The No. 21 Cyclones are on the road for the second straight weekend, this time taking on Minnesota.

Iowa State dropped its first two matches of the year, but Saturday’s match is the first time this season the Cyclones face an unranked opponent.

“I don’t really want to predict a win or loss, because our focus isn’t on winning or losing,” said coach Jay Ronayne. “It’s all about scores. We’re focusing on doing the routines and performing well enough for the judges to get a 9.8 or better on every event.”

Ronayne said the fun thing about gymnastics is that there is no defense – it’s all offense.

“I don’t even see what another team does during a meet,” Ronayne said.

A trip to the land of 10,000 lakes means a trip home for two Cyclones. Sophomore Nikki Dilbert and freshman Jasmine Swyningan both hail from the Twin Cities and have the opportunity to perform in front of friends and family.

Dilbert said her dad has been updating her on who is going to be there, but the added pressure of performing in front of them won’t get to her.

“I really like performing – it’s one of my favorite things,” Dilbert said. “So having a lot of people there cheering me on is what I’m really looking forward to.”

Ronayne said he’s not worried about the team’s performance on the road, because the team likes to show off.

Dilbert said she doesn’t think she’s a show-off, but Swyningan laughed and disagreed.

Dilbert has been Iowa State’s top all-around performer in both meets this year. Her all-around average score is 38th in the nation.

“I’m just trying to keep everything the same in the gym and competition,” Dilbert said. “It’s all the same – day in and day out.”

Dilbert graduated from Champlin Park High School, about a 40-minute drive from the University of Minnesota.

“We went back [to Minnesota] last year, and it was the first time competing for the team, and I’m really looking forward to going back and showing them what we can do,” Dilbert said.

Swyningan is in her first year in the program and has yet to perform in a collegiate match.

“I’m really looking forward to going back,” Swyningan said. “This will hopefully be my first time competing. I’ve been getting calls and e-mails from friends and former teammates saying that they’re really excited to be there.”

Swyningan graduated from Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, Minn.

“I’m really excited to just do it, and the fact that it would be at home would be just great to show everyone what I’ve learned,” Swyningan said.

Saturday’s meet starts at 6 p.m. and can be seen on Clone Zone.