With a sub-par football season all but over, many other Cyclone sports have been preparing to start their winter seasons. Men’s and women’s basketball, women’s gymnastics and the Cyclone wrestlers have all started preparing for seasons that begin in a few short weeks.

This weekend, the wrestlers will finalize their roster with a wrestle-off at the Lied Recreation Center at 10:30 a.m. Wrestlers in eight of 10 weight classes will face off against teammates to earn a spot in the starting lineup.

“It will be best out of three matches,” head coach Bobby Douglas said. “The winner will be the No. 1 man and will [stay in that position] unless he is hurt or the No. 2 man beats him later.”

Without much competition and a returning All-American in each weight class, Douglas said there will be no wrestle-off at 141 or 184 pounds. Therefore, two solidified spots in the Cyclone lineup belong to sophomore Kurt Backes and defending Big 12 141-pound champion Nate Gallick.

In possibly the most important competition of the day, senior Nick Passolano will look to defend his starting role at 165 pounds against sophomore All-American Travis Paulson. After a solid campaign last year, Paulson and his twin brother, Trent, both moved up one weight class.

“I think it’s a huge wrestle-off,” Douglas said. “Both of them are ranked wrestlers, and only one can wrestle at that weight.”

The loser of the matches at 165 pounds will most likely attempt to win at 174 pounds. There is no clear-cut favorite at 174 pounds with last year’s starter Grant Turner and highly touted redshirt freshman David Bertolino competing.

“Bertolino’s tough,” said junior 125-pounder Grant Nakamura. “He’s a good wrestler, and he’s bigger than both [Travis Paulson and Passolano].”

Nakamura, last year’s starter at 125 pounds, is the clear favorite at his weight. He will face freshman Ben Hanisch after deciding to stay at 125 pounds rather than moving to 133.

Junior Jesse Sundell is favored to claim the 133-pound spot. After seeing limited action last year filling in for injured starters, Sundell will attempt to fill the vacancy left by 2004 national champion Zach Roberson. He will face off against Oklahoma transfer Brandon Palmer — brother of former Cyclone Austen Palmer.

Another highly contested match is at 149 pounds. With Trent Paulson moving up to 157 pounds, Jonathan Gapinski, Aron Scott and Jason Knipp will compete for the starting role. Knipp and Gapinski, both sophomores, are the most experienced of the three wrestlers. Scott is a redshirt freshman.

Trent Paulson is the heavy favorite at 157 pounds. Up from 149 pounds, Trent should have an easier time making weight before matches and could compete for the national title at the end of the year. He is ranked fifth in the preseason iNWCA coaches poll.

Senior Trevor Smith, last year’s starter at 197 pounds, will defend his spot against junior Willie Parks. Smith, who was plagued by injuries most of last season, is healthier and could contribute a great deal to the Cyclones’ success at the upper weights.