ISU wrestling head coach Bobby Douglas said Cyclone fans will see some new faces when the team begins the season against Minnesota State—Mankato and Boston University at Hilton Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m.

Three redshirt freshmen are expected to be in the starting lineup, and Douglas said he hopes they will be ready for action and can be competitive.

“[Kurt Backes, Trent Paulson, and Travis Paulson] are talented freshmen,” Douglas said. “If we’re going to do well, they’re going to have to do well.”

Traditionally, Douglas said, he doesn’t like to have freshman wrestlers in the lineup. He said there are special occasions where freshman starters are needed, but he would rather let them develop in the program before they are exposed to national competition.

“We hate to put a lot of pressure on the young people, but this is going to have to be the year that they step up if we’re going to do what we plan on doing,” he said.

Trent Paulson, the Cyclones’ 149-pounder, said he’s ready to step into a starting role to make a difference for the team.

“I feel like I’m ready,” he said. “Douglas has put us through the program. [I] redshirted last year and got some college experience.”

The Cyclones will start the season ranked sixth in the country. Trent said the team has the talent to live up to the lofty ranking, even after finishing 19th last year and losing All-American Aaron Holker.

“We have some good talent coming in,” he said. “I’m sure that had something to do [with the ranking.]”

Trent said the team had been able to bond well together and the closeness helped the freshmen progress more quickly than many had expected.

Trent’s twin brother Travis will also start for the Cyclones. A three-time Iowa high school state champion at Council Bluffs Lewis Central, Travis has set his goal high for the season.

“National championship,” he said. “[Both for the] team and [as an] individual. I’m always going to shoot my goals high and I’m going to be disappointed with anything else.”

Travis said the practice tempo is beginning to intensify and he is getting more and more in shape.

“I’m finally toward where I’m starting to get in shape,” he said. “I feel that I can go hard for seven minutes. My combinations are coming together. Mainly, it feels like everything is coming together.”

Travis said being at Iowa State has allowed him to learn from the best.

“Bobby Douglas, I think, is the best technique coach in the nation, maybe the world right now,” he said. “Every day he has something for me to work on. He’s always picking me apart and making me the best wrestler I can be.”

Douglas said critiquing the Paulsons can be difficult sometimes, though.

“When I chew on one of them, he tells me he’s the other one, so I’ve given up,” he said.

The Cyclones also plan to send redshirt freshman Kurt Backes to the mat in their first meet. With Austen Palmer gone, Backes is the only Cyclone listed at 184 pounds.

Backes said he is ready to wrestle.

“The season is going to start in two weeks,” he said. “I’m ready to go [but] I’m a little nervous.”

When asked what his goals were for his first season, Backes sounded much like teammate Travis Paulson.

“NCAA champ,” he said. “You have to shoot high. I’ve been wrestling for 14 years. I didn’t train to just make it here. I trained to win.”