On the Iowa State wrestling team, there are 37 wrestlers. Of which, only seven are upperclassman and only two are seniors. Dane Pestano is one of those seniors and he figures to leave his mark in his final season at Iowa State.

Pestano hails from Waimanalo, Hawaii. When he was faced with the decision of choosing a college closer to Hawaii on the West Coast or come to Iowa State, the choice was a no-brainer.

“[There] is such a rich history here. Why wouldn’t you want to come here?” Pestano said.

The Iowa State wrestling team has won eight NCAA championships, the last being in 1987, along with being graced with the likes of legendary wrestlers Dan Gable and Cael Sanderson, to name a couple.

The one negative factor that the native Hawaiian underestimated while admiring the history of the program and his future at Iowa State was the cold weather.

“I didn’t really think about the weather,” Pestano said while cracking a laugh.

“I should have been thinking about the weather because my official visit was in December… and it was like five degrees outside. I don’t know what I was thinking. I thought it was going to be like that for a day or something.”

In his first season as a Cyclone, Pestano redshirted and wrestled unattached and finished with a 7-6 record. In his second season, he competed in only two tournaments, finishing 6-3.

In the 2015-16 season, Pestano truly broke out, wrestling at 184 pounds. Not only did Pestano finish with a 24-15 record to go along with winning Iowa State’s “Most Improved” award, but he also qualified for the NCAA Championship.

After Pestano’s successful campaign the past season at 184 pounds, he attempted to drop down two weight classes to 165 pounds. The weight cut is even more impressive considering Pestano wrestled at 215 pounds his senior year of high school.

The weight cut to 165 pounds proved unsuccessful compared to the previous season as Pestano finished with a record of 7-7.

“In the beginning [the weight cut] wasn’t bad, I had everything under control and then after a while the weight just started fluctuating higher every week,” Pestano said.

The fluctuating weight created a situation where Pestano struggled to make weight and if he did make weight it affected his body to the point where it negatively affected his performance.

This season, Pestano will be returning to 184 pounds. Pestano said he feels healthier while also being able to eat and remain close to his weight.

As an upperclassman, Pestano prefers to lead by example and show the younger athletes what it takes to compete. Associate head coach Mike Zadick noted while Pestano is not outspoken, he works hard every day.

Amongst the people who experience that hard work is freshman 174-pounder Marcus Coleman, one of the athletes Pestano competes with in drills.

“I know when I have Pestano as a partner, that it is going to be a dogfight,” Coleman said. “He’s going to push me to my limits.”

Coleman is no pushover, being the No. 78 overall recruit in his class and a three-time high school state champion at Ames High School.

“He is probably the best guy around my weight in the room,” Coleman added.

Of the 10 weight classes, only two weights are devoid of competition for the top spot. One spot belongs to 141-pounder Kanen Storr who is ranