Iowa State (6-0) at Iowa (1-0)
  Dec. 5, 2004  Carver-Hawkeye Arena  Iowa City, Iowa
    For information on LIVE webcast of this dual meet, click here    It was an eerie feeling in Ames, Iowa last December 7. Snow packed Iowa's highways, forcing many bumblebees, err… Iowa fans, to stay home. That led to 5,149 screaming Iowa State fans watching their beloved Cyclones down Iowa 21-13. It was the first time in 31 dual meets, and 17 years, that Iowa State prevailed over Iowa.    Finally, a rivalry is born again. You see, a rivalry is not a rivalry unless both teams win occasionally. However, for the past decade, Iowa was more concerned with Oklahoma State and Minnesota than the redheaded stepchild that was becoming Iowa State.    No more.    But this year, Iowa State is poised to make a strong run. With most of its lineup returning from last year, outside of NCAA champion Zach Roberson, this team may be the best in the state.    But Jim Zalesky's Hawkeyes may have something to say about that. Yes, we did say Jim Zalesky's Hawkeyes. That's because even though he has been the coach for eight years now, this is the first year that the team, and the program, are actually his. There is a different attitude in this wrestling room, and it is much more positive than it has been for the past five years.    Now for the tale of the tape:    125 - Grant Nakamura (Iowa St.) vs. Lucas Magnani (Iowa)   Nakamura is small and quick, but technically he is somewhat overrated. He still makes major mistakes on the mat, and that was evidenced in his loss to Jeremy Mendoza of Arizona State last weekend. Nakamura tends to have lapses at various points in the season. Coaches hope that was his only one of the first half. Magnani transferred in from Brown. However, according to earlier matches results, he is not the top 125-pounder on this team. Charlie Falck is, but coaches do not plan to pull Falck out of redshirt this year, and have instead decided to take their chances with Magnani. This could be a big win for Nakamura and the Cyclones. If Nakamura is going to be on his top form, he is usually scoring points right off the whistle. If he decides to play chess with Magnani early on, this could be a frustrating match for Iowa State coaches.  TheMat.com Prediction: Nakamura    133 - Jesse Sundell (Iowa St.) vs. Mario Galanakis (Iowa)  Sundell has struggled at times this season already. He was very talented coming out of high school, but has not quite lived up to his potential yet. Coaches feel he can be very good, but it is clear that he is still in some early developmental stages. Galanakis was a Junior College transfer to Iowa. In his first season in a Hawkeye singlet, he has gotten off to a fast start. An undefeated record and plenty of pins later, and Galanakis could be a major player in how the Hawkeyes finish this season out. Galanakis likes to be in the top position, and in front of a frenzied Hawkeye crowd, that may be just what this team needs. While these two have a past history of high school matchups, that will have no bearing on how this match will end up. Look for a high-scoring affair in this bout. But in the end, Galanakis could be close to working on a major decision, points the Hawkeyes would definitely need in this dual.  TheMat.com Prediction: Galanakis    
Iowa State's Nate Gallick hopes to hand Alex Tsirtsis his first official career loss since junior high
141 - Nate Gallick (Iowa St.) vs. Alex Tsirtsis (Iowa)   Gallick may be the best wrestler to not win an NCAA title last year. He came into his own, dominating his opponents throughout the entire season, right up until the NCAA Tournament, when he fizzled out. Fittingly, his impressive run of dominance ultimately began in this very dual last year. Gallick is as good as they come on his feet, but his mat wrestling is what has made him the top-ranked wrestler in the nation right now. Tsirtsis did not lose a match in high school. Now, he is 6-0 this season. At some point, a harsh reality may have to set in. This could be the match to do it. Tsirtsis spent a lot of time working out with Olympians this summer, and it made him much tougher mentally. He low center of gravity could make it tough for Gallick to get in deep on shots. In other words, look for a low-scoring affair here. This is the first real test for Tsirtsis, who is expected to help lead this Hawkeye program back to glory. However, Gallick may be too good for him right now.  TheMat.com Prediction: Gallick    149 - Aron Scott (Iowa St.) vs. Ty Eustice (Iowa)   Scott is a freshman who coaches expect to take some lumps this year. However, he already has been more competitive than most would expect. Based on Eustice's experience and talent, this should be a quick and easy match. However, the key word there is should. Eustice has never utilized his offensive talent to its full potential. In the past two years, he has also struggled mightily in the postseason. Iowa needs Eustice to score points, and even with some bad shots, he is good enough to recover in this match and still dominate. Look for an offensively motivated Eustice to come out and look for control in this match - early and often. If that happens, the Hawkeyes will get some much needed team points from this bout.  TheMat.com Prediction: Eustice    
Iowa's Joe Johnston will be looking to stay undefeated this year
157 - Trent Paulson (Iowa St.) vs. Joe Johnston (Iowa)  Paulson has been 100 percent dominant so far this season. The move up in weight class has really seemed to help him, and his twin brother Travis, who is at 165. Trent is a technically sound wrestler. He will not dazzle his opponents, but he will grind at them for an entire match. That is a big reason that this is going to be a barnburner of a match. Johnston wrestles the same style. Both are physical wrestlers. However, Johnston has been at his best in the first half of the season the past two years. That means he should still be at top form for this dual. If you are a fan attending this dual, watch for a lot of tie-ups and pummeling throughout this match. Johnston has a knack for scoring mostly in the third period, and that is usually a formula for success in front of a home Hawkeye crowd.  TheMat.com Prediction: Johnston    165 - Travis Paulson (Iowa St.) vs. Mark Perry (Iowa)   Travis, like his twin brother Trent, also moved up in weight class. This was a big move for him, as he was then forced to wrestle-off with Nick Passolano. Luckily for both, it appears Passolano will be very comfortable at 174 this year, where he wrestled last weekend against Arizona State. Travis has a style similar to Trent's, but he seems to be a little flashier on the mat. Perry, on the other hand, is pure flash. This is not only one of the most talented freshmen in the country, but one of the most talented wrestlers, period. Name a position in folkstyle wrestling, and Perry is good at it. While Paulson has a thick build with power, Perry has a lean build and uses a lot of quickness. This may be the best, or at least the most intriguing match of the dual meet. The nation is about to find out if Perry is w