the fall.

    Nate Gallick, the 2005 NCAA runner-up, topped Kyle Burkle, 8-3, at 141 pounds. Gallick major decisioned Burkle at the season opener last year, 16-5. Gallick scored at will in his next match in a high-scoring major decision over Wisconsin-La Crosse's Brad Velasquez, 25-15.

    Aron Scott opened his season in explosive fashion, utilizing a slew of double-leg takedowns to major decision Tee Adams at 149 pounds, 15-5. Scott opened last season with a decision over UIU's Brian Bloes, his first career win. ISU's other 149 pounder Jason Knipp added his own major decision over the Eagles' Adam Kuchnia, 9-1.

    Trent Paulson, a 2005 All-American, pinned Brandon Heying in 5:10 at 157 pounds. Paulson scored bonus points against the Peacocks last year as well, scoring a 19-2 technical fall over Sean Washington. Paulson again notched bonus points in his next match, earning a major decision against UWL's Andrew Dorn, 19-7.

    Travis Paulson scored more bonus points at 165 pounds, registering major decisions on Brady Hakeman of Upper Iowa and Scott Dorn of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Kurt Backes, ranked fifth in the nation at 184 pounds, major decisioned Peacock Tony Gehling, 15-4, and beat fourth-ranked Eagle Div. III All-American Jason Lulloff from in the next dual.

    True freshman Joe Curran earned his first career Cyclone victory at 197 pounds, downing Upper Iowa's Dan Goodson at 197 pounds, 6-4.

    Junior heavyweight Richard Schopf pulled out his first dual win since the 2003-04 season, scoring a takedown as time expired in the third period for an 8-6 win over Wisconsin-La Crosse's Tim Winker.

    Iowa State faces Utah Valley State in its home opener Friday at 4:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum.

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