It’s no surprise that the rivalry between the Hawkeye and Cyclone wrestling teams has reached its current height; it’s had many years to grow.

And in the last 58 meetings, Iowa has topped Iowa State in 42 of the matches, lost fourteen and tied only twice.

Perhaps it is this losing record that is the catalyst for the Cyclones’ desire to take the Hawks by storm this weekend.

“This team has heart,” Coach Bobby Douglas said. He added that the Cyclones’ heartfelt determination will help their cause in the matches have no clear favorite.

“Anything can happen,” he said.

But he also recognized that his team, which has strong individuals but does not always fare well in dual meets, has to make a lot happen in order to defeat Iowa.

“We would have to have our greatest performance ever,” Douglas said.

And that is something he said he hopes his team won’t have until March. However, he believes the match is “winnable” if ISU can come up with a few unexpected victories.

This year, a new face will be across the mat from Douglas, as Jim Zalesky, replaces former head Hawk Dan Gable.

Since Douglas arrived five years ago, he has been building a legacy program on a seven-year plan. Not wanting to give Iowa any “bulletin board material,” he said he wishes his former rival Gable could see the Cyclones’ scenario unfold.

“And we are about to unfold,” Douglas said.

Hoping to help ISU succeed are Cody Sanderson and Dwight Hinson. These two men wrestle first and hope to set the stage for cardinal and gold in the dual meet.

Douglas said the first matches are critical because they set the tempo for the rest of the contests.

Sanderson and Dwight agreed that they feel some pressure to get the meet’s momentum rolling early on so that the wrestlers who follow have something to build on.

Neither of the men are native Iowans, but both realize the high-level competition between the two universities.

Sanderson, from Utah, said, “At first I didn’t understand, but it only took watching one dual meet to understand what it’s like.”

Sanderson, who lost his Hawkeye match last year to eventual national champion Jessie Whitmer, said he has been preparing for the meet physically and mentally. Watching tapes to alleviate past mistakes is one way Sanderson has been readying himself for the contest.

Hinson, a three-time All-American from Ohio, is familiar with the rivalry because of his experience. His record against Hawkeye grapplers stands at 3-2 over the last four years.

Since this is his senior year, he said he is going to use his experience on the mat to go out there and do his best.

“To beat a team like this would be a big highlight in a person’s career,” Hinson said. Hinson defeated the national champion last weekend in Las Vegas and feels ready to take on Iowa.

The coaches expect Hinson to help lead the team this weekend.

“This a big match,” said assistant coach Chris Bono. Everybody dreams of about beating Iowa. It means a lot.”

The Cyclones set out to achieve this dream this Sunday afternoon at 1p.m. in Hilton.