Las Vegas may not have had odds on the Las Vegas Invitational, but if they had, Iowa State would have raked in the winnings.

Ranked fifth in the Amateur Wrestling News preseason wrestling poll, the Cyclones captured the invitational title over the second, third and fourth-ranked teams in the country.

ISU scored 126 points, outdistancing second-ranked Big Eight rival Nebraska by 34 points. Third-rated Oklahoma State finished seventh with 84.5 points, and fourth-ranked Arizona State finished 10th with 64 points.

“I had a pretty good feeling going into Las Vegas,” said Bobby Douglas, ISU wrestling coach. “Primarily because the guys were so confident.

“I didn’t realize we would do as well as we did.”

Jason Nurre, Dwight Hinson, Derek Mountsier and Chris Bono helped the Cyclone cause by placing first in their respective weight classes: Nurre at 118 pounds, Hinson at 126 pounds, Mountsier at 142 pounds and Bono at 150 pounds.

“[Bono’s] winning a lot of matches just on determination alone,” Douglas said. “He’s on schedule to win a national title.”

Hinson is another ISU wrestler hunting a national title. Last year he finished third at nationals and this year he is ranked third.

“Hinson just picked up where he left off last year,” Douglas said. “Our greatest concern with him is academics, which he’s attacking.”

Other ISU place-winners included fourth-place finisher Clody Tate at 134 pounds and 158-pounder Barry Weldon wrapping up eighth place.

“They wrestled hard, even the guys who didn’t do as well, and made smart decisions,” Douglas said.

Mountsier fits into the “smart decision” category. Mountsier won his second individual title of the year, capturing the Cyclone Open championships as well.

“I’m pleased with my performance but not satisfied, I made some mistakes; even in the semis when I pinned my guy I didn’t feel like I pushed myself enough on my feet, not like you need to win a national championship,” Mountsier said. “My attitude has changed 100 percent from last year in every phase of the sport.”

And that attitude has shown to be a positive experience for both wrestler and coach alike.

“He’s just wrestling with a lot of intensity and intelligence,” Douglas said. “There’s nothing you can criticize him about.”

One wrestler in particular stood out to Douglas, ISU’s 118-pounder. Nurre, a senior from Dyersville, was seeded eighth at the tournament and beat Tim Derland of Purdue in the championship bout.

“Nurre got my vote for Big Eight Wrestler-of-the Week,” Douglas said. “He did a really outstanding job. He’s an example of how hard work prevails.”

As a team, Douglas said he’s happy with the way his squad is wrestling. “We’re wrestling extremely well. We’re on schedule and just easing into the season,” he said.

Douglas added that “anyone who saw the Cyclones wrestle this weekend would be proud if them.”

With the Big Eight season starting Friday when they take on Oklahoma State and Northern Illinois, Douglas and his squad are looking for a lot of fan support. The triangular starts at 4 p.m. when Northern Illinois hits the mat with the Cowboys coming into Hilton at 8 p.m.