The start of the Big 12 Conference dual season will bring out more than just a hope for wins from the ISU wrestlers.

The team is determined to use this weekend’s meets as a measuring stick for where they are in their quest for a National Championship come March.

Friday, the third-ranked Cyclones (9-2, 0-0 Big 12) will play host to the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners (14-0, 1-0 Big 12).

The team will come right back on Sunday for what is always one of the biggest duals of the year, against the No. 13 Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-4, 0-1 Big 12).

Junior 133-pounder Nick Fanthorpe says the team is not focused on the name on the other uniform right now, but rather using these opportunities to polish themselves up for the NCAA Championships in March.

“Both [Oklahoma and Oklahoma State] are pretty competitive just because of individuals at each weight. You know, sometimes they’ve got up years and down years, but regardless it doesn’t really matter. We are going into this with the same attitude,” Fanthorpe said.

“This is all just practice for the national tournament. We’re looking forward to this weekend because it’s just another step to see where we’re at, so we can keep making progress toward March.”

The Sooners are off to their best start ever with 14 straight wins, but the lack of marquee dual wins has kept them out of the top 10 in the national rankings. Despite the lack of national spotlight, Oklahoma does own a pair of victories against No. 18 Old Dominion, and more impressively, Oklahoma State.

Last season the Cyclones demolished Oklahoma in Norman, 31-3, giving them a six-match win streak over the Sooners.

Sunday will be a battle of teams that have combined to claim the last six Big 12 titles when the Cyclones square off against the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State is the most successful program in the history of college wrestling, winning 33 national championships.

Fanthorpe knows how big the meet is with the Cowboys, but says the focus on what the team needs to do is more important.

“[Coach Cael Sanderson ] has been preaching to us to keep fighting for seven minutes and to just concentrate on the things we need to do to get better like staying positive and stuff like that. We’ve pretty much had the same goals throughout the season, and that’s go out there and give your best fight. The results will take care of themselves.”

Iowa State last beat Oklahoma State two years ago in Hilton Coliseum, 21-12.

The dual in Stillwater, Okla. last year came down to a mere bonus point in the 174-pound match to seal a 16-15 Cowboy win.

Both duals this weekend will give the Cyclones a chance to endure the luxury of being home for the first time in almost two months.

“The guys are looking forward to getting back into Hilton,” Fanthorpe said. “It’s a great atmosphere to wrestle in, and we bring a great crowd. The fans are great, so it’s definitely a big plus to be back at home and get away from the road a little bit.

Heavyweight

No. 1 Jared Rosholt (OSU) vs. No. 3 David Zabriskie (ISU)

The marquee match of the weekend is the seventh meeting between the two competitors. Rosholt (24-0) has won comfortable decisions in his last two match ups against Zabriskie (21-2), who won the first four meetings by a point.

125 pounds

No. 6 Tyler Clark (ISU) vs. No. 10 Joey Fio (OU)

Clark (18-3) scored a 9-0 major decision victory against Fio (13-3) in the dual last season, but Fio beat Clark, 5-4, for third place at last year’s Big 12 Championships. Clark is undoubtedly motivated by that memory and has had strong start to his true sophomore season.

165 pounds

No. 6 Jon Reader (ISU) vs. No. 11 Brandon Mason (OSU)

Mason (21-4), a three-time Iowa state champion from Lewis Central High School, has slipped in the rankings after two losses in his last three matches. The 2007 All-American dropped down a weight after wrestling at 174 pounds during his last three seasons. Escaping from the bottom position will be tough for Reader (18-4), as Mason utilizes his long arms and legs to aggressively ride his opponents.

174 pounds

No. 8 Duke Burk (ISU) vs. No. 9 Jeff James (OU)

Burk has a 5-3 record this season but has only wrestled seven matches, injury-defaulting out of the Midlands Open in late December. His returns from a three-week absence to face James (14-1), who has one win over a ranked opponent this season (seventh-ranked Mike Miller, Central Michigan).

197 pounds

No. 1 Jake Varner (ISU) vs. No. 9 Clayon Foster (OSU)

Varner (18-1) beat departed-OSU senior Jack Jensen twice last season by a 2-1 score. He has yet to wrestle Foster (21-1), whose only loss is to unranked Brandon Halsey of Cal-State Bakersfield. Varner intended to become a Cowboy before making his recruiting visit to Iowa State.

-Luke Plansky