CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- No. 2 Iowa State held on late against No. 4 Nebraska to seal a third-place finish at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals at the UNI Dome Sunday afternoon. The Cyclones and the Huskers split the 10 contested weights. The deciding point was earned from strong bonus-point performances by Tyler Clark (125), Nick Fanthorpe (133) and Nick Gallick (141). The third-place team finish marks the Cyclones best National Duals performance since winning the title in 2000.
"We are close," Iowa State head coach Cael Sanderson. "I know how we are progressing and it is not an observation that you make in one day. I am with (his wrestlers) every day and over a period of years with most of them. There are definitely things to work on and will we be addressing those."
In a marquee matchup between Nebraska's No. 1-ranked Craig Brester and ISU's third-ranked Jake Varner, the Cyclone was successful with the win by decision, 10-3. Varner added a cushion to his lead late in the third by scoring a three-point nearfall.
ISU's Tyler Clark put the Cyclones up 6-0 early in the team score by pinning Nebraska's Andrew Pokorny in 3:58. Clark held a 5-0 advantage heading into the second period.
Following the pin, Cyclone 133-pounder Nick Fanthorpe recorded a major decision over Matt Vacanti of Nebraska, 12-4. At 141 pounds, second-ranked Nick Gallick major decisioned NU's Curtis Salazar, 11-2.
At 149 pounds, Iowa Stater Mitch Mueller won by decision, 7-5, against NU's Robert Sanders.
No. 2 Iowa State fell at the hands of No. 3 Cornell 22-15 in the semifinal round of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals.
