Cyclones after fourth straight Big 12 wrestling title

AMES – Iowa State's senior class is all about the ultimate goal of an NCAA wrestling title.

First things first. They've got a chance at a fourth straight Big 12 championship Saturday at the McCasland Field House in Norman, Okla., and put that group of Cyclones in select company.

“We are more concerned with Nationals, but it would be something special to be a part of,” said senior 197-pounder Jake Varner, who won his only individual conference title as a sophomore. “Not everybody can say they were a part of a team that won it every year they came in.”

First-year coach Kevin Jackson can feel that desire from his team.

Third-ranked Oklahoma State will provide the biggest road block to snapping ISU's streak. The No. 2-ranked Cyclones (13-2, 4-0) beat OSU, 20-19, last month in Stillwater.

“If you take care of your job individually, that Big 12 championship will come,” Jackson said. “This group of athletes are veterans. They know that… I really believe they want to finish their careers with a fourth title. I think they deserve that.”

Nick Fanthorpe at 133 pounds, Jon Reader (165) and heavyweight David Zabriskie are defending their titles.

The Cyclones had five wrestlers last year lose in the finals, including Varner, who dropped a 4-3 decision to Nebraska's Craig Brester. There's a good chance the two will meet again tonight.

Brester is No. 2 nationally behind top-ranked and unbeaten (24-0) Varner, who boasts two wins this year over Brester, including an overtime victory two weeks ago in the final dual meet of the regular season.

“It doesn't matter who I wrestle. It's the same game plan,” Varner said.

The Cyclones don't want to leave it up to fate when it comes to qualifying for the March 18-20 NCAA Tournament in Omaha.

A good showing this weekend by lower-seeded wresters like Dalton Jensen at 141 and Andrew Sorensen at 157 – and no slip-ups from higher sees Fanthorpe and Mitch Mueller (149) -- will help ISU qualify all 10 wrestlers for the fourth straight season.

“I'm confident we'll get all 10 in,” Jackson said. “You win and you advance, you lose and you go home. It's important for us to wrestle the way we need to be wrestling going into the NCAA tournament.”