Iowa State wrestling opens postseason on home mat

AMES - Iowa State's Mike Moreno has never felt better about his team going into the postseason.

The vibes he's getting from teammates led the 165-pounder to boast he could see the Cyclones taking eight wrestlers to the national tournament. Of course, the road to the goal of winning a national championship starts with a conference crown.

'That's a lot of wrestlers we could be bringing along and a lot of points we could be bringing with us if everyone wrestles the best they've wrestled all year, which is what you're supposed to do,” Moreno said.

No. 8 Iowa State will host the Big 12 Championships today in Hilton Coliseum. The first round begins at 11 a.m. with the finals starting at 6 p.m. Five Big 12 champions from a year ago will take the mat, including Iowa State's Lelund Weatherspoon at 184 pounds and Kyven Gadson at 197.

The Cyclones finished the dual season at 11-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12, with the only conference loss coming against Big 12-favorite Oklahoma State. Iowa State has won its last five duals, including a 30-16 home win against Wisconsin.

Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson said the momentum a team can take from a winning streak like that can't be overstated, and collecting four falls against the Badgers can give the wrestlers a good taste in their mouths as the regular season ends.

'You hear me talk about bonus points all the time and bonus points will make a difference in the Big 12 Championships and they'll make a difference in where we finish at the NCAA Championships,” Jackson said.

Gadson will be vying for his third conference championship and could become just the 18th ISU wrestler to win three or more. With 13 days in between the last team dual and the Big 12 tournament, Gadson said the training has been intense and focused.

Being able to compete for a title in his home arena can be a bonus, too, he said.

'It'll be good. Our families will be able to make it and it won't be a travel,” Gadson said. 'I think it's something we can take advantage of because we get to sleep in our own beds on Friday night.”

Before each season starts, the team lays out its goals. Beating Iowa, winning a Big 12 title and NCAA title are the objectives.

All have eluded the Cyclones since Moreno arrived as a freshman in 2010.

Since two of the three goals are still attainable, Moreno knows the impact this team could have on the future of the program.

It's important for a little bit of closure to say ‘While I was at Iowa State, we did something,'” Moreno said. ''I wasn't part of a transitional period, I was a part of the beginning.'”