Four Iowa State wrestlers received invitations to compete at the 43rd-Annual NWCA All-Star Classic on Nov. 24 in Columbus, Ohio.

Juniors Nick Gallick, Cyler Sanderson, Jake Varner and David Zabriskie were each given the opportunity to grapple with the best in the country. The meet’s goal is to try to pit the top two ranked wrestlers at each weight class together for an exhibition match.

Zabriskie is currently ranked No. 2 in the country at 285 pounds, but made the decision to not wrestle at the meet and instead stay behind to help the team in its Sunday night duel with Arizona State.

“Cael [Sanderson] and I talked it over, and we both agreed that this was a better move for the team,” Zabriskie said. “I would be wrestling [Oklahoma State’s Jared] Rosholt again, and since I will see him several more times throughout the year, finding different competition will be more beneficial.”

Rosholt is ranked No. 1, but Zabriskie holds a career record of 4-2 against him.

Gallick, Sanderson and Varner will represent Iowa State and garner a great match early in the season.

This will be Gallick’s first opportunity to wrestle at the event. Currently ranked No. 2 in the country at 141 pounds, the scrappy and tough Tucson, Ariz.-native will get a chance to wrestle J Jaggers, last year’s National Champion at 141 pounds from Ohio State.

Coach Sanderson has talked with Gallick about what to expect.

“We’ve been putting him in situations, a little bit, that he might see in that match, but other than that, we are just working on everything in order to get better,” Sanderson said. “It’s just a great opportunity for him to get to wrestle a defending National Champion.”

Cyler received a spot in the lineup as a late entry, after the higher ranked wrestlers at 157 pounds declined the invitation. Nevertheless, seventh-ranked Cyler will get a big chance to make an early impact this season when he meets Cornell’s Jordan Leen. The No. 5 wrestler in the country at 157 pounds is the defending National Champion and a two-time All-American.

Varner, on the other hand will not be a first-timer at the event, and throws away the thought of being nervous or caught up in the moment.

“It’s really just another match against a good opponent. I just have fun with it, and it’s a good tradition,” Varner said.

Last year, Varner wrestled at 184 pounds, where he was ranked No. 1 in the country and collected his second runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships. This year he is again ranked No.1, but at 197 pounds.

Varner will face off against an opponent from a school not really known for its wrestling. Hudson Taylor, a junior from the University of Maryland, is currently ranked No. 2 after a third place finish and All-America honors last year. But despite an entirely new opponent, Varner does not plan to change his strategy.

“I don’t watch film or really study guys,” Varner said. “My goal is to go out there and wrestle how I want to and make them have to worry about me instead of the opposite.”

His match against Minnesota’s Roger Kish at the All-Star Classic last year was one of the most anticipated of the season, and even though the result does not go on an individual’s record, Varner handed Kish a 2-0 loss.

Because the Classic is being wrestled on Monday, neither Gallick nor Varner will be at Hilton Coliseum to wrestle against Arizona State, but coach Sanderson said the opportunity is too good to pass up and there will still be enough guys to fill in for them at the meet.

“I know people are fired up about it. If you can get the one versus the two or the one and three, it’s exciting stuff,” Sanderson said. “It’s kind of disappointing that they don’t count these on the records, so it kind of takes some of the incentive out of it, but it’s still a great opportunity.”

Final home duel of 2008

By Luke Plansky – Daily Staff Writer

Sunday night’s duel against Arizona State is the last home meet in 2008 for the second-ranked ISU wrestling team.

The Cyclones won’t wrestle in Hilton Coliseum again until Jan. 23, when Oklahoma comes to town. After Sunday, Iowa State’s next meet will be on Dec. 6, against defending-NCAA Champion Iowa.

Friday, the Cyclones wrestle 12th-ranked Wisconsin in Madison. Four Badgers are ranked in the top-15. Arizona State has two eighth-ranked wrestlers, sophomores Anthony Robles (125) and Chris Drouin (141).

Both meets start at 7 p.m.

Matches to watch

197 pounds — No. 1 Jake Varner vs. Wisconsin’s No. 5 Dallas Herbst

The 6-foot-5 Badger senior uses his size and leverage effectively. Herbst finished sixth at last year’s NCAA Tournament and may be able to match Varner’s power.

Heavyweight — No. 2 David Zabriskie vs. Wisconsin’s No. 3 Kyle Massey

Massey pinned Zabriskie in the duel last season, but Zabriskie beat the 6-foot-4 Badger in wrestlebacks at the NCAA Tournament. Massey took Zabriskie’s place at the All-Star meet.

125 pounds  — No. 12 Tyler Clark vs. Arizona State’s No. 8 Anthony Robles

The Sun Devil sophomore is a challenge to score on. Robles was born with one leg, and wrestles from a crouched position on the mat. His strength compensates for his lack of mobility.