Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Fifth-ranked Cowboys Wrestlers Upend No. 4 Iowa State
February 01, 2002 | Cowboy Wrestling
Feb. 1, 2002
Oklahoma State's fifth-ranked wrestling team rode a major decision and a fall en route to a 25-16 victory over the No. 4 Iowa State Cyclones Friday night at Gallagher-Iba in front of 2,730 fans.
The Cowboys (16-3 overall, 3-0 Big 12) were fueled by junior Shane Roller and sophomore Tyrone Lewis.
Fourth-ranked Roller used a first-period takedown before scoring six more points en route to an 8-0 major decision over No. 11 Matt Veach at 157 pounds, giving the Cowboys a 10-7 lead. The win boosted Roller's record to 24-3 on the year, two shy of a career-best 26 wins.
Lewis brought his No. 3 ranking up against Iowa State's top-ranked and undefeated Joe Heskett. Lewis and Heskett were tied at zero heading into the second period before Lewis scored a quick reversal to put him up 2-0. Heskett then used a quick escape before heading into the third period to cut the score to 2-1.
"I kept my composure throughout the whole match and stayed aggressive," Lewis said. "As the match went on I got stronger instead of letting him control the match heading into the third period."
In the third period, Heskett knotted up the score at two before taking Lewis down to take his only lead of the night at 4-2. After a Lewis scored an escape and takedown the advantage went to Lewis at 5-4.
"He was hanging on my head real tough," Lewis said. "I knew as soon as he started hanging on my head I could pass him by and score the takedown."
With time winding down in regulation, Heskett received a quick escape at the buzzer to send it into overtime. Lewis then scored a quick takedown in overtime to give him the 7-5 victory over Heskett, improving his record to 21-2.
"Tyrone had a big third-period takedown and a takedown in overtime," head coach John Smith said. "Last week he lost in the one-minute overtime when he was taken down by Matt Lackey (Illinois) in the All-Star Match.
"We talked a little on what we needed to do in that one minute and he did a good job of securing the takedown tonight," Smith said.
The victory propelled the Cowboys to a 13-7 lead before the Cyclones came roaring back to get within three points when Nick Passolano decisioned junior Chad Reid 5-2 at 174 pounds.
Sixth-ranked senior Pat Popolizio decisioned No. 13 Austen Palmer to improve to 24-3 on the year and to give the Cowboys a 16-10 lead before senior Cael Sanderson pinned sophomore Willie Gruenwald to tie the score at 16. Sanderson improved his career record to a perfect 147-0.
No. 16 James Huml used three takedowns and an escape before decisioning No. 15 Mark Knaeur 7-4 at 285 pounds, improving his record to 20-8 and giving the Pokes a 19-16 lead heading into the final match of the night.
At 125 pounds, thirteenth-ranked Ty Malia used two quick takedowns to take an early 4-1 lead over seventh-ranked Skyler Holman. The junior transfer from North Carolina then reversed Malia and scored a three-point near fall before pinning Malia in 2:39 securing the victory for the Cowboys and improving his record to 18-3.
"Anytime you get taken down twice in the first minute you obviously get a little concerned pretty quick," Smith said. "He's recovering from a knee injury that shouldn't be hampering him anymore. It's been long enough and I think we have gotten to the point that he is still a little tentative on it."
The Cowboys will host Northern Iowa on senior day in its last home dual of the season on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Results 133 Thompson forfeit Roberson 141 Holker maj. dec. Delk, 10-1 149 Maldonado dec. Sanders, 5-3 157 Roller maj. dec. Veach, 8-0 165 Lewis dec. Heskett, 7-5 174 Passolano dec. Reid, 5-2 185 Popolizio dec. Palmer, 4-0 197 Sanderson Fall Gruenwald, 3:21 HWT Huml dec. Knauer, 7-4 125 Holman fall Malia, 2:39OSU- 25 ISU- 16
