Cyclones look to reverse season woes at Big 12 Championships

Iowa State University has endured a tough wrestling season.

The Cyclones have battled injuries with a young lineup to produce a lackluster 4-13 record.

With the return of some key wrestlers, Iowa State is as strong as it has been all season and could score a reversal with a strong postseason showing, which begins Friday with the Big 12 Wrestling Championships at Columbia, Mo. The opening round is 11 a.m.

“You can turn it around with performances at the Big 12, but more importantly performances at the NCAA tournament,” Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson said. “If you perform at the right time of year it definitely can make up for it.”

Three-time NCAA qualifier Jerome Ward (197) returned from a back injury suffered a week after the 2011 season and wrestled his first match Feb. 12. Chris Spangler, ranked fourth at 174, returned from a two-month absence due to a concussion as well.

It is good to have them back, but their plight have been indicative of a run of bad luck over the last year.

“Without a doubt we're the healthiest we've been all season,” said Jackson, noting Ward, Spangler and an improved 16th-ranked 184-pounder Boaz Beard. “I know God's got a plan, but it does feel like we've been a little snakebit when you consider some injuries we've had.

“I think quote a few teams go through that. I don't know if they go through as many of those injuries as we actually did.”

Ward, ranked 15th by InertMat, was a match away from All-America status last year. Andrew Sorenson, who missed the 2011 postseason to injury after being highly ranked, has led the Cyclones all year and is ranked fourth at 165. Iowa State No. 10 heavyweight Matt Gibson and 12th ranked 125-pound freshman Ryak Finch give the Cyclones two more strong All-American contenders. Finch and freshman Luke Goettl, ranked 19th at 141, are examples of a group of youthful lower weights, who have turned growing pains into success as the season progressed.

They are prepared for the challenge against heavy favorite Oklahoma State, Missouri and Oklahoma.

“I just think we have a group of young men moving in the right direction,” Jackson said. “I think they've learned a lot from the experience of wrestling the best teams and best athletes in the country and we expect them to be at their best.”

Big 12 competitors will vie for 31 berths, including four each at 125 and 165, to the NCAA Championships on March 15-17 in St. Louis, Mo.