ISU wrestling coach Kevin Jackson has high hopes for his team as it begins the new season.

“Our goal is to be in the hunt for the national championship,” Jackson said. “To win a national championship, it takes six guys in the top four. I think I have those six guys in the room right now.”

Before they can think about any title, the Cyclones must first get on the mat. On Sunday, they’ll do just that as they travel to Boston for a pair of dual meets.

Last season, Iowa State, ranked No. 24 to start this season, posted a dual record of 9-10 and finished 20th in the NCAA tournament. One of the dual victories came against Boston, which the Cyclones will face Sunday along with Army.

With a retooled roster this season, Iowa State will rely heavily on underclassmen, including several redshirt freshmen. For senior and team captain Andrew Sorenson, the first meets are important as young guys get on the mat for the first time.

“We have all of these young guys that haven’t been on the mat yet,” Sorenson said. “Everybody can look good in practice — we wrestle each other every day, we stayed here all summer every day together — but getting on the mat is actually a test.”

The Cyclones begin the season with six wrestlers ranked in Intermat’s top 20 polls. One of those wrestlers is redshirt freshman Ryak Finch, who begins the season ranked 13th at 125 pounds.

When Finch takes the mat for the first time Sunday, he said it’ll be an honor to be able to wear the cardinal-and-gold singlet.

“If you look at the greats that have worn this singlet and wrestled for Iowa State, it’s a huge honor,” Finch said. “I’m just really excited after a long year of redshirting to finally strap it on and just make sure I’m keeping the tradition alive.”

Sunday’s first matches will be a start to what Jackson hopes will be a big season for the Cyclones, and the first meets will help act as a building block for the young wrestlers.

“Them getting on the mat will determine where they’re at and from there we can build where we want to be,” Sorenson said. “I have faith that these guys are ready to go.”

In the end, Jackson has just one goal for the first two meets of the season and feels his team can achieve it.

“Bottom line, we’re looking for them to win. That’s what we expect them to do, we expect them to go out there and win,” Jackson said. “If they wrestle to their ability, I think we should win.”

The Cyclones will take to the mat at 2 p.m. Sunday against Army and will then take on Boston at 6 p.m. in Case Gym in Boston.