The ISU wrestling team is being tested by the best in the nation.

Friday night – five days removed from a thorough beating by Iowa – the seventh-ranked Cyclones (2-1 overall) will host third-ranked Minnesota at Hilton Coliseum in the second straight challenge of the Cyclones’ progressively tougher schedule.

“Last week is history,” said coach Cael Sanderson. “We learned, and we licked our wounds . We need to be ready to go [tonight], and I’m real confident that we’re ready now.”

Two weeks ago, the then-No. 11 Hofstra wrestling team shocked the wrestling world, beating the then-No. 1 Golden Gophers (4-1) by one point in their dual opener.

Wednesday night, coach J Robinson’s team beat top-ranked Oklahoma State, 21-15, likely regaining the No. 1 ranking for the Gophers.

“They’ve got a great program,” Sanderson said. “Right now, they are unarguably the No. 1 team of the country, and we knew that coming in. They have a great team – real talented, real solid, so it’s going to be a real test for us. We’re just trying to continue to build. We’re looking forward to seeing what we can do.”

The Cyclones will try to right what went wrong last Sunday, where eight of the 10 close matches in the rivalry dual against the fourth-ranked Hawkeyes went down as losses.

Not only is Friday night’s dual another opportunity to wrestle some of the best competition in the nation, but it is a chance for redemption. Senior captain Travis Paulson said he’s glad the Cyclones have a chance “to show everybody how tough we are” after the loss to the Hawkeyes.

“Right on our wall here it says, ‘Champions are people that failed but refused to quit’,” said Paulson, pointing to a slogan painted in the wrestling room. “Every team has lost and every person experiences defeat, but what it comes down to is how you react to that.”

Even with two major injuries, Minnesota’s lineup features five wrestlers ranked in the top 10, including top-ranked and defending national champions Dustin Schlatter (149) and Cole Konrad (HWT).The Golden Gophers have been without All-American and native Iowan Mack Reiter (133) because of a preseason ACL tear and will likely sit NCAA qualifier C.P. Schlatter (157) for a second straight dual because of a sprained knee.

“We’re all going to go out and go after these guys,” said ISU freshman Cyler Sanderson, who will wrestle Dustin – a true sophomore – for the first time in what should be an extended rivalry. “We’re hoping to win it. A lot of guys have big matches, so it’s going to be a good test for the team overall and especially individually for some of the guys.”

Sanderson (11-2) hasn’t wrestled Dustin (10-0) since his freshman year of high school. The Golden Gopher prodigy has given up two points in 10 matches this season, only one of which has gone a full seven minutes.

“I’ve got a great opportunity this week. I’m really looking forward to it,” Cyler said. “I’ve got a chance to wrestle the defending national champion in my weight . I’m going to go out and go hard and learn a lot, hopefully.”

The two lineups will produce several intriguing matchups. Last year’s 184-pound NCAA runner-up Roger Kish (9-0) will wrestle third-ranked Cyclone freshman Jake Varner (10-0). Minnesota’s fifth-ranked Manuel Rivera (13-0) will contend with 11th-ranked Mitch Mueller (10-2).

Konrad (5-0), the mammoth 6-foot-3-inch Golden Gopher heavyweight, will face Cyclone David Zabriskie – a 5-foot-11-inch, 235-pound freshman.

Friday night’s home action starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students.