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    Iowa vs. Iowa State Dual Preview

    Date: Friday, Dec. 2
    Time: 7 p.m. CST
    Location: Ames, Iowa (Hilton Coliseum)

    On Friday night, the Iowa Hawkeyes travel to Ames to battle the Iowa State Cyclones in one of the most celebrated wrestling rivalries in NCAA history. The Hawkeyes have dominated the series in recent history -- winning all but two meetings over the past 18 years. Coincidentally, the Cyclones have beaten the Hawkeyes the past two seasons. Last season was the first time since 1977 the Cyclones left Iowa City with a victory -- and the first-ever win for the Cyclones in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Can the Cyclones extend their winning streak over their cross-state rivals to three straight? RevWrestling.com breaks down this year's dual.

    125: Lucas Magnani (Iowa, Junior) vs. Ben Hanisch (Iowa State, Sophomore)

    Magnani, who transferred from Brown after the 2003 season, was thrust into the starting lineup after Charlie Falck broke his foot in a motorcycle accident. He's no world beater, but he certainly appears to be improving. Case in point: Last season, Magnani lost 14-0 to Jeremy Mendoza of Arizona State. This season, Magnani lost 8-2 to Mendoza. Hanisch, who was expected to be a backup this season to Grant Nakamura, is a scrappy wrestler who wrestles hard every time out, but lacks the talent to be competitive at the Division I level. The two met last season at the Midlands -- and Magnani won 11-1. Expect a similar result.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Magnani major decision over Hanisch (Iowa +4)

    133: Daniel Dennis (Iowa, Freshman) vs. Jesse Sundell (Iowa State, Senior)

    Dennis, a true freshman, is hoping to provide some consistency at a weight class where the Hawkeyes have struggled since NCAA champion Cliff Moore graduated. Dennis placed fifth in the 20-and-under division at the Kaufman Brand Open -- and then picked up a pin on Saturday in a dual against Arizona State. He has an aggressive style that Iowa fans seem to love. Sundell, a four-time state champion in Iowa, was an NCAA qualifier last season. He's adequate on his feet, but great on the mat. Sundell is a pinner, though, and he certainly has the ability to score six for the Cyclones here, although I'm not ready to stick my neck out and make that prediction. But I don't see a true freshman beating a fifth-year senior in a dual of this magnitude.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Sundell decision over Dennis (Iowa State +3)

    141: Alex Tsirtsis (Iowa, Sophomore) vs. Nate Gallick (Iowa State, Senior)

    Tsirtsis posted a 27-13 record last season as a true freshman, but seemed to wear down as the season went on. At the Kaufman-Brand Open this season, he reached the finals, but two of his wins were by one point -- and another by two points in overtime. He has always been tough to score against, but often times struggles with his offense. Gallick might be the most technically polished wrestler in the country. He never seems to get out of position. The biggest knock on Gallick, though has always been his lack of offense against quality opponents. He looked great in his victory over Teyon Ware at the NWCA All-Star Classic, and completely dominated the match, despite the 3-1 score. Tsirtsis lost by just a single point in each of his two meetings with Gallick last season, which should give him confidence into this match. For the Cyclones to have a shot at knocking off the Hawkeyes, they will need every bonus point they can get, so you can bet that Gallick will be thinking major decision or more this time around.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Gallick major decision over Tsirtsis (Iowa State +4)

    149: Ty Eustice (Iowa, Senior) vs. Jason Knipp (Iowa State, Junior)

    Ty Eustice
    Eustice, a returning All-American, has been impressive thus far. He won the Kaufman-Brand Open, which included a semifinal win over the highly touted Brent Metcalf of Virginia Tech, and also looked impressive in a dual meet victory against Arizona State. Eustice has always had great defense, but doesn't always open up offensively as much as he could or should. Knipp posted a 17-12 record last season -- and has been solid this season. He won matches against Wisconsin-La Crosse and Utah Valley State, then won the Cyclone/Harold Nichols Open, but failed to place at the Kaufman-Brand Open. There is also a chance that Iowa State could send out sophomore Aron Scott, who is 8-3 this season, with a win over Knipp at the Kaufman-Brand Open. One interesting thing to note, though, is that Knipp lost just 10-8 to Eustice in the quarterfinals of the Kaufman-Brand Open, which might make him the likely choice here for the Cyclones.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Eustice decision over Knipp or Scott (Iowa +3)

    157: Joe Johnston (Iowa, Senior) vs. Trent Paulson (Iowa State, Junior)

    So far this season, Johnston hasn't wrestled like the same wrestler who reached the NCAA finals in March. He is at his best when he continuously attacks and keeps the pressure on his opponents while using conditioning to his advantage. Johnston was shutout by Paulson in the Kaufman-Brand Open finals, 4-0, and then lost a 4-2 match to Alex Tirapelle at the NWCA All-Star Classic. Paulson, who finished fourth at last year's NCAA Tournament, is off to a 12-0 start this season. In addition to beating Johnston in Omaha, he also defeated the Hawekeye, 10-8, last season at the dual in Iowa City. Expect another physical battle between two of the nation's top wrestlers in a match that will be huge in determining the final outcome of this dual.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Paulson decision over Johnston (Iowa State +3)

