Two years ago, Iowa State heavyweight Trent Hynek made a surprising run to the championship match at the NCAA tournament. After taking a year off to redshirt, he plans on returning to that match, and it won’t be a surprise this time.

Coming off that successful finish to his junior season, Hynek would’ve been in contention for the national title last season but decided it was best for the team if he took a year off.

“The coaches and I sat down before last year and decided it was the best time to redshirt. It was better judgment for the team to go this year instead of last year,” said Hynek.

Hynek enters his senior season ranked second, and he not only wants to win the national title but he also doesn’t want to go unbeaten.

“I set my goals high. I want to win a national title and be an undefeated national champion. There hasn’t been too many of those so I want to be one,” said Hynek.

Hynek felt the redshirt experience was a positive, as he took full advantage of the time off to improve in all areas. He added 15 pounds to put his weight at 250, up from 235 the last two years, and fared well in open tournaments.

“The redshirt year definitely helped me. I’m a lot heavier and stronger than I have been in the past,” said Hynek. “I also worked on some new moves and now they’re paying off.”

Cyclone wrestling coach Bobby Douglas agrees that it was a wise decision for Hynek to redshirt and likes what he sees from him so far in practice.

“Trent is on track. He’s not the same Trent Hynek that wrestled for us before. He’s a notch or two better,” said Douglas. “I don’t think it was a tough for him to redshirt and I’d say it was a good move. He needed that break.”

Hynek did find drawbacks in the redshirt process. Not being able to compete for the team after putting in a lot of hard work in practice was tough for him.

“It was kind of long, competing and working out everyday in practice but not being able to compete and travel with the team. Ever since I started in sports I’ve never had to sit out so it was tough, but it’ll work out better in the long run for me,” said Hynek.

Hynek recognizes the fact that it’s been a long time since he stepped on to the wrestling mat as a part of the Cyclone lineup. He is confident that he’ll be back in the flow once he gets a couple of matches under his belt.

“In practice so far I feel like I’m up to speed, but out there it’s a whole different ball game in front of a crowd. It’ll be interesting to see how I compete in the first couple of meets, but before long I’ll get the hang of it again,” said Hynek.

As a junior, Hynek entered the national tournament seeded 11th but knocked off three higher seeds to earn a trip to the finals where he was defeated by Stephen Neal of Cal-Bakersfield.

Hynek became the lowest seeded wrestler ever to make the finals. He surprised himself with that finish but doesn’t like to recollect on that tournament because his goal of winning the national title wasn’t accomplished.

“A lot of hard work and desire paid off for me at that tournament. I haven’t looked back because my goal when I came here was to win the national title, and I didn’t get it done. I’m looking ahead,” said Hynek.

Hynek is planning on taking the season one match at a time but may be tempted to look ahead to the Feb. 20 meeting with Northern Iowa. Hynek’s younger brother Paul is a redshirt freshman heavyweight on the Panther squad.

“It’s going to be tough wrestling him. I’m just going to treat him like he’s just another opponent,” said Hynek. “He’s going to work hard to win so I’m going to give it everything I got.”