Out of everyone on the ISU wrestling team, John Nicholson has the most experience with wrestling teams from the East Coast.

That could prove when Iowa State hosts Rutgers at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at Hilton Coliseum.

The 157-pound redshirt senior spent his first four years as a collegiate athlete wrestling for Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va. Before the wrestling program at Old Dominion became a member of Conference USA this past season, Old Dominion wrestled as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association, whose member schools were all located on the East Coast.

“[East Coast teams] ride a lot on top, and they do a lot of mat-wrestling, and then they’re patient,” Nicholson said. “They stall a lot and wait until the end of the period to score.”

Last season, Iowa State went to Rutgers and came out with a 19-15 victory after heavyweight Matt Gibson scored the decision to seal the win. Rutgers wants matches to come down to the final seconds, Nicholson knows.

“They’re a hard team to hold down,” Nicholson said. “I’ve wrestled them a couple times on the East Coast, and they’re a team that if you give them any ground, they will take it. I wouldn’t try and keep any matches close with them because that’s what they want. That’s East Coast.”

Rutgers will come into Ames boasting a 9-2 record, however, its competition prior to the dual with Iowa State has not consisted of a team in the top 20. Iowa State has toed the line against two teams in the top 5 with No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 2 Iowa.

Despite the contrast in strength of schedule, 149-pound redshirt junior Luke Goettl is focused on wrestling, and that’s all.

“I think a lot of guys on the team, me included, don’t try to build any one match up and make it anything special,” Goettl said. “Even if it’s Iowa, Oklahoma State it doesn’t matter, it’s just live wrestling.”