Iowa State’s Chase Straw is a Big 12 Champ!

Press Release from Iowa State Athletics

TULSA, Okla. – The No. 15 Iowa State wrestling team (10-4, 6-2 Big 12) finished runner-up champions at the 2019 Big 12 Championship behind an individual Big 12 title from Chase Strawat 157 pounds.

In total, nine of Iowa State’s 10 wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Championships in Tulsa. All 10 of Iowa State’s wrestlers finished on the podium at their respective weight classes at the Big 12 Championship.

Perhaps the most exciting moment of the evening for the Cyclones was at 157 pounds. No. 3 Straw was pitted against No. 1 Justin Thomas in the 157-pound final. The two traded escapes to begin the second and third periods and they were tied at 1-1. Straw connected on an attack with under a minute to go in the match, securing a takedown and a lead that he would not relinquish. Straw went on to win the Big 12 title and qualify for the NCAA Championships with a 3-2 victory.

Straw is Iowa State’s first Big 12 Champion since 2016 when Lelund Weatherspoon was the Big 12 champ at 174 pounds. He is Iowa State’s fourth Big 12 champion at 157 pounds and the first since Cyler Sanderson in 2008. His title at 157 pounds brings ISU’s all-time individual conference champion count to 211.

At 149 pounds, No. 3 Jarrett Degen took on No. 1 Kaden Gfeller of Oklahoma State. Degen jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on an early takedown, but Gfeller struck back with a reversal. At the end of the second period, the two were tied at 4-4. Degen took a 5-4 lead on an escape in the third, but Gfeller claimed the 149-pound title on a late third period takedown, winning the match by 6-5 decision.

At 184 pounds and 197 pounds, No. 1 Sam Colbrayand No. 2 Willie Miklus came up short in their finals matches. Colbray fell to No. 2 Drew Foster, 4-1 and Miklus was topped by No. 1 Preston Weigel, 10-0.

Team Scores
1. Oklahoma State – 158
2. Iowa State – 114.5
3. UNI – 82
4. Oklahoma – 78
5. Fresno State – 59.5
6. Utah Valley – 59
7. Wyoming – 58
8. North Dakota State – 53.5
9. West Virginia – 46
10. South Dakota State – 18.5
11. Air Force – 18
12. Northern Colorado – 17

Iowa State Places
125: Alex Mackall – 3^rd
133: Austin Gomez – 3^rd
141: Ian Parker – 4^th
149: Jarrett Degen – 2^nd
157: Chase Straw – 1^st
165: Logan Schumacher – 6^th
174: Marcus Coleman – 5^th
184: Sam Colbray – 2^nd
197: Willie Miklus – 2^nd
285: Gannon Gremmel – 5^th