    165: Cole Pape (Iowa, Senior) vs. Travis Paulson (Iowa State, Junior)

    Travis Paulson (photo by Johnnie Johnson)
    After much speculation, it appears that Pape will be the starter at 165 pounds and that two-time JUCO national champion Eric Luedke (who defeated Pape at the Kaufman-Brand Open) will redshirt. Pape was an NCAA qualifier in 2004, but was bumped out of the Iowa lineup last season by Mark Perry. Paulson, like his twin brother, is off to a 12-0 start, which includes winning the Kaufman-Brand Open. Pape lost a 5-1 decision to Paulson in the Kaufman-Brand Open finals. It will be interesting to see if Pape can keep it close again -- or if Paulson can widen the gap and possibly earn bonus points. The last time Pape wrestled at Hilton Coliseum, two years ago, he was pinned by Iowa State's Nick Passolano.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Paulson decision over Pape (Iowa State +3)

    174: Mark Perry (Iowa, Sophomore) vs. David Bertolino (Iowa State, Sophomore)

    Perry, last season's NCAA runner-up at 165 pounds, opted to skip out on the NWCA All-Star Classic to rest and recover from a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee. The sophomore sensation made his season debut on Saturday night with a second period pin over Alex Pavlenko of Arizona State. Perry has an exciting, go-for-broke style that has made him a fan favorite. He's a very confident and driven wrestler who expects to dominate every time he steps foot on the mat. Bertolino, a high school All-American from Ohio, is extremely talented, but doesn't always wrestle to his ability. He placed fourth at the Kaufman-Brand Open, which included splitting matches with talented freshman Brandon Mason from Oklahoma State. Bertolino certainly has the talent to keep this match competitive, but whether or not he does remains to be seen. There is also a chance that Iowa State could send out Grant Turner here.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Perry major decision over Bertolino (Iowa +4)

    184: Paul Bradley (Iowa, Senior) vs. Kurt Backes (Iowa State, Junior)

    Bradley might be best known for his constant bleeding and bandaged head, but let's not forget that he's a two-time All-American (fourth in 2004, fifth in 2005) who can compete with anyone in the country. Technically, he's not great, but he more than makes up for it with his strength, tenacity, and aggressive style. Bradley was a bit flat in his loss to Pete Friedl at the NWCA All-Star Classic, a match he lost 4-2, but rebounded nicely with a 17-5 win over Jason Trulson of Arizona State. Backes was an All-American as a freshman in 2004, but failed to place in March as the No. 2 seed. He's very good technically. And with Olympic champion Cael Sanderson serving as his main training partner, he should continue to improve and excel. These two wrestlers have quite a history against one another. Two seasons ago, Backes came from behind to defeat Bradley, 4-3. Last season, Bradley won all three meetings with Backes -- all by two points or less. One of those wins came at the NCAA Tournament in St. Louis and knocked Backes out of the competition.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Backes decision over Bradley (Iowa State +3)

    197: Adam Fellers (Iowa, Senior) vs. Joe Curran (Iowa State, Freshman)

    This might be the weakest weight class for both the Hawkeyes and Cyclones. Last season, Fellers split time in the Hawkeye lineup at 174 and 197 and posted a 4-14 record. Fellers, though, is an aggressive wrestler who is better than his record indicates. He just hasn't fully grown comfortable with the 197-pound weight class. There has been some lobbying by Iowa fans to start true freshman Dan Erekson, who placed third at the Kaufman-Brand Open in the 20-and-under division. But based on the fact that Fellers started against Arizona State, it appears that he will get the nod this season. Curran is a true freshman who might take his fair share of lumps this season, but should continue to improve with workout partners like Backes, Sanderson, and Zach Thompson. Curran won his opening match against Upper Iowa, but failed to place at the Cyclone/Harold Nichols and Kaufman-Brand Opens.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Fellers decision over Curran (Iowa +3)

    Hwt: Ryan Fuller (Iowa, Senior) vs. Richard Schopf (Iowa State, Junior)

    This weight class has been the hot button topic for Iowa fans all off-season … and now into the preseason. Last season, Fields was an NCAA qualifier as a true freshman, but spent the summer recovering from hip surgery. Fuller had an impressive fourth-place finish at the World Team Trials in Ames over the summer. The two wrestled in the finals of the Spartan Classic, which Fields won in overtime. With Fields still having the option of using a redshirt season (to fully recover from his injury), in might be in the best interest of the Hawkeyes to start Fuller this season, even though Fields has stated that he does not want to redshirt. Regardless of which wrestler starts in this dual, it will most likely be a Hawkeye victory -- and possibly bonus points.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Fuller major decision over Schopf (Iowa +4)

    Final Dual Prediction: Iowa 18, Iowa State 16
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