The ISU wrestling team lost several key wrestlers last year, but that isn’t hindering the team’s outlook towards success.

Captains Cael Sanderson, Joe Heskett, Zach Thompson, and Cole Sanderson are determined to lead the 2000-2001 Cyclone Wrestling team to a national championship.

“Our seniors must step it up this year in order for us to be successful,” ISU head wrestling coach Bobby Douglas said. “Three of our captains are returning All-Americans. They need to be the leaders for our young wrestlers. Our goal will always be to get to the top, and these men represent the building blocks in achieving our goal.”

Junior all-American Cael Sanderson will return for the Cyclones at 184 pounds. Cael Sanderson said he is looking forward to the upcoming season with much anticipation.

“There’s nothing worse than losing. It’s part of the game to take it to the next level, and I think this team can do that this season,” Cael Sanderson said. “We have to execute it that much better to get it to work for us.”

The NCAA has named Cael Sanderson a pre-season athletic and academic all-American candidate.

Douglas said the way Cael Sanderson is working in practice, he will do extremely well this upcoming season.

“Cael is training harder than he’s ever trained before. His unblemished record speaks for itself,” Douglas said.

“I’m always thinking about my next match or next tournament,” Cael Sanderson said. “I am aiming at winning, not just individually but also as a team. Everyone has high expectations for us, and we expect a lot out of each other.”

Joining Cael Sanderson as captains are juniors Heskett and Thompson. Both return this season after receiving All-American recognition last year.

“Joe is determined to win a national championship this season,” Douglas said. “Anything else for him will not be good enough.”

Heskett returns this season to wrestle at 165 pounds. He has placed third and second in the NCAA championships his first two years at Iowa State. He wants to show the young members of the team that this season could be very exciting for the Cyclones.

“The last two years have been painful, but this team can win,” Heskett said. “I think we have come along as a team already. We need to take care of each other while at the same time taking care of ourselves.”

Wrestling at 197 pounds, captain Zach Thompson also has his mind set on winning a national championship. He is prepared to fit the new role he will take this season.

“Last season, the championships were a new experience for me,” Thompson said. “But this year, I have more experience that I can hand down to the younger guys. They will need to fill in the gaps, but they have the potential. I enjoy leading by example, and hopefully they will follow.”

Senior co-captain Cole Sanderson is ready to move into his last season at Iowa State. Cole Sanderson looks to close out his career by achieving all-American honors.

Douglas thinks this goal is in reach for Cole Sanderson and realizes that his position on the team is a very important one.

“Cole is just two or three steps away from becoming an all-American,” Douglas said. “This season, he will need to perform at his best for us. He is a very determined hard worker, and that hard work will and is paying off for him.”

“I think I’ll try to build up the young kids,” Cole Sanderson said. “Everyone has a bad match and the best thing that I can do is keep them positive. The young guys have an excellent amount of potential. They have the talent to win.”

The spots that need to be filled for the Cyclones this season are left by two-time national runner-up Cody Sanderson and two-time heavyweight all-American Trent Hynek. These positions are open and waiting for the incoming wrestlers to occupy.

“We are a bit inexperienced, but our incredible amount of experience counteracts that,” Douglas said. “Our seniors are going to be looked to a lot this year but that is nothing they can’t handle. Every wrestler is experienced in his own way. The only thing they need to do is work hard and wrestle. I know they can do that.”