It’s been nearly a month since Iowa State wrestling has competed in a dual meet. On Friday, the Cyclones will be back in action after the extended break, facing the University of Northern Colorado Bears.

In Iowa State’s last outing, the Cyclones opened their Big 12 season against Wyoming. After a 24-14 loss to Wyoming, coach Kevin Dresser and Iowa State had some kinks to work out over the break.

“We could be 3-0 just as easy as we can be 0-3, but you know what, good teams figure out how to win and not-so-good teams figure out how to lose,” Dresser said after the Wyoming dual. “We’re a not-so-good team right now.”

The Wyoming dual proved one thing for Iowa State: the Cyclones have talent, but Iowa State has to build consistency.

If the Cyclones want to get in the win column against Northern Colorado, Iowa State needs help from some key weights.

125-pounds

The Cyclones began the season thin at the 125 spot; Iowa State has only gotten thinner as the season wears on.

In November, redshirt freshman 125-pounder Daniel Vega elected to leave the Cyclone program. During Iowa State’s break in December, news broke that redshirt junior 125-pounder Jonathan Marmolejo was no longer on Iowa State’s roster.

With Vega and Marmolejo’s departures, the Cyclones are left with walk-on Jakob Allison. Allison started in Iowa State’s dual against Wyoming, and the sophomore was one of the few bright spots, picking up a pin.

“Honestly, it’s amazing [to be on the team],” Allison said after the Wyoming dual. “A year ago I never thought this is where I’d be at and the fact that I’m here is just amazing.”

Allison has showed his scrappiness this season. The walk-on established himself as a tough rider, and the Cyclones need him to grind out some team points in Big 12 meets, including Northern Colorado.

133-pounds

Following Allison is redshirt freshman Ian Parker. Parker has been praised as one of the hardest workers for Iowa State, but the Michigan native has gone 1-2 in dual matches this season.

Early on against Rider, Parker was pinned, hampering Iowa State’s chances of snagging a team-win.

“I love Ian Parker’s effort and his importance of wrestling, but you can’t make those wrestling mistakes and get thrown to your back,” Dresser said after the Rider dual.

Parker’s weight is in an important position for Iowa State, too. If Parker can grab a win against Northern Colorado, the No. 19 141-pound (according to Intermat) redshirt freshman Kanen Storr would follow.

After Storr, No. 20 (according to Intermat) 149-pounder redshirt freshman Jarrett Degen would be next in line.

If Parker can spark it, the Cyclones could rattle off three-straight wins.

197-pounds

Redshirt freshman Sam Colbray will have his hands full against Northern Colorado’s sophomore Jacob Seely. Seely is currently ranked No. 18 by Intermat.

Seely has been well-tested early on in Northern Colorado’s season. Seely’s lost four matches, including matches against Oklahoma State’s No. 4 Preston Weigel, CSU Bakersfield’s No. 14 Matt Williams and Stanford’s No. 16 Nathan Traxler.

Colbray has flashed some of his talent this season, but the 197-pounder is still 1-2 in duals this season.

Against Seely, Colbray doesn’t necessarily need to win, but if the redshirt freshman can minimize the damage to the team scores by avoiding a pin or technical fall, it’ll help the Cyclones chances at winning their first dual meet this season.