Getting away from the conference foes does not mean the challenge is any different for the ISU wrestlers. The second-ranked Cyclones (11-2, 2-0 Big 12) host the No. 21 Panthers (7-5) of Northern Iowa on Friday.

Coach Cael Sanderson said his team is right where they should be after a two-week break from competition, and despite the mismatch the dual appears to be on paper, Sanderson knows his team will not overlook the Panthers.

“Northern Iowa’s always a competitive team and an instate rival. There are some big matches there. We need to go out and wrestle well,” Sanderson said. “It’s another opportunity to wrestle at the Hilton again, and we don’t get a lot of these opportunities, only six or seven every year. So we need to entertain our fans and wrestle with the mindset that is so important to this program, and that’s being aggressive, attacking and having fun.”

The Panthers do have experience this season, having wrestled both Iowa and Oklahoma State. In fact, the same day the Cyclones upended the Cowboys two weeks ago, the Panthers welcomed Oklahoma State to Cedar Falls that night, but fell in a lopsided loss, 31-3.

When asked if getting the team motivated, or not going into this type of meet overconfident was hard, Sanderson quickly threw it under the table.

“I don’t think so. We know Northern Iowa has had some real good teams, and they’re ranked ahead of us I think in a couple of weight classes, At least one at 165,” he said. “And this is a chance to compete. We haven’t been on the mat outside of Duke Burk in what will almost be two weeks, so we’ll be ready to go.”

One match will be particularly interesting and will pit two top-ten opponents together at 165 pounds. Cyclone sophomore Jon Reader, currently ranked No. 7, will go toe-to-toe with the Panther’s fourth-ranked senior, Moza Fay.

Head-to-head, the two All-Americans have split their two matches with Reader winning the most recent match, 13-5, in the National Duals last season.

Having the rest and time off will be used to make a late push to be ready for the Big 12 and NCAA Championships.

One thing is for sure — Sanderson is not worried about anyone wrestling lightly on Friday or from here on out.

“We want these guys’ focus to be the same whether it’s the first tournament of the year, or whether it’s the NCAA tournament,” Sanderson said “We want them looking for bonus points. We want them competing for the team, wrestling every second, and if you can do that it really will simplify things.

“You won’t have to change your mindset when it’s the national tournament. You do exactly what you’ve been doing from day one and that’s the philosophy that we teach and that I coach. We have a real solid foundation with our team in that regard, and that’s why I think you will see our team continue to do well at the end of the season”

Iowa State leads the all-time series, 50-16, and has not lost to the Panthers in the last six duals.