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Looking to rebound after a 3-32 loss to #6 Virginia Tech on Saturday, the Iowa State wrestling team opens the home season on Thursday against NAIA Midland and Pac-12 foe Boise State.
Where: Hilton Coliseum Ames, IA
When: Thursday, November 12th at 5:30 p.m. (Midland) and 7:30 p.m. (Boise State) CST
Live TV: Cyclones.TV
Projected Lineups
| Weight | Iowa State Wrestler | Record | - | Boise State Wrestler | Record | - | Midland Wrestler | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125 | UR/UR Nathan Boston | 0-1 | vs. | Rami Haddadin | 3-1 | vs. | Hakim Sim | 2-2 |
| or | Kyle Larson | 4-0 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 133 | #7/#4 Earl Hall | 1-0 | vs. | Josh Newberg |
3-2 | vs. | Joe Berg | 2-2 |
| 141 | UR/UR John Meeks | 0-1 | vs. | Josh Reyes |
0-0 | vs. | Daniel Martinez | 0-2 |
| or | Dante Rodriguez | - | or | Jake Velarde |
0-0 | - | ||
| 149 | UR/UR Blane Briceno | 0-1 | vs. | #9/#9 (@141) Geo Martinez | 0-0 | vs. | Luis Sifuentes | 0-0 |
| 157 | UR/UR Logan Breitenbach | 0-1 | vs. | Chris Castillo | 3-2 | vs. | Chase Ridder | 2-4 |
| 165 | #10/#8 Tanner Weatherman | 0-1 | vs. | Taylor West | 3-2 | vs. | Cooper Self | 7-4 |
| 174 | #16/#12 Lelund Weatherspoon | 0-1 | vs. | Austin Dewey | 4-1 | vs. | Tyler McMicheal | 3-1 |
| 184 | UR/UR Dane Pestano | 0-1 | vs. | Keavon Buckley | 0-0 | vs. | Asiah Dyer | 2-4 |
| 197 | UR/UR Duke Egli | 0-0 | vs. | Harley DiLulo | 1-2 | vs. | Adam Ball | 2-4 |
| HWT | UR/UR Quean Smith | 4-1 | vs. | Gaylen Edmo | 0-0 | vs. | Aaron Rafalko | 3-4 |
Rankings from Intermat/FloWrestling
Key Matches
Midland
All of Them:
Midland returns two NAIA All Americans this season at 174 and HWT. But at 174, Tyler McMicheal will run into one of the Cyclones' better wrestlers, and at HWT they'll be sending out a backup. Everywhere else they are unranked and unproven. Given the matchups, the ISU starters need to impose their will against an overmatched NAIA team in every match.
Boise State
125:
Boston held his own against Joey Dance on Saturday, but wasn't able to get a win against an elite guy, which is something we saw a lot out of from Larson last season. Against Boise State he'll have a much more winnable match and a win would keep him on track for a successful season, while a loss could open the door for Larson to take the 125 spot back this season.
141:
Once again, Meeks gets an unknown freshman. His most likely opponent, Josh Reyes, was a three time Oregon state champ and placed second at High School Nationals as a senior as well as going 6-0 during his redshirt season. Boise State's only ranked wrestler - Geo Martinez - was expected to man the 141 spot for Boise State this season but is listed at 149 for this dual. Since this is the first time Boise State has competed this season it is unknown whether Martinez is bumping up to strengthen the lineup just for the dual as opposed to getting beat out for the spot. Last season a loss by Meeks to a then unheralded Martinez was a big part of why Dante Rodriguez was pulled out of redshirt. So regardless of whether Reyes is a future All American or just another bump in the road Meeks will need to come out ready to wrestle and prove he deserves to keep the varsity spot at 141 pounds.
Prediction
The Midland dual should be a blowout. ISU's backups at 149/184/197 might struggle, but other than that the matches shouldn't be close. 28-6 or better should be the final. Against Boise State it'll be closer, but unless somebody gets caught on their back, a final score along the lines of 19-13 should be expected.
Next Up
The Cyclones will host the Harold Nichols Open in Ames on Sunday, November 15th and then have a few weeks off before hosting the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday, November 29th at 2:00 p.m.