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Lara upsets No. 5 All-American

Cam Kramer Photo: Northern Iowa's Triston Lara, a 2017 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate, reacts to his victory over first team All-American Jarrett Degen of Iowa State on Sunday in Ames.

AMES — After flirting with a breakthrough victory for weeks, former Fort Dodge state champion Triston Lara stuck the landing on Sunday by sticking Iowa State first team All-American Jarrett Degen.

Lara’s pin of Degen in 5:30 at 149 pounds highlighted what was otherwise a tempestuous day for the University of Northern Iowa wrestling team to close out the regular season. The 16th-ranked (InterMat) Panthers (4-4 overall) lost to No. 13 Arizona State, 24-10, and the ninth-rated Cyclones by a 23-17 count.

“It definitely feels good to end the season with a win like this,” said Lara, a two-time gold medalist with the Dodgers and a 2017 FDSH graduate. “I know I have a killer mentality inside of me. It’s just a matter of showing it out on the mat.

“For now, I’m going to keep working, believing and trusting in what I am doing and what I’m capable of. Now, it’s time to let it fly in the postseason.”

Lara, who is 4-4 on the year as a redshirt junior, carried a 4-3 lead into the third and final period, then completely took control to hand Degen (3-1) his first loss in 2021. Degen, a redshirt senior at ISU with a career record of 93-34, went 16-4 and placed third in the Big 12 Championships last season to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

Degen is currently ranked fifth nationally at 149.

All four of Lara’s losses have come via decision, including three by two points or less. Earlier this season, he was clipped by current No. 3 Brock Mauller of Missouri (5-3) and No. 17 Mitch Moore of Oklahoma (3-1).

Lara suffered a 3-2 setback on Sunday against Cory Crooks of Arizona State.

Fellow Fort Dodge Senior High alum and sixth-rated Brody Teske (8-1) took his first loss of the season against No. 3 Brandon Courtney of Arizona State at 125 pounds in a narrow 5-3 decision. He rebounded by dominating Aden Reeves of Iowa State with a technical fall in 6:32.

Cayd Lara, a redshirt sophomore for UNI, earned a 12-3 major decision victory over Iowa State’s Carter Schmidt in an extra match at 157 pounds.

The Sun Devils (6-0) defeated the Cyclones (9-3) in the other dual, 20-15.

The Panthers are now off until March 6-7, when they will compete at the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa, Okla.

Arizona State 24, Northern Iowa 10

125: Brandon Courtney (ASU) dec. Brody Teske (UNI), 5-3

133: Kyle Biscoglia (UNI) dec. Nicholas Raimo (ASU), 9-3

141: Ethan Basile (UNI) dec. Peter Lipari (ASU), TB-1 7-6

149: Cory Crooks (ASU) dec. Triston Lara (UNI), 3-2

157: Jacori Teemer (ASU) dec. Derek Holschlag (UNI), 11-8

165: Anthony Valencia (ASU) pins Pat Schoenfelder (UNI), 4:27

174: Trey Munoz (ASU) dec. Lance Runyon (UNI), 3-2

184: Parker Keckeisen (UNI) maj. dec. Cade Belshay (ASU), 13-2

197: Kordell Norfleet (ASU) dec. Keegan Moore (UNI), 5-3

HWT: Cohlton Schultz (ASU) dec. Carter Isley (UNI), 4-0

Iowa State 23, Northern Iowa 17

125: Brody Teske (UNI) tech. fall Aden Reeves (ISU), 23-4 (6:30)

133: Zach Redding (ISU) dec. Kyle Biscoglia (UNI), 6-5 TB1

141: Ian Parker (ISU) pinned Ethan Basile (UNI), 4:29

149: Triston Lara (UNI) pinned Jarrett Degen (ISU), 4:30

157: David Carr (ISU) tech. fall Derek Holschlag (UNI), 19-2 (5:00)

165: Isaac Judge (ISU) dec. Pat Schoenfelder (UNI), 11-7

174: Lance Runyon (UNI) dec. Julien Broderson (ISU), 10-4

184: Parker Keckeisen (UNI) dec. Sam Colbray (ISU), 4-3

197: Marcus Coleman (ISU) dec. Keegan Moore (UNI), 10-5

285: Gannon Gremmel (ISU) dec. Carter Isley (UNI), 6-3

Arizona State 20, Iowa State 15

125: Brandon Courtney (ASU) maj. dec. Aden Reeves (ISU), 12-4

133: Michael McGee (ASU) dec. Zach Redding (ISU), 9-4

141: Ian Parker (ISU) dec. Peter Lipari (ASU), 8-3

149: Jarrett Degen (ISU) dec. Cory Crooks (ASU), 5-0

157: David Carr (ISU) pinned Hunter Balk (ASU), 1:47

165: Anthony Valencia (ASU) dec. Isaac Judge (ISU), 8-4

174: Trenton Munoz (ASU) dec. Julien Broderson (ISU), 7-1

184: Sam Colbray (ISU) dec. Cade Belshay (ASU), 6-5

197: Kordell Norfleet (ASU) maj.dec. Yonger Bastida (ISU), 17-7

285: Cohlton Schultz (ASU) dec. Gannon Gremmel (ISU), 3-2 TB1

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