Iowa. Minnesota. Oklahoma State. 

The schools on the ISU wrestling schedule read like a who’s who in grappling greatness. As revered as those programs may be, the Cyclones will face their stiffest test of the season at Cornell University.

This weekend will present a unique situation for the nation’s No. 15 squad. Not only will they face the No. 2 team in the country, but the Cyclones will also battle the Bearcats of Binghamton University.

“To be a competitor and a warrior you have to be ready to fight in every opportunity and every chance you get,” Jon Reader said. “So it’ll be a great weekend to get two different matches in.”

Scouting the Big Red

The boys from Ithaca entered the 2010-2011 season as the team to beat. Coming off of a second-place finish at the 2010 NCAA Tournament, Cornell sports a battle-tested lineup with three returning All-Americans. 

Kyle Dake, Cam Simaz, and Mack Lewnes each collected the honor last season, with Dake being crowned national champion at 141 pounds. Dake has bumped up to 149 pounds and will be challenged by Max Mayfield.

“I need to just wrestle my game and make him adjust to me,” said Mayfield, who will be making his second-straight start at 149 pounds.

Mayfield put on a show for Cyclone Nation on Sunday in an overtime thriller against Jamal Parks of Oklahoma State. The ISU grapplers will need to show that same effort at each weight if they hope to compete against the former No. 1.

“It definitely put me in the mindset that I’m at the same level as these guys and I can compete with them,” Mayfield said. “I can go out there and all I have to do is give this guy my best match and see what happens.”

Simaz and Lewnes pose very dangerous threats for Jackson’s squad at two of Iowa State’s most prolific weights. Jerome Ward, who lost in a tough match against undefeated Clayton Foster of Oklahoma State in his last bout, has shown steady improvement and has the opportunity to knock off the top man at 197 pounds.

Going into the meet, 174 pounds is viewed by most as the match to watch. Reader will put his No. 1 ranking on the line against arguably his toughest opponent so far this season in Lewnes. The Big Red representative stands at 25-1 on the year while Reader is a remarkable 26-0.

The Binghamton Report

While a match against the premier team in the country obviously takes a bulk of the attention, Iowa State’s split focus mentally will come into play again this weekend against the Binghamton Bearcats.

Binghamton may not strike fear in the hearts of most in the wrestling world, but the 41st-ranked team in the country has been on a roll. After a close loss to Northern Iowa in late November, the Bearcats have won 9 of their last 10.

Sophomores Nate Schiedel, ranked No. 10 at 184 pounds and Donnie Vinson, ranked No. 12 at 149 pounds, will head up an otherwise upperclassmen-laden roster.

“It’s the same philosophy, same mentality, same game-plan for both teams; you have to go out there and be able to compete for seven minutes straights, and that’s simple for both duals,” Reader said.

The Cyclones’ busy Sunday begins at noon in Ithaca against Cornell. Following their first dual, the team will board the bus at 5 p.m. for a trip to Binghamton to face the Bearcats.