Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Drop Hawkeyes, 24-15 in Dynasty Dual
April 10, 2003 | Cowboy Wrestling
The "Dynasty Dual" featured 17 ranked wrestlers, with 10 of them ranked in the top five. The dual marked the first 1-2 match up of the two teams since the 1997-98 season. Oklahoma State and Iowa have combined for 50 NCAA championships.
"That is the way a tough dual meet is going to go," head coach John Smith said. "There were a few surprises on our part performance wise. Other than that, I would say it was a good effort by our squad. There were a lot of points scored and that is what we were looking to do."
The Cowboys (6-0, 2-0) won four of the first five matches to take an early 13-3 lead heading into the intermission.
The Hawkeyes (5-1, 0-0) would come roaring back after the break, winning the next three matches to take a 15-14 lead.
Freshman standout Zack Esposito electrified the crowd after pinning No. 18 Luke Moffitt. The win put the Cowboys back on top 20-15.
"The last time I wrestled him, he rode me out nearly the whole second period," Esposito said. "I realized I had so much more work to do. You can't win a title or perform well if you can't even get out from on bottom."
The second-ranked Blair Academy product recorded a quick takedown and a two-point nearfall igniting the crowd, and giving him a 4-0 lead.
Moffitt would use an escape and a takedown to cut the lead to 4-3, only to see it diminish as Esposito reversed Moffitt, extending his lead to 6-3. Moffitt would record an escape before the second period.
"We worked on all kinds of situations and when I got in that last scrabble, I knew what to do," Esposito said. "Luckily, I got that position and got the fall for the team."
Esposito reversed Moffitt to begin the second frame. He then put him on his back, pinning him in 4:06, propelling the Cowboys to victory.
"He (Esposito) is a kid who expects a lot of himself and demands a lot," Smith said. "It shows in some of his performances. We needed a momentum change after our national champion got beat, and he gave it to us."
Fourth-ranked Shane Roller opened the afternoon by decisioning No. 16 Joe Johnston, 10-8. Roller took a commanding 4-1 lead heading into the second period.
The Bixby, Okla., native then extended his lead to 7-1 after two periods. Johnston then used three takedowns to cut the lead to 9-8, but Roller recorded an escape to give him the victory.
Second-ranked Tyrone Lewis recorded a major decision over Matt Anderson, 13-1, to give the Pokes a 7-0 lead.
"I knew the opportunity would present itself because I knew that way he (Anderson) wrestled," Tyrone Lewis said. "I knew he liked to come out and under hook, so I told myself if the opportunity arose I would take it, so I did."
The two-time All-American recorded a quick takedown and three-point nearfall to take a quick 5-0 advantage. Lewis would record three more takedowns before notching the major.
In one of the most heated bouts of the day, the Cowboys' second-ranked Chris Pendleton squared off with Iowa's third-ranked Tyler Nixt.
Pendleton and Nixt were locked at zero at the end of one period. Pendleton then recorded a quick escape to take a 1-0 lead.
With :50 seconds left in the period, the Lemoore, Calif., native recorded a takedown to take a 3-1 lead heading into the final frame.
Nixt notched an escape to cut the lead to 3-2, but that would be the closest he would get. Pendleton captured another takedown with :48 seconds left to secure the 5-3 win.
"Chris was probably the one match that I really felt would be real interesting," Smith said. "Picking up two takedowns against a very solid opponent is an important win for him."
Iowa's top-ranked Jessman Smith used three takedowns in his 8-3 victory over eighth-ranked Jake Rosholt, giving the Hawkeyes their first points of the day.
Third-ranked Muhammed Lawal notched the 19-8 major decision over Ryan Fulsaas. Lawal recorded eight takedowns in the victory, moving his season total in duals to 30.
Iowa rattled off three straight wins, from heavyweight to 133 pounds to give the Hawkeyes their first lead of the day.
Iowa's top-ranked Steve Mocco pinned Willie Gruenwald in :50, while third-ranked Luke Eustice and sixth-ranked Cliff Moore each notched decisions at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively.
After Esposito's pin put the Cowboys back on top, seventh-ranked Jerrod Sanders closed out the day by recording a major decision over Chase DeVetter, 17-6.
The Cowboys will be back in action on Jan. 18-19 as they travel to Columbus, Ohio, to compete in the NWCA National Duals.
Results
OSU-24
Iowa-15
157- Shane Roller (OSU) dec. Joe Johnston (Iowa), 10-8 165- Tyrone Lewis (OSU) m.d. Matt Anderson (Iowa), 13-1 174- Chris Pendleton (OSU) dec. Tyler Nixt (Iowa), 5-3 184- Jessman Smith (Iowa) dec. Jake Rosholt (OSU), 8-3 197- Muhammed Lawal (OSU) m.d. Ryan Fulsaas (Iowa), 19-8 285- Steve Mocco (Iowa) fall Willie Gruenwald (OSU), :50 125- Luke Eustice (Iowa) dec. Skyler Holman (OSU), 2-0 133- Cliff Moore (Iowa) dec. Johnny Thompson (OSU), 6-4 s.v. 141- Zack Esposito (OSU) fall Luke Moffitt (Iowa), 4:06 149- Jerrod Sanders (OSU) m.d. Chase DeVetter (Iowa), 17-6
