The 3-2 Iowa State Cyclones return to the mat on Saturday December 21st to take on North Carolina in Nashville Tennessee, as part of the Collegiate National Duals. Iowa State is the 14th ranked team in the country, while North Carolina enters the meet ranked 29th. The dual features 10 ranked wrestlers, with 3 total head to head ranked matches.
History: Iowa State leads the series with 12 wins to 4 losses. However North Carolina won the last meeting between the two 20-17 back in 2017.
Keys To Victory: With all the injuries Iowa State has sustained, the dual has become much closer than it originally needed to be. Even with the injuries The Cyclones are still favored in 6 of the 10 bouts. With the backups in the line up, bonus points become huge for both teams. Iowa State has a chance to score bonus points at 157, 197, and Heavyweight.
125 Ethan Perryman vs Spencer Moore #21
133 Osmany Diversent or Evan Frost #5 vs Ethan Oakley #17
141 Jacob Frost #25 vs Jayden Scott
149 Carter Fousek vs Lachlan McNeil #6
157 Cody Chittum vs Sonny Santiago #29
165 Manny Rojas vs Nick Fea
174 Aiden Riggins #31 vs Josh Ogunsanya #23
184 Nando Villaescusa or Evan Bockman #20 vs Gavin Kane #17
197 Christian Carroll vs Cade Lautt
285 Daniel Herrera vs Aydin Gutwrench
Conclusion: I see Iowa State walking away with a 20-13 victory, winning 6 of the 10 bouts, North Carolina wins bouts at 125, 133, 149, and 184. Iowa battles Ohio State later today.