By DAN McCOOL
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
Ames, Ia. – Iowa State’s No. 1 wrestling recruiting class from 2004 had an impressive showing in the new-look Hilton Coliseum Sunday.
The Cyclones (2-0) did not give up a takedown in a 40-0 win over Arizona State.
A crowd of 1,807 in a half-house setting at the arena – a black drape reduced capacity to 9,500 from 14,092 – saw the six freshmen in the lineup post wins, including three pins and a major decision.
It was the first victory in Hilton Coliseum for coach Cael Sanderson, who watched the Cyclones beat Buena Vista 46-0 Nov. 10 at Ames High School.
Iowa State has shut out its first two opponents for the first time since the 1965-66 team opened with a combined 154-0 victory margin in four meets.
Arizona State, coached by former Iowa State assistant Thom Ortiz, collected one individual victory and a total of three takedowns in Saturday’s 39-3 loss at Iowa and Sunday’s shutout.
“We were fortunate in every situation today, “said freshman 125-pounder Nick Fanthorpe. “I guess it shows we wrestle hard and wrestle in every situation. You can’t let up a little bit.”
Fanthorpe opened the meet with four takedowns, two points for stalling and a two-point near fall in a 14-3 major decision against Tyler Bowles.
Cyler Sanderson at 149, Jake Varner at 184 and David Zabriskie at heavyweight provided the pins Sunday.
Cael Sanderson said the highly touted freshmen have a trait he loves as a coach. The six freshmen starters have a combined 61-9 record this season.
“They’re not waiting for anything, they expect to win now, “Sanderson said. “Those are the kids we need, a solid foundation.”
Cyler Sanderson, the youngest of the four Sanderson brothers to wrestle at Iowa State, started the trio of pins when he put Cameron Smith on his back with his first takedown, during which he hooked a cradle.
With an adjustment of the cradle, Sanderson got the fall in 51 seconds.
“I kind of snapped him and moved him and he kind of fell into (the cradle), “Sanderson said.
Ortiz said the weekend trip north was rewarding from the learning aspect.
“That’s why you travel to places like this, to find out what you need to do, “Ortiz said. “I think talent-wise we’re not there, so that means we’re going to have to outwork everyone. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Cael Sanderson said the Cyclones have things to sharpen as well.
“The effort is there, “Sanderson said. “We’ve still got a couple things we’re working on, but this is early in the season.”
Visitors: Members of the Arizona State wrestling team and assistant coaches Aaron Simpson and Eric Larkin stopped at the Des Moines home of Steve and Karen Blackford after flying into Des Moines Friday.
Head coach Thom Ortiz was on a recruiting trip Friday and joined the team later that day.
The Blackfords’ son Steve, a two-time state champion at West Des Moines Dowling Catholic, was a three-time all-American for Arizona State between 1999 and 2001. Blackford died in an automobile accident in 2004.
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