MYSTIC, Ia. — DeMichael Franklin, a former Iowa State wrestler, used a two-on-one to score a takedown on Saturday, like he’s done so many times before — except this time, he stood up and wiped sand off his shorts. That was different.
A few minutes later, Kyven Gadson, another former Cyclone, used an underhook to take his opponent to his back. The crowd collectively ooohh’d at Gadson’s takedown… then laughed when his opponent, Archie Williams, stood up with sand all over his face.
“It felt good,” Gadson said afterward. “It’s just different.