A group of eight current and former Cyclone wrestlers are headed to the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind., to compete Friday through Sunday for a chance to represent the United States in both the 2003 World Championships and Pan American Games.

Seven of the eight ISU participants are freestyle wrestlers. Qualifiers from the weekend will compete at New York’s Madison Square Garden Sept. 11—14 for the 2003 Freestyle World Championships.

Ken Cook, the only Cyclone competing in Greco-Roman wrestling, will compete at the 2003 Greco-Roman World Championships in Creteil, France, Oct. 2—5, if he qualifies.

Anyone who earns a spot on the U.S. team will compete in August at the 2003 Pan American games in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Chris Bono, a 145.5 pounder, is no stranger to the World Team Trials. The three-time All-American and current ISU assistant coach is the two-time defending World Team Trials champion. On May 13, he beat Bill Zadick of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club 3—1 in overtime to earn his first U.S. National Championship.

“I’m looking forward to competing this weekend in the hopes of making the World Team for the championships in New York,” Bono said.

He is currently the top-ranked competitor in his weight class and earlier this year, won a gold medal at the Cup of Independence in Uzbekistan and a silver medal at the World Cup.

Cael Sanderson, who wrestles at 185 pounds, is, like Bono, the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class. He is the three-time defending champion at the U.S. Freestyle National Championships and will be competing in his first world-level competition this weekend. He was a four-time NCAA champion, four-time All-American and is the only collegiate wrestler to finish his career undefeated, with a record of 159—0. Earlier this year, Sanderson placed second and was awarded a silver medal at the World Cup.

“I’m ready for competition,” Sanderson said. “Obviously, this is a major meet. My goal is to get on the World Team, and you can’t do that without winning this meet.”

Eric Akin, a 121 pounder, afour-time All-American and three-time conference champion, finished second for the Cyclones at the 1994 NCAA Championships.

Matt Azevedo, who also wrestles at 121 pounds, is currently an assistant coach at Cal-Poly, qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2000 and 2001 and finished third at the 2001 Big 12 Championships. He posted a 49—26 record while at Iowa State.

Nate Gallick, a sophomore 132 pounder, finished fourth at the Big 12 Championships at 149 pounds last season and finished with a record of 16—16.

Joe Heskett will wrestle at 163 pounds. He was a four-time All-American as a Cyclone and won Big 12 Championships in 2001 and 2002 and an NCAA Championship in 2002, while wrestling at 165 pounds. He currently coaches with Azevedo as an assistant at Cal-Poly.

Dwight Hinson, a 132 pounder, won 141 matches as a Cyclone, was a four-time All-American and three-time conference champion. He is currently a volunteer coach at Iowa State.

Cook, who will wrestle at 163 pounds, competed for ISU at 174 pounds last season, posting a 5—12 record. His biggest accomplishment last year was beating Minnesota’s Josh McLay 6—4 at the 2003 National Duals, helping Iowa State beat the Gophers 22-18.

ISU wrestling coach Bobby Douglas will also be interested in the competition, he is the U.S. Freestyle World Team head coach.