The streak is over. The Cyclone wrestlers have beaten Iowa. But the defining moments between a good and great season are yet to come.

A 3-4 start last season started the team toward an 8-10 dual meet record. Now, Iowa State is off to a 7-0 start, highlighted by wins over Iowa at Hilton Coliseum and Lehigh in Bethlehem, Penn. Both opponents were ranked third before being upset.

“We have some team meetings before practices,” said junior Nick Passolano. “We talk to each other. We tell everyone how we really feel. If someone is slacking, we’re going to be right behind them.”

Passolano said the encouragement might be the difference between last year’s squad and this year’s.

“That’s something we haven’t done that well in the past,” he said. “We haven’t really communicated as well. And this year, we’re doing it.”

Seven of the Cyclones’ 10 starting wrestlers are ranked in the top 10 nationally. Trevor Smith is ranked 17th, but showed Sunday he could compete with Top 10 wrestlers, losing 3-2 by Iowa’s eighth-ranked Ryan Fulsaas. Smith did everything except win the match, dominating the first period when Fulsaas dodged consecutive shots that Smith tried to connect.

Shortly after winter break, the Cyclones will regain heavyweight Scott Coleman, who was injured during the off-season and hasn’t wrestled yet this year. He started ranked in the Top 10, but is no longer ranked in the Top 20 since he hasn’t competed.

Coleman should help balance a Cyclone lineup that is strongest at the middle weights. Senior and two-time All-American Zach Roberson is ranked third, while freshmen Trent and Travis Paulson are both ranked fifth nationally at their respective weights.

Sophomore Grant Nakamura is ranked seventh with an 8-3 record. He has lost twice to second-ranked Luke Eustice of Iowa — once in overtime and once on a controversial takedown call that gave Eustice two points and put the match out of reach.

Passolano has come back from a knee injury and made an immediate impact on the lineup. He is ranked eighth and has started the year 3-0, the most recent victory on Sunday when he pinned Iowa’s Cole Pape to seal the Cyclone victory.

“I felt confidence in my knee,” Passolano said. “I felt confidence in myself. I felt confidence just because my teammates push me at practice.”

Kurt Backes is back to his winning ways after losing to Iowa’s Paul Bradley at the Kaufman-Brand Open. Backes is 4-0 since the loss, winning matches 8-3, 16-5, 20-5 and 4-3. The freshman is currently ranked sixth.

The question mark for the Cyclones is at 174 pounds. Kevin Amesquita and Ames native Nels Matson share time at the spot. The two are a combined 2-9 on the year, with Matson collecting both of the wins.

Iowa State has a difficult tournament schedule to tackle before dual meets begin in January.

Roberson said he doesn’t fear the approaching schedule and he is confident in the team’s ability to be great.

“Every week it seems we’re getting better and better,” he said. “We’re doing great things every week. [Everyone] just keeps getting better. We just keep accomplishing better things and it’s a great feeling.”