As one of the few returning wrestlers from last year’s squad, sophomore Nick Passolano is looking to improve on an impressive freshman season last year, a season that saw him become an NCAA qualifier.

This season, the sky’s the limit for this up-and-coming Cyclone star.

“I was disappointed that I didn’t make All-American last year, so that’s something I’m shooting for this year,” Passolano said. “Everyone’s goal is to be an NCAA champion.”

Passolano, a high school national champion at 160 pounds coming out of New Lenox, Ill., chose Iowa State over a number of schools because of its storied tradition and ability to turn out All-Americans.

“I liked the coaching staff, the deep tradition here at Iowa State and I wanted go somewhere special,” said Passolano, who red-shirted his initial season at Iowa State, and wrestled unattached.

Passolano is making the most of his opportunities as a Cyclone, garnering a No. 16 ranking in the 165-pound class, and a 4-3 overall record.

Head coach Bobby Douglas realizes that in order for this year’s Cyclone squad to be successful, Passolano has to step up.

“We need a guy like Passolano to step up and score a lot of points this year,” Douglas said. “If that happens, and he wrestles like he can, then he’ll be a major factor on this team.”

A level head and a business-like attitude is what Passolano brings to this young ISU squad, things the inexperienced team needs. The team lost five of its 10 starters from last season, including NCAA champions Cael Sanderson and Joe Heskett. Passolano looked up to those guys last year on his way to New York and realizes the younger wrestlers will do the same to him.

“I know I may be looked at as a leader this season and that’s fine by me,” Passolano said. “We all try to help each other, and learn from each other.”

With many of last season’s All-Americans returning in the 165-pound weight class, Passolano will need to wrestle at a high level all year if he wants to contend for an NCAA berth.

And even though the sophomore isn’t going to be satisfied with anything less than an NCAA national championship at 165, he’s taking the season one match at a time.

“I don’t pay any attention to who I may wrestle next week or at the end of the season — I just concentrate on this week’s match, and move on from there,” Passolano said. “Hopefully good things will happen.”

Passolano and the Cyclones will be in action again this Sunday against the second-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City. Looking for his sixth win on the young season, Passolano will be one of the few Cyclones favored as he takes on Jason D’Agata of Iowa who sports a 2-5 record.

Bonus points from this match would definitely be beneficial as Iowa State looks to notch a win against the Hawkeyes for the first time in 25 years.