The ISU wrestling team exited the arena before Iowa received its NCAA Tournament trophy.

Iowa State left the Scottrade Center in St. Louis last month with its ultimate goal still yet to be attained. But with the team now beginning off-season competition, coach Cael Sanderson and the Cyclones have greater expectations for a national title in 2009.

“We expect to be right at the top every year, regardless of the team we have or whatever the circumstances may be,” Sanderson said. “I don’t know how our fans saw our year this year. We kind of came out of a Cinderella year [finishing second in 2007 -Ed.], almost won a title, so I think the expectations were real high for a team that only had one returning All-American, and I think the guys did a good job.”

Eight starters will return from an Iowa State team that repeated as Big 12 champions this season and sent all 10 of wrestlers to NCAA Tournament – seven of whom reached the medal stand.

The Cyclones placed fifth at nationals, but the seven All-Americans were Iowa State’s most since 1992.

Even so, Sanderson views the season as a partial success in which the team built character and experience but failed in its ultimate goal.

“We came out and beat the No. 1-ranked team [Minnesota on Dec. 2 -Ed.], and then we lost the next week to Iowa and went eighth at National Duals, and then we started coming back,” Sanderson said. “So it was kind of an up-and-down year, but it was fun. These guys – more important than anything was the character they showed. Just like the quarterfinals of the nationals, we went 1 for 7 . but the way they responded that next round was awesome [winning 7 of 7 wrestlebacks -Ed.]. But we needed to keep that going.”

Six of Iowa State’s All-Americans return next season – more than any other Division I program. After six starters moved up weights during last year’s off-season, it’s likely only one starter will need to adjust to a new division in 2009 – 184-pound NCAA runner-up Jake Varner.

Varner will replace graduating senior All-American David Bertolino in the 197-pound weight class. Sanderson said bumping up a weight is something the 6-foot-1-inch sophomore “knew he wanted to do for probably a year.”

“He’s a big kid, and he’s got such a big frame,” Sanderson said. “He does a good job with his weight, so he could probably go down to ’84 again. But the thing about Varner though is that if he’s feeling good, man, he’s . incredible. And being at ’97, he is going to be big and strong. Just wrestling with him now . there is a huge difference.”

Competition for the 174-pound weight class next season will likely be among sophomore Chris Pursel, redshirt freshman Todd Becker, true freshmen Billy Lewis and Andrew Sorenson, and incoming freshman Chris Spangler, Sanderson said.

The 184-pound slot will be contended for by redshirt sophomore Joe Curran – the 197-pound starter in 2006 – and true freshman Jerome Ward.

Barring any off-season additions, Iowa State won’t have a senior on the roster next season.

The team’s off-season consists of weight-training, freestyle competition and making individual improvements in technique.

“The next two years, we’re going to be older and we’re going to be more experienced,” said sophomore Cyler Sanderson (157 pounds). “We’ve been to the national tournament twice. We’re just going to get closer and closer. We’ll be fighting Iowa for the national title. They did a great job, but hopefully we’ll be the ones on top next year.”

The Hawkeyes return five All-Americans and eight starters from this year’s team, which won the Midlands Open, National Duals, the Big 10 Tournament and the National Tournament.

“The experience is all there. We’ve just got to put it together again,” said ISU sophomore Mitch Mueller (149 pounds). “Just do a little better this time, and the title will be there. If everyone concentrates on what they need to do, the title will be there.”