For more than a decade, this rivalry has been a mismatch.

The ISU gymnastics team will look for its 19th consecutive victory over Iowa Friday at Hilton Coliseum. The Hawkeyes haven’t defeated the Cyclones since March 16, 1990.

But this season, the meet might pose its most even matchup in recent history. Iowa State, which features only four upperclassmen and just two seniors, is 1-3 on the young season and Iowa is ranked 19th nationally.

“I’ve heard that they’re really strong and that they’ve been getting better each year,” said freshman Erin Dethloff, who was 5 years old the last time Iowa State lost to Iowa in gymnastics.

Dethloff has paced the Cyclones so far, winning the all-around against Michigan State two weeks ago with a 39.40 — the highest all-around score by a freshman in ISU history.

In just her first collegiate appearance, Dethloff won the floor exercise against Missouri on Jan. 12.

But Dethloff has no experience with the rivalry. She said her fellow gymnasts have already been teaching her the importance of the meet.

“Our seniors are trying to get us motivated,” Dethloff said. “They’re trying to influence me as much as possible about how big the rivalry is.”

Dethloff’s roommate and fellow freshman, Laura-Kay Powell, has two friends on Iowa’s squad that she has competed against in the past. Powell grew up near Ottawa, Canada, and Iowa’s Tiffany Kwan and Michelle Conway are both from the Toronto area.

“It’s going to be hard [going against them],” Powell said. “We competed against each other back home in Canada. It’s going to be different. We’re friends, but it’s hard because our schools are rivals.”

Head coach K.J. Kindler, who is 4-0 against Iowa in her two seasons at the helm, said she enjoys the battles with the Hawkeyes.

“The fans get pumped up for them,” Kindler said. Kindler said the veterans on her team need to step up in order for the Cyclones to win.

“We have a big winning streak against the Hawkeyes, but it’s just going to be whoever hits their meet,” Kindler said.

One of Kindler’s stars so far has been Dethloff. The Cyclones finished third at the Denver triangular last weekend, but Dethloff took second place in the all-around competition.

“She did a phenomenal job for us [last] weekend,” Kindler said. “You could just see it in her in the warm-ups; she was ready to go.”

Kindler hopes her strong performances continue into Friday’s meet. She knows they’ll need more than just one special performance to upend the Hawkeyes, who will be out to end the streak.

“They’re a good team,” Kindler said. “They’ve gotten better every year. Our goal is to go out and hit our routines, and whatever happens from there will happen.”

If Iowa State wins, it will get the chance to make it 20 straight wins over the intrastate rival on March 13 when the two teams meet in Iowa City.