Blood, sweat and pain – Aron Scott has paid his dues in full over the past four-and-a-half seasons on the ISU wrestling team.

But with one month and one home dual meet remaining in his career, Scott isn’t looking forward to its end.

“It’s been my life for the past five years,” Scott said. “This is my family, you know. Now it’s time to move onto – go to bigger and better things, I guess.”

After herniating a disc in his neck last February, Scott’s career neared its conclusion prematurely. But, on Sunday, he will get one last chance to wrestle at Hilton Coliseum against Nebraska’s fifth-ranked 174-pounder, junior Brandon Browne (28-2).

Scott (10-9) wrestled at 149 pounds for the past three seasons, but moved up three weight classes to fill a hole in the Cyclone lineup this season.

Scott struggled to adjust to the weight class, and said he has only felt comfortable in the division since early January. At the National Duals tournament, he proved himself with a win over Central Michigan’s fourth-ranked Brandon Sinnott and a one-point loss to Hofstra’s sixth-ranked Alton Lucas.

“I feel like I’m right there. I’ve beat some of the guys in the top five, so I’m right there,” said Scott, who brought a 22-22 career record into this season. “And I’m healthy – healthier than I’ve been this whole season. I feel like I’m an All-American right now, and if I wrestle good and just work on the things I need to, I can be a national champion.”

Scott decided to wrestle at 174 pounds in September after the lightest four wrestlers moved up weights in the off-season, but wasn’t cleared by doctors to wrestle until early November.

He said the trials of an injury-riddled career have helped him become a better man. Along with the herniated disc, Scott has had both knees scoped and missed the first few weeks of this season’s November competition with a knee injury.

“A lot of people kind of thought I should have quit once I hurt my neck, but I hadn’t accomplished my goals yet, and my goal is to be a national champion,” said Scott, who was a part-time starter during 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons. “I figured [the injury] was just an obstacle I needed to push through . it’s going to all be worth it in the end.”

Like Scott, 18th-ranked senior David Bertolino (197 pounds) is trying to reach his first NCAA Tournament in his final season.

Bertolino (19-10) is enjoying the results of moving to a new weight class and adopting a new mental outlook. A highly-regarded recruit coming out of high school, he struggled to cut down the 174-pound weight class during the past two seasons.

He has also dealt with his own expectations.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself early on in my career – unneeded pressure,” said Bertolino, who had a 42-27 record over the past three seasons.

“This year, I’m just relaxed. I try to have fun. I’ve taken a different approach, and I think that helps. Wrestling was stressful in the past. I didn’t have fun with it, you know. Now it’s just changed. My mindset has changed. I just try to have fun. It’s my senior year, and it’s just a game – and that approach has helped me to wrestle better and wrestle to my potential.”

Bertolino’s opponent this weekend is seventh-ranked sophomore Craig Brester (20-3). The Husker was named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week after scoring a 9-1 major decision over Rider’s 12th-ranked T.J. Morrison and a 10-3 victory over Hofstra’s 10th-ranked Joe Rovelli – both wrestlers who beat Bertolino earlier in the year.

“He’s going to be a tough opponent, but I wouldn’t want anything less,” Bertolino said. “Last meet at home, I’m going to go out with a bang and get a win in front of the home crowd and my mom. It’s going to mean a whole lot for me and to her to get that final win at Hilton.”

No. 2 Nebraska at No. 7 Iowa State

When: Sunday at 2 p.m.

Where: Hilton Colliseum

TV: Iowa Public Television will televise the meet live.

The Nebraska wrestling team has nine ranked wrestlers and is trying to go undefeated in the conference dual season for the first time in the 98-year history of the program.