With its healthiest squad in weeks, conference championship seedings on the line and two individuals approaching milestones, the ISU wrestling team returns to the mat Thursday night well prepared.

“We prepared the same this week [as we have all season],” sophomore Grant Nakamura said. “We just turned it up a notch and have been more intense.”

The Cyclones face No. 2 Nebraska at Hilton Coliseum in a dual that could have a huge impact on the seedings at the Big 12 Championship, to be held March 6 at Hilton Coliseum.

“We’ve been working really hard,” freshman Trent Paulson said. “Every win is important and we prepared well this week.”

Head coach Bobby Douglas said his team is ready for an upset over the Cornhuskers.

“We’ve had two very good days of practice,” Douglas said. “The team’s in great spirits. They’re ready to get after Nebraska.”

Nakamura will have a tough match when he faces Jason Powell, the nation’s top-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds. Nakamura lost to Powell in last year’s dual, 7-3.

“Personally, [this meet] is really big,” Nakamura said. “I have the number one guy, and I’m sure I’ll face him again at the [Big 12 Championship]. I’ve studied him a lot. He has a vicious cradle and almost pinned me with it last year. I have to watch out for it.”

Douglas said Nakamura has done a good job preparing himself for his opponent.

“He’s had a good week,” Douglas said. “He knows what he has to do and he knows what he’s up against. He knows this is a key to get him to nationals and I think if he gets there, he’s an All-American.”

Thursday’s dual was originally scheduled for Feb. 5 but was postponed due to poor weather conditions.

“At first, I thought [the postponement] threw us off schedule,” Nakamura said.

“It ended up helping us because we got to know our opponent a little better. They wrestled last week, so we got to study them a little more.”

The fourth-ranked Cyclones match up well with the Huskers. Both teams have nine of their 10 wrestlers ranked in the top 20 — 174 pounds is the only exception for both squads.

Both sides have six wrestlers ranked in the top 10 nationally. The Cyclones are led by No. 2 Nate Gallick, No. 3 Zach Roberson, No. 4 Trent Paulson, No. 7 Travis Paulson, No. 8 Nick Passolano and No. 10 Kurt Backes.

Roberson, a two-time All-American, can win his 100th career match when he faces off against No. 10 Matt Keller. Roberson would become only the 28th Cyclone to reach the century mark since 1970.

“[Roberson] always works hard,” Douglas said. “He’s gradually increasing his tempo every week, and I think he’ll turn in a great performance this week.”

A team victory would be the 400th of Douglas’ career. That accomplishment would be another to add to a long list for the 31-year veteran.

Douglas is Arizona State’s all-time leader in victories and led them to a national title in 1988. He holds a .711 winning percentage over his career. He has coached 21 All-Americans, 16 conference champions and five national champions during his tenure at Iowa State.

“Four hundred wins is just a tribute to the great wrestlers I’ve coached,” he said.