For the Iowa State wrestling team, spring break wasn’t all about sandy beaches and relaxation.

They started their “vacation” with a trip to Columbia, Mo., where they battled against four conference opponents for the Big 12 title.

Nine Cyclones earned the right to go to the NCAA tournament in Cedar Falls this Thursday, which is the most competitors ISU will have sent since the 1991-92 season.

In the Big 12, the top three finishers in each weight class, along with six additional wrestlers chosen by a coaches’ vote, qualify for NCAAs.

At 118 pounds, Iowa State’s Cody Sanderson went up against Nebraska’s Todd Beckerman for third place and an automatic ticket to the NCAAs.

Sanderson taught the Husker a lesson in takedowns and coasted to the 11-3 major decision.

Dwight Hinson had a rematch in the championship at 126 pounds with his rival Eric Guerrero of Oklahoma State.

Hinson, ranked second in the nation, has met first-ranked Guerrero twice this season, and they had each won one match.

They kept it close throughout the battle for first, but Hinson’s second-round takedown cemented his victory, 3-2, tipping the balance in his favor.

“That was a very tough match for us. It always is,” said Head Wrestling Coach Bobby Douglas. “Guerrero is a great wrestler; he’s young, hungry. Hinson was fortunate to win the match.”

David Maldonado kept up the Cyclones’ good fortune.

He came back from a fall in the first round to pin his opponent, Nebraska’s Jose DeAnda, at 6:34.

He nabbed third place and his first trip to the national tournament.

Chris Bono, too, will return to the NCAA competition to defend his national title with another Big 12 championship under his belt. He spanked Oklahoma’s Rodney Jones 13-5 for the major decision and first place.

At 158 pounds, ISU’s John DeLeon came away with fourth place and a wild card ticket to the national tournament.

Bart Horton will also be making the trip north.

He gave top-ranked Mark Branch of Oklahoma State a huge scare in their second-round match before Branch squeaked out the 6-4 decision. Oklahoma State Head Coach John Smith said that Horton’s battle with Branch was a sort of wake-up call for his athlete.

“I don’t think Branch was expecting it,” Smith said. “You expect an athlete to wade through competition; Branch has not been threatened all year long and found himself in a match.

Later in the day, Horton rolled over Oklahoma’s Mike Roller in the consolation finals to boast a third-place finish and a spot in the national tournament.

Iowa State suffered a disappointment at 177 pounds.

Top-ranked Barry Weldon of ISU lost a heartbreaker in overtime to fourth-ranked Mark Smith of OSU, 5-3. Weldon walked away with second place and will still compete at NCAAs.

Another Cyclone won second-place honors at 190 pounds. Matt Mulvihill fell to defending national champion John Kading of Oklahoma in a 9-3 decision, but Mulvihill secured an invitation to the national tournament nonetheless.

The Cyclone heavyweight, Trent Hynek, will be going to Cedar Falls as well.

He completely dominated Thomas Patterson of Missouri and kept the Tiger from scoring a single point. The 7-0 win gave Hynek third place.

The impressive showing of the individual Cyclones propelled the team to a second-place finish in the Big 12 with 62 points, behind only Oklahoma State, ranked first in the nation, with 83 points.

Bono shared Outstanding Wrestler honors with OSU’s Smith.

“We won some close matches that could’ve gone either way, and we lost some matches that could’ve gone either way,” Douglas said.

“Either way, I’m pleased with the way we wrestled.”

Nine Cyclone grapplers will compete Thursday in Cedar Falls at the NCAA championship tournament.