Six ISU wrestlers will try to end their season on a high note next Thursday as they head to Kansas City, Mo., for the 2003 NCAA Wrestling Championships.

Once the six qualified at last weekend’s Big 12 Championships, head coach Bobby Douglas’ goals for the NCAAs were clear.

“We want to get All-Americans,” Douglas said. “We would like to get some national champions, but we’re trying to get All-Americans.” To be an All-American, a wrestler must place in the top eight of his weight class.

Although his team is somewhat inexperienced, Douglas said he still has a lot of confidence in his team.

“Experience is going to be a factor, but they’re all highly motivated and well-conditioned,” Douglas said. “We’re also further along than we have ever been this year and our guys are wrestling well.”

With this tournament being on such a large scale, Douglas wants to make sure his young wrestlers don’t feel pressured.

“They’ve got to look at this as just another tournament and not get caught up in all the hoopla and size of the championships,” Douglas said. “We want our young guys to have a good experience and use this tournament to build for the future.”

Iowa State’s qualifiers for the national tournament include redshirt freshman Grant Nakamura (125), sophomores Nick Passolano (165) and Scott Coleman (heavyweight), junior Zach Roberson (133) and two seniors: Austen Palmer (184) and defending national champion Aaron Holker (141).

Passolano, who qualified for last year’s NCAAs, likes his chances at this year’s tournament. “I had a great Big 12 tournament, so I’ve got everything going for me heading in,” he said.

Passolano wants to keep his focus simple for this tournament. “I’m just approaching this like any other tournament,” he said. “My main focus is to really concentrate on every match and wrestle all seven minutes.”

He also knows this is his last chance for glory this year. “This is the last tournament, this is it,” Passolano said. “I want to be an All-American and be on the top of the [medal] stand at the end.”

Returning All-American Roberson hopes to improve on his seventh-place finish at last year’s championships. “I feel my chances are pretty good,” he said. “I’m hoping to get the fifth seed overall.” Each weight bracket consists of 32 wrestlers.

“Mentally, I’m just trying to keep my mind right and focused on every match,” Roberson said. “I just have to wrestle my best and hopefully I’ll get to the finals.”

Besides his own personal aspirations, Roberson also hopes the team will place well in the tournament. “I’d like to see our team maybe get in the top five or 10,” he said.

Palmer returns to the NCAA Championships for the first time since his 2000 season at Virginia Military Institute.

Although this is his last chance at a top national finish, Palmer said he does not feel pressure. “I think pressure is something you decide to put on yourself, so I try not to look at the pressure side of things,” he said. “There’s no room for negative thoughts right now. This is my last shot at accomplishing the dreams I’ve had my whole life.

“Mentally, I’m just focusing on competing the best I ever have,” Palmer said. “I feel great about the opportunity to go out and show the country what I’ve been working on for the past four or five months.” Along with the rest of the team, Palmer wants his national title too. “At the very least, I want to be an All-American,” Palmer said. “But I feel confident about winning, too. Coach trains us to peak at this time of year.”

Douglas said that preparing for this tournament is all about eliminating mistakes. “At the end of the year, the emphasis is on preparing each individual and eliminating the problems they have,” he said. “Right now we’re sharpening up on fine-tuning, concentration, strategy, and technique.”

Douglas is confident his team is going to give all they have at the NCAA Championships. “Our guys aren’t going to leave anything in the locker room,” he said. “They’re going to put everything out on the mat.”