Cyclone wrestling remains winless after dropping back-and-forth dual with Wyoming

The Iowa State wrestling team may not be winning these dual meets, but dangit if they haven't been somewhat entertaining.

The Cyclones lost to No. 23 Wyoming, 24-14, before 2,908 at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday night. Iowa State is now 0-3 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 Conference competition, and will not wrestle again until Jan. 5, when Northern Colorado comes to Ames.

This matchup was not unlike the other two Iowa State lost earlier this season. It was close at times before the opposition pulled away. It had moments of good wrestling from those clad in Cardinal and Gold. But coach Kevin Dresser will likely review the film and find a handful of mistakes that lost matches and, in turn, the dual.

The night started on a high note. Jakob Allison gave the Cyclones six points right out of the gate after a second-period pin at 125 pounds. It did not last long, as Wyoming took both 133 by decision and 141 by fall — Bryce Meredith over Kanen Storr, for the second time in a week — to take a 9-6 lead.

But Jarrett Degen leveled the dual with a 7-3 decision win over Sam Turner at 149. Chase Straw put the crowd on its feet when a takedown with less than 20 seconds remaining gave him a 4-3 win over Archie Colgan at 157, and gave Iowa State a 12-9 lead at the intermission.

But the Cowboys came storming back, winning four weights in a row out of the recess to clinch their first dual victory of the season.

Branson Ashworth and Kyle Pope both recorded bonus-point wins — Ashworth, a 9-1 major over Colston DiBlasi at 165; Pope, a 19-4 technical fall over Colin Strickland at 174, during which the Cyclones were deducted a team point, making the score 18-11 with three weights to go.

Iowa State could not create any sort of magic on this night with its back against the wall. Dane Pestano gave up a late takedown to lose to Chaz Polson, 6-5, at 184, and Sammy Colbray followed by allowing a reversal to Cody Vigoren in the first overtime tiebreaker to lose, 8-5, at 197.

Marcus Harrington offered a small reprieve with a 5-3 win over Hunter Mullins at heavyweight, but by then, the damage was already done. The Cyclones lost again, and will now have a month to iron out the kinks before they can try again.

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.

No. 23 Wyoming 24, Iowa State 14

125: Jakob Allison (ISU) over Trent Olson by fall, 3:48

133: Montorie Bridges (WYO) over Ian Parker, 4-3

141: Bryce Meredith (WYO) over Kanen Storr by fall, 1:12

149: Jarrett Degen (ISU) over Sam Turner, 7-3

157: Chase Straw (ISU) over Archie Colgan, 4-3

165: Branson Ashworth (WYO) over Colston DiBlasi, 9-1

174: Kyle Pope (WYO) over Colin Strickland by tech, 19-4*

184: Chaz Polson (WYO) over Dane Pestano, 6-5

197: Cody Vigoren (WYO) over Sammy Colbray, 8-5

285: Marcus Harrington (ISU) over Hunter Mullins, 5-3

*Iowa State was deducted a team point during the 174-pound match.