With a dismal football season in the books and the Cyclone basketball teams likely out of the running for the NCAA Tournaments, the ISU wrestling team has jumped into the spotlight.

The Cyclones finished the dual meet season ranked second in the nation.

With a 16-4 record in dual meets and numerous wrestlers ranked in the top 10, the Cyclones are poised for a strong showing at the Big 12 Tournament this weekend.

“We’ve continued to work hard,” sophomore Nate Gallick said. “We’re mentally ready, and the team is healthy.”

After facing injuries early in the season, the Cyclones continue to strengthen each week.

“This team is peaking,” assistant coach Zach Thompson said. “They’re wrestling well, and this is the best time to do it.”

With the Cyclones hosting the Big 12 Tournament on their home mat in Hilton Coliseum, spectators have an opportunity to see college wrestling at its best.

“[The Big 12 Tournament] could be more competitive than nationals,” 165-pounder Nick Passolano said. “Every weight is really competitive, and everyone has a chance to win [a title in their weight class].”

Of the 50 wrestlers competing this weekend, 39 are ranked in the top 20 nationally — including three No. 1 wrestlers.

The most competitive weight classes are 149 pounds and 184 pounds. All five wrestlers in each weight class are ranked in the top 10.

Senior two-time All-American Zach Roberson will look for his first conference title. If results pan out according to seeding, Roberson will face 133-pound defending national champion Johnny Thompson in the final.

“It would mean a lot to me [to win a Big 12 championship],” Roberson said. “I would probably have to beat the defending national champ, so it would be [a great accomplishment]”

Second-ranked at 141 pounds, Gallick could have a rematch with No. 3 Teyon Ware of Oklahoma. Ware was dropped from his No. 1 ranking when Gallick handed him his first defeat Jan. 30 in Norman, Okla.

“[The weekend] will be a test,” Gallick said. “There are a lot of good wrestlers, and everyone will have to wrestle well.”

Because the Big 12 Conference teams and individuals have had great success this season, 36 wrestlers will qualify for the national tournament in St. Louis March 11-13.

The top three finishers in each weight class will advance as well as six wild card entries decided upon after the competition.

Passolano said although the Big 12 Tournament is important, winning the national tournament is the team’s goal.

“Traditionally, we haven’t been much of a Big 12 Tournament team,” he said. “We usually wrestle our best at nationals.”

The Big 12 Tournament is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Saturday with matches between the fourth and fifth seeds. The winners of those matches will face the top seed in their respective weight class at noon. After consolation matches at 4 p.m., the meet will end with championship matches beginning at 7 p.m.