In the 77th edition of the Iowa State versus Iowa wrestling rivalry, the 4-0 Cyclones will look to end a five-match losing streak against their rivals. 

Cyclone head man Kevin Jackson will be making his first trip to Iowa City as coach of the Cyclones. In Jackson’s 2009 debut season, his squad came within two points of upsetting the eventual national champions before coming up on the short end of an 18-16 tilt.

Despite never having coached in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Jackson is well aware of what to expect when on the road in the Cy-Hawk series.

“Sometimes it feels like your wrestling the coaching staff, you’re wrestling the crowd, you’re wrestling the official, you’re wrestling more than one guy,” Jackson said. “It’s a different scene. It’s a fun scene. It’s a highly competitive scene and it’s a place every competitor should have an opportunity to compete in and fortunately for us, we do.”

Taking down the No. 6 team on the road will be no small feat. The Hawkeyes are currently brandishing a 65-match winning streak, with 29 straight wins in the friendly confines of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. To further amplify the environment, the Hawkeye faithful have called for a “blackout” at the meet Friday night.

Iowa’s dominance has manifested itself in four convincing shutouts this season. The Hawkeyes have scored more than 40 points in each of their wins over Coe College, Cornell College, Iowa Central Community College and the University of Tennesee-Chatanooga. The starters for the varsity lineup have compiled an overall record of 42-1 on the young season.

Leading the charge is the No. 1 wrestler at 125 pounds, Matt McDonough. McDonough will meet Cyclone sophomore Patrick Hunter. Hunter, who has collected a 9-4 record on the season, will have to bring his A-game if he hopes to topple the defending national champion.

“I expect [Patrick] Hunter to compete,” Jackson said. “This McDonough is the real deal. So, first and foremost, Hunter just has to strap it on and compete for seven minutes or however long it takes to get the job done.”

While the lower weights may feature some of the most electric and exciting wrestlers in the nation, the middle of the roster may have the most anticipated matches of the evening. The performances of Chris Drouin, 141; Trent Weatherman, 157; Andrew Sorenson, 165; and senior leader Jon Reader, 174; could go a long way in determining the fate of the meet.

Weatherman is set to engage in a highly-touted rematch with Derek St. John, who got the better of Weatherman in their college showdown last season. Sorenson will also be looking to avenge past college losses, as he faces off with either Jake Kerr or Aaron Janssen.

“We expect to win,” Weatherman said. “We train to wrestle. If each of our guys go out there and competes the winning will take care of itself.”

Jon Reader, ranked third by Intermat.com at 174 pounds, is slated to do battle with an unblemished and untested Ethen Lofthouse. Freshman and younger brother of 197-pound Hawkeye Luke Lofthouse, the upstart Hawkeye will be facing off against a man well known among Iowa fans for his classic matches with Hawk alumni Ryan Morningstar.

“Our focus is to step on the mat, not look at the score, look across the mat, see who we have and go out there and attack that guy,” Jackson said.

Both teams enter the meet with something to prove. The No. 14 Cyclones are out to prove that, even with a young roster, that they have what it takes to compete with the best in the nation, while the host Hawkeyes are determined to continue on the quest for their fourth title in a row.