By J.R. Ogden
Gazette sports editor

IOWA CITY -- It would have been easy for Iowa State junior Joe Heskett to get down on himself last night.

But after the second-seeded Cyclone survived his second tougher-than-expected bout at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, he chose to look forward.

"I'm where I want to be," Heskett said after a 9-2 win over unseeded Dennis Alampiev of American at 165 pounds. "At this stage, it's all about winning.

"I did what I had to do to advance."

A two-time all-American and a runner-up last year, Heskett (34-3) is one of four Cyclones who advanced to today's quarterfinals at sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena, joining 133-pounder Matt Azevedo and brothers Cole (157) and Cael Sanderson (184).

The Cyclones won 14 of 19 bouts Thursday and were in sixth place after the second-round matches with 22 1/2 points.

Although his win over Alampiev was closer than expected -- he fell behind, 2-0, before turning up the heat -- it was nothing compared to his opening-round victory over Noel Thompson of Hofstra.

The two tied, 5-5, in regulation, neither scored in the one-minute overtime period and Heskett won when he rode Thompson out in the final 30-second OT period.

The bout was protested -- Hofstra Coach Tom Ryan thought Heskett locked his hands in the second OT -- but the decision stood.

"I take every match very seriously," Heskett said, noting his style clashed with Thompson. Heskett beat Thompson, 20-1, earlier this year.

"I'm feeling good physically," he said. "It just about performance. It's about getting better each match.

"I know I've got it in me. I want this title real bad."

Azevedo (31-9) advanced with a major decision in the first round and a 5-1 win over 10th-seeded Brett Lawrence of Minnesota in the second. He hit a four-point move in the final 20 seconds to pull off the latter win.

Cole Sanderson (32-6) beat Rocky Smart, 6-4, on a takedown with 10 seconds left in overtime after scoring a 6-3 decision over Oregon's Eugene Harris in the first round.

"I have a hard time when people don't shoot," Cole said. "I have a hard time when I have to chase people because I get out of position.

"I need to stay in position and stay focused."

Younger brother Cael picked up a pair of easy wins, pushing his collegiate record to 116-0. Cael (37-0), the two-time defending champ, scored a 23-8 technical fall in the first round and a first-period pin in the second.

ISU's Zach Roberson (141 pounds), Perry Parks (174) and Mark Knauer (heavyweight) lost in the second round. Billy Maldonado at 149 and all-American Zach Thompson lost in the first round. Maldonado won his consolation bout by technical fall and Thompson was awaiting his bout at press time.