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Iowa State

David Carr caps off Iowa State wrestling career with second national title

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•03/24/24•

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Nick Tre. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

David Carr took quite the climb back to the top for Iowa State wrestling. The now two-time national champion took down Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink 9-8 in the 165 pound final to end a wild season.

A champion at 157 in 2021, Carr finished 3rd at 157 the following year and then in 2nd place last season at 165. Having won a national title in front of a nearly empty arena three years ago amid the pandemic, Carr wasn’t sure if he’d ever get that feeling again.

But the clutch gene was alive and well in Kansas City this week.

“It was crazy,” Carr said. “I looked out there and it was empty. Now I look up and I don’t know what the attendance is, but it was so loud and I’m just so grateful.

“When I didn’t win, that was really hard, being the No. 1 seed. I had to wrestle back and I had a lot of encouragement by Brooks and my family. I remember I said in that interview, I’m going to come back better for sure. And the next year I got second. This year I got first — third, second, first. So I got better, technically, just not — you know what I mean.”

The road wasn’t easy. Carr had to get through rival Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) who won the last two national titles. Not only that, Carr lost to O’Toole twice in a row, evening their series 2-2 going into Friday’s semifinals.

The No. 4 seed, Carr lost to O’Toole in last year’s NCAA finals and this year’s Big 12 finals. But he took the top ranked man down with less than 20 seconds remaining Friday night to clinch a spot on the big stage.

Then, he was fed an undefeated star in Mesenbrink. A redshirt freshman and transfer into the Penn State program, he looked nearly unstoppable.

But two takedowns were the difference and Carr hung on defensively after gaining a riding time point.

“It gets harder when you win,” Carr said. “People wrestle you harder. They try to get you — so I think this one took a lot of grit, took a lot of heart. Both my matches came down to the wire, and I had to really wrestle hard.

“Like always, all glory to God. I prayed before the match, give me unlimited energy and focus. And when I was out there, I just kept telling myself, just focus in. Keep wrestling hard. And it feels awesome. It feels amazing to end my career on top.”