After weather conditions kept Nebraska from visiting Ames Feb. 5, the ISU wrestlers were forced to wait another week before returning to the mat in Hilton Coliseum, this time to face No. 3 Missouri on Friday.

The Cyclones have not wrestled a meet in Ames since a 21-13 victory over intrastate rival Iowa Dec. 7. The wrestlers return from one of the most brutal road stretches in recent years.

“We had a tough schedule, probably the toughest in the nation,” freshman 184-pounder Kurt Backes said. “We all knew that after we got past the Oklahoma weekend we’d have some time off and some time to prepare for [the Big 12 tournament] and the end of the season.

“It was pretty much a mental break for everyone — that’s all this sport really is. We pushed through it and now we’re healing up.”

Junior Nick Passolano said the harsh road schedule, more than anything, helped prepare the team for the end of season.

“We’ve wrestled great competition in Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Iowa and we weren’t psyched out too much,” he said. “It’s been great experience for some of the young guys.”

Sophomore 125-pounder Grant Nakamura said the string of away meets helped to unify the team.

“We had a rough [road schedule] in January but we’re coming together and I think we’ll be ready for [the Big 12 Championships],” he said.

An ongoing theme for the wrestlers this season has been their overwhelming slate of injuries.

Juniors Scott Coleman and Passolano began the season injured and sophomores Nakamura and Nate Gallick, as well as freshman Travis Paulson, suffered physical setbacks during the road stretch in January.

“We hope to be back around 80 percent [healthy] for Missouri,” head coach Bobby Douglas said. “In the next two weeks, hopefully we can get back up to the 90th percentile. We need to be up there to be successful at the conference level.”

Passolano said the return from his early-season knee injury has been slow but steady.

“I’ve wrestled well but not to my full potential,” he said. “I haven’t peaked yet. Mentally, I’m feeling pretty good. Physically, I’m still banged up.”

The meet against Missouri will serve as a gut check for the youthful Cyclones. Two-time All-American Zach Roberson is the only senior on the team, and the younger Cyclones will have to step up against a very talented Missouri team.

“Missouri has the best team they’ve ever had,” Douglas said. “They’ve beaten Oklahoma State this year and they’re a very good team. They’re definitely a top-five team.”

Passolano said the team has watched tape and worked hard and should be ready for Missouri.

“The team’s prepared well [for Missouri],” he said. “We had a good week of practice and [Douglas] has been on us. A weekend off for us helped a lot. It [gave us time to] get together to refocus and get our goals again.”

In a close meet between two highly ranked teams, Douglas said no one match will win it.

“Every match is important,” he said. “We need to make sure we don’t give up any bonus points.”