Ever since Iowa State hired coach Kevin Jackson several years ago, the ISU wrestling team has been in a rebuilding mode. This past season, however, the team feels that it finally shed that label and was able to make a name for itself again in the wrestling world.

The Cyclones finished the season with a 9-7 overall record after starting out with a perfect 5-0, one of the best starts in recent ISU history. The team battled through the rest of the regular season and ended up sending six wrestlers to the NCAA tournament.

Kyven Gadson, who was ranked No. 1 overall at 197 pounds at one point during the season, ended the regular season with a 23-2 overall record. Gadson also won his second consecutive Big 12 title and earned All-American status yet again.

Gadson will return for one last time next season and hopes to finally win an NCAA title, something he has had in his sights for a long time.

Iowa State will return with six other All-American wrestlers next season. Along with Gadson, brothers Michael and Gabe Moreno, Lelund Weatherspoon, Tanner Weatherman, Luke Goettl and Earl Hall are all returning to the Cyclones.

With so many wrestlers returning this next season, the Cyclones look to have one of their better seasons in recent years. In fact, they are already looking ahead to this next season.

“We’re returning all of our qualifiers and we have some guys that can step in at the weights that we’re going to be missing next year, so I think we’re going to have a good run at it and it will have a lot to do with the guys that are returning and have that experience,” Moreno said. “It’s a big step for the program considering where it was two years ago to now.”