PUTTING PAST IN PLACE
Gallick made sure he would not be haunted
Was it the loss or the backflip?
Yes and, probably, yes.
Iowa State University senior Nate Gallick avenged his only loss of the past two seasons in the 141-pound finals, denying Oklahoma University senior Teyon Ware his third title in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.
Gallick not only avenged his only loss the past two season, he also avenged his only loss in nine matches with Ware, which just happened to come in the 2005 NCAA finals.
Ware won last season’s finale, 3-2. Then came the backflip; similar to the gymnastics move the native of Edmond, Okla., performed in 2003 after he won his first NCAA championship.
“It definitely gave me a little more motivation,’’ Gallick said of last year’s loss, not the backflip. “Being a national champ is something I went to college for.
“Being an NCAA champ is huge.’’
ISU coach Bobby Douglas said there may have been a little more motivation.
“Nate might have been motivated by that backflip last year,’’ he said with a laugh. “We kept reminding him of that.’’
Whatever he used for motivation, it worked. Gallick got a hold of Ware’s leg early in the first period, switched to a double-leg and had the Sooner on the mat 1:16 into the first period.
Ware, who ended his season at 27-3, got a quick escape and tied the match at 2-2 with another escape in the second period.
Gallick scored the winning point with an explosive escape two seconds into the third period.
“I wanted to make sure I got that first takedown, or at least more than he did,’’ Gallick said, noting one takedown “is big between us.
“He’s the toughest guy in the world to score on.’’
Gallick’s not to shabby, either. He was taken down just twice this season, once by Ware in the NWCA All-Star Dual.
“It’s real important for me to stay in good position and not wrestle from behind,’’ he said. “I try to get taken down as little as possible.
“My defense complements my offense.’’
The early takedown and quick escape were exactly what Gallick had planned.
“He executed his match plan to perfection,’’ Douglas said. “Teyon is a tremendous champion and it took a tremendous effort to beat this guy.’’
Part of that plan was setting the pace, not wrestling Ware’s style.
“I wanted to wrestle Nate Gallick’s match,’’ Gallick said. “I don’t want to wrestle somebody else’s match.’’
The two wrestled nine times during their careers and the widest margin of victory is three points…6-3 during the 2004-05 season.
“Every match we have is close,’’ Gallick said. “Little mistakes could change the match.’’
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