During the past five years, the ISU women’s gymnastics team has turned a number of heads during its quest to secure a prominent position in the NCAA and Big 12 history books.

The Cyclones first struck it big in 2000 when they won their first-ever Big 12 championship, ending a six-year Nebraska reign. They were also the first-ever Cyclone squad to qualify for the NCAA national championships, finishing eighth overall.

The Cyclones are led by a tremendous group of junior class leaders, including two-time national qualifier and All-American Erin Dethloff, national qualifier Laura-Kay Powell, and All-Big 12 event specialists Jessica Oney, Kacey Oiness and Krystal Carney.

“The juniors bring a lot to the table,” Dethloff said. “I think there’s just a lot of determination in our class and maybe a bit more attitude [than those in the past].”

Head coach K.J. Kindler said the juniors had big shoes to fill, but the size was right.

“They walked in like they were wearing those shoes all their lives,” she said.

Adding to the fire is an ambitious sophomore class that has recently begun to come into its own. The class features All-American and NCAA vault finalist Janet Anson, all-arounder Jade Kvach and top event contributors Ashley Alden and Katie Lasher, all of whom are capable of placing in the top three on their respective events. Together, the team has been undefeated at home and in conference action the past two seasons. The team has only suffered two regular-season losses.

Though the Cyclones have consistently been ranked in the top 10 this season, Kindler said they have yet to reach their peak potential.

“I actually like the fact that we are not hitting all of our routines the way we could, because we haven’t been so phenomenal that we are going to max out too soon,” Kindler said. “They are so talented and mentally there.

“I’m afraid for when they finally do what they are capable of — it will just be incredible.”

Last season, the Cyclones went into the Big 12 championship undefeated in conference action and expecting the three-year reigning Nebraska Cornhuskers to be their major competition.

But both teams were shocked when Oklahoma, which had not won a conference meet all season, slipped past the Cyclones by the smallest possible margin of .025 and took the conference crown.

Kindler said this year should be different.

“Sometimes you have to feel you deserve something before you can get it,” she said.

Kindler said she thinks the Big 12 championships should turn out to be one of the Cyclones’ best performances all year.

“I can’t see this team leaving here without a conference title,” Kindler said.

Powell, Dethloff and Anson each qualified as individuals to the NCAA regional championships last year, though the team just missed a trip by less than 0.3. They agreed the trip provided insight despite not having the full team there.

“I realized that our team is just as good [as those who qualified], and we deserve to be there too,” Powell said.

The conference championship is March 26 in Norman, Okla.