ISU's Sorenson has unfinished business

AMES - Andrew Sorenson clicked his seat belt, took the wheel and drove to Philadelphia, Pa., for last season's NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

The injured 165-pound Iowa State senior came to cheer for teammate and eventual 174-pound champion Jon Reader.

But Sorenson felt he should have been competing - and likely would have been if a severe elbow injury in late February hadn't forced his coach, Kevin Jackson, to replace him with current 174-pounder Chris Spangler before the Big 12 Championships.

“He had to take me into the room and tell me after a practice I wasn't going to go,” said Sorenson, who hopes a healthy 2011-12 season leads to the top of the medal stand - for him and the youth-fueled Cyclones. “It hurt bad. Coach and I had a cry in the room and I knew I had to give everything I had this year because its the last time.”

Sorenson inherits the leader's role from Reader, who's now a volunteer assistant coach.

It's a responsibility the former state champion from Forest City takes seriously, especially with as many as nine redshirt freshman and sophomores filling out early season lineup cards along with him.

“Iowa State's going to be something great with these young guys and I have great expectations for (them),” said Sorenson, who is No. 8 in Intermat's preseason rankings at 165. “The best part about it is I get to be a mentor. A guy to help them get to where they want to be.”

Mentors abound in the room and at home.

Two of the Cyclones' most promising redshirt freshmen, Kyven Gadson (197) and Mike Moreno (157) were coached by fathers who starred in Cardinal and Gold singlets.

Willie Gadson, who coached his son to two state titles at Waterloo East, attained all-America status in 1975 and 1976.

Mike Moreno, who coached his son to a title at Urbandale, was an ISU all-American in 1992.

“We've been Cyclones basically for life,” said Moreno, who has cut down from 165.

Gadson said the legacy aspect doesn't command too much of his attention.

When asked if he looks at his dad's name on the wall as he heads into the room for workouts, he replied, “I actually don't.”

“I know what my uncle (Charles, an ISU all-American in 1978) and dad have done,” said Gadson, who will be out until at least the end of the month because of a shoulder injury sustained while winning a FILA Junior National freestyle title in April. “(My dad) coached me to be better than him and he did a great job.”

Jackson's convinced his mostly young squad can do great things this season - after a disappointing 20th-place finish at Nationals last March.

Two of his more experienced wrestlers, Jerome Ward (184) and Kyle Simonson (heavyweight) will miss early action because of injuries.

“We're looking for a breakout season, moreso than last year,” Jackson said. “I think we have some real strong pieces in place that are going to allow us to perform at a much higher level.”

That begins with Sorenson, who was ranked as high as fourth nationally before a quick practice match led to the blown elbow last season.

“I'm expecting him to be in the NCAA finals,” Jackson said. “There's no way around it. I expect that out of him.”

And the youthful Cyclones expect much of themselves.

Sooner, not later.

“It's that ego, it's that confidence, it's that swagger that gets us through every practice,” Moreno said. “And it's that same swagger that's going to get us national championships and success in the future.”

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Coach: Kevin Jackson (third season, 22-12).

Last year: 9-10 in duals, fifth in Big 12, 20th in NCAA meet.

Returning NCAA qualifiers: Cole Shafer (184); Jerome Ward (184, wrestled at 197 last season): Kyle Simonson (heavyweight).

Top newcomers: Ryak Finch (125, redshirt freshman); Luke Goettl (141, redshirt freshman); Mike Moreno (157, redshirt freshman); Kyven Gadson (197, redshirt freshman).

Schedule: Nov. 6, at Army, 2 p.m.; Nov. 7, at Boston, 6 p.m.; Nov. 13, Cyclone Open; Nov. 20, Old Dominion, noon; Nov. 25, Oklahoma State, 7 p.m.; Nov. 27, at Oklahoma, 2 p.m.; Dec. 4, Iowa, 2 p.m.; Dec. 9,  at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 18, at Missouri, noon; Dec. 29-30, at Midlands Championships, Evanston, Ill.; Jan. 3, at Arizona State, 8 p.m.; Jan. 8, Missouri, 2 p.m.; Jan. 13, Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.; Jan. 20, Oklahoma, 7 p.m.; Jan. 22, at Oklahoma State, 2 p.m.; Jan. 29, at Cornell, 1 p.m.; Feb. 3, Northern Iowa, 7 p.m.; Feb. 12, National Dual Midwest Regional, TBA; Feb. 19, National Dual Championships, TBA; March 3, at Big 12 Championships, Columbia, Mo.; March 15-17, NCAA Championships, St. Louis, Mo.