A senior representing a team of freshmen, Travis Paulson was drenched in sweat and still out of breath from a 5-2 win against Iowa’s Mark Perry in the finals of the Midlands Championships.

Paulson – the then-third ranked, now second ranked,165-pound ISU wrestler – said the Cyclones’ Midlands team title and new look since being beaten by Iowa and Minnesota a few weeks before was the result of the natural development and progression of a young team.

“We’re doing the same things; we’re working our butts off,” Paulson said. “It’s just we have a young team. We’re getting more experience; we’re getting better every week and just wrestling those tough matches and learning from ’em – not dwelling on them.”

The six freshmen and the upperclassmen of the sixth-ranked Cyclones (3-2 overall) made strides over Winter Break, showcasing the overall team strength and showing improvement in a 38-3 rout of Northern Iowa on Dec. 17 and in a dominating performance at the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill. on Dec. 29 and 30.

Iowa State won the two-day tournament for the first time since 1981, putting four wrestlers in the finals and placing eight out of 10 starters.

Despite a poor final session, the Cyclones scored 154.5 team points, easily beating Iowa, who came in second with 107.

Paulson (16-1) beat Perry for the first time four attempts and cruised through the 165-pound bracket to win the only Cyclone title.

Freshman Nick Fanthorpe (125) and seniors Trent Paulson (157) and Kurt Backes (197) fell short in close matches in the finals, placing second.

Had the Cyclones fared better in the final session, the Midlands team race could have been more lop-sided. Iowa State lost five out of seven place-winning matches in the final sessions.

“It’s all a learning experience; it’s all preparation,” said coach Cael Sanderson. “We’re close. We won the tournament pretty handily, but we still need to learn from the tournament.”

The Midlands field included seven top-25 teams. Sanderson said the team is progressing as expected.

“I know this is going to be a really special team and things are shaping up like that,” he said after Midlands. “This is a big win – 25 years, not winning a tournament, that’s a big deal.”

Sanderson became the second rookie coach ever to win the Midlands Tournament. Iowa legend Dan Gable won it in his first year at Iowa in 1976.

“The [team is] improving at a rapid rate, and we’re competing as a team more,” Sanderson said. “We’re looking for bonus points, which make a big a difference. I’m real happy where we’re at now. I know if we continue to improve, we’re in a good place.”