OMAHA, Neb. - Iowa State wrestlers hit the mats at the Kaufman-Brand Open on the campus of Nebraska-Omaha Saturday. The competition was split into two divisions, as participating wrestlers competed in elite and amateur brackets. ISU crowned one champion and six placewinners in the two respective divisions.
"We wrestled really well and we fought hard," ISU assistant coach Chris Bono said. "On overall effort alone, I'd say I am definitely proud of these guys."
Bono saw the action as part of the preparation process for the crucial matches that occur later in the collegiate wrestling season. The former Cyclone national champion sees the coaching staff playing a pivotal role early in the 2009-10 season.
"We are going to correct everything," Bono said. "We are only worried about what we can correct. The coaches will go to the film. We arent worried about anything else."
Cyclone 125-pound starter Andrew Long was perfect with 4-0 record. The Creston, Iowa native was victorious on three major decisions and a technical fall. Long handled Iowa's J.J. Krutsinger by major decision, 14-6, to take the title.
ISU’s Andrew Sorenson placed second at 157 pounds in the elite division. Sorenson notched two falls before falling to Iowa’s Matt Ballweg in the finals by a score of 7-2.
ISU senior 149-pounder Mitch Mueller took third in the elite division. Mueller dropped a close bout to Luther's Jason Pyle by a score of 9-8 in the semifinals. He fought back in the consolation rounds with a 5-3 decision of Nebraska-Omaha's Esai Dominguez to cap off the tournament.
Iowa State sophomore Dalton Jensen placed fifth at 141 pounds in the elite division. Jensen went 3-2 in the tournament with a technical fall. Fellow ISU sophomore Kyle Simonson took fifth at 197 pounds. Simonson was 4-2 in the bracket with two major decisions and a pin.
Senior ISU wrestler Justin Hale notched a record of 3-3 to place sixth at 149 pounds in elite division action.
Iowa State sophomore 174-pounder Mike Finch went 3-2 in elite division competition.
ISU had bright performances from its unattached wrestlers in the amateur division of the Kaufman-Brand Open.
Iowa Stater Trent Weatherman advanced to the semifinals of the amateur 149-pound bracket before suffering a setback to Old Dominion's John Nicholson by decision, 3-1. Weatherman bounced back to place third after notching a victory by decision over Virginia Tech's Brian Stephens, 6-5. The true freshman hailing from Maxwell, Iowa went 5-1.
"(Trent) Weatherman will have a bright future here," Bono said. "Cole Shafer and Trent (Weatherman) wrestled extremely well today. They are doing what we have been training them to do out on the mat."
ISUs Cole Shafer placed second in the amateur 184-pound division after a recording a pin and technical fall in earlier rounds. The Heber City, Utah native was stopped short by Chad Wright (LCC) by decision, 3-1. Shafer, a true freshman, had a record of 3-1 with a pin and technical fall on his way to the finals.
True freshman Dallas Collier went 1-2 in amateur division action at 125 pounds. Fellow freshman Tyler Christensen notched a 2-2 record at 184 pounds in the amateur bracket.
Cyclone 133-pound true freshmen Ben Cash and Tyler Grask went 3-2 and 1-2, respectively, in the amateur division.
Iowa State All-Americans Nick Gallick (141), Jon Reader (165), Jake Varner (197) and David Zabriskie (HWT) are set to participate in the NWCA All-Star Classic Sunday at 12 p.m. CST on the campus of Cal State-Fullerton. ISU resumes dual action Dec. 6 with a matchup with intrastate rival Iowa in Hilton Coliseum at 6 p.m.
Click the video slideout tab to view final brackets for both the amateur and elite divisions of the Kaufman-Brand Open.
