When the ISU wrestling team hits the mat Saturday against the Hawkeyes, sparks will be flying and emotions will be running high as the two bitter rivals hook up once again in arguably the biggest dual meet of the year in college wrestling. This weekend’s meet has several underlying plots and twists.

And at 133 pounds for the Hawkeyes is…

Cyclone junior Nick Fanthorpe knows he will be wrestling a tough opponent in his 133-pound matchup Saturday.

It is just unclear who exactly that will be, as the Hawkeyes’ starter is uncertain. Last year’s 133-pound national runner-up Joe Slaton returns at that weight, but the Hawkeye has been put to the test by fellow junior Daniel Dennis.

Slaton is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation and is 2-0 against Fanthorpe, but Dennis has wrestled in seven of the team’s eight duals and is threatening to replace Slaton as the starter for the Hawkeyes.

The two did not compete in the Hawkeyes’ wrestle-offs, as Slaton has had trouble managing his weight. Fanthorpe said of who he will have to wrestle:

“It shouldn’t really matter, especially at this point in the season. I’m focused on improving in my areas and going out there and wrestling my matches and making them adjust to my style … obviously both guys will be pretty good, top competition, so either way it’s going to be a good match.”

Pack the House

The University of Iowa is attempting to make the Saturday showdown the highest attended meet in NCAA history. The current record is 15,646 fans, set by Minnesota on February 1, 2002, against Iowa. Carver-Hawkeye Arena sits 15,500 fans, but the university received permission to allow 500 standing room only around the top perimeter.

Injuries will change Varner’s opponent

No. 1-ranked Jake Varner will again square off for the Cyclones at 197 pounds to keep his perfect record intact and help the team try and capture the duel, but his scheduled opponent is uncertain. Chad Beatty, Iowa’s ranked wrestler at 197 pounds, went down with a knee injury last week in a match and will not wrestle for the Hawkeyes. Varner will wrestle sophomore Luke Lofthouse, freshman Brodie Ambrose or junior Rick Loera.

Cyclones on T.V.

The Iowa State vs. Iowa wrestling duel will be broadcast live on Iowa Public Television at 7 p.m. Saturday night. The Big Ten Network will also broadcast the meet, but it will be a delayed broadcast set to air at 9:30 p.m. Two former Cyclone wrestling members, Jim Gibbons and Dan Gable, will be calling the action for the meet.

Personal Ties

ISU sophomore Jonathan Reader and Iowa junior Brent Metcalf were former teammates at Davison High School in Davison, Mich.

Mitch Mueller, Iowa State’s 149 pound junior, is a native of Iowa City and wrestled for Iowa City West High School.