ISU wrestling coach Cael Sanderson will get his first look at how his team handles competition in intrasquad wrestle-offs Thursday night.

Fans can take home an early indication of which Cyclones might start in the coming season.

The meet starts at 7 p.m. on the football field of the Lied Recreation Athletic Center. Admission is free.

“It’s part of the process,” Sanderson said of the role of the wrestle-offs in determining the team’s lineup. “We want to see these guys wrestle and compete outside of the training room every day. It’s a different environment. Fans are there, family is there, a hired referee is there. It’s a different atmosphere.”

The wrestlers for the 125-pound, 174-pound and 197-pound weight classes are yet to be decided. Sanderson said the winners of the wrestle-off won’t determine the starting lineup.

“A lot of that is going to take care of itself through the open tournaments,” Sanderson said. “As the season progresses . what we’re looking for is the attitude and the guys that are wrestling and doing the things that they’re supposed to be.”

Two starters from the 2005-06 season will square off at 197 pounds. Senior David Bertolino, a former 174-pounder, will wrestle sophomore Joe Curran, who started at 197 pounds as a true freshman.

Curran redshirted last season, but spent much of last summer and fall recovering from a back injury. Bertolino was in contention for the starting role before he was injured.

At 125 pounds, senior Ben Hanisch, a starter in 2005, will face true freshman Tyler Clark.

Clark, who graduated from Bettendorf High School in the spring, beat redshirt freshman Mark Kist in a preliminary match in practice, Sanderson said.

Redshirt freshman Mitch Artist will wrestle sophomore Chris Pursel at 174 pounds. Senior Aron Scott, formerly a 149-pounder, moved up to the 174-pound weight class in the off-season, but is recovering from an injury and will not wrestle.

Sanderson said the meet helps the team take a break from the normal practice routine and gives fans a chance to see the wrestlers they’ve been hearing about.

“The point is not to beat up your own teammate,” he said. “The point is to work on areas that we’re focusing on, you know – work on your conditioning, wrestling an hour after weigh-in. There is nothing better than a wrestle-off to simulate what a dual meet is like.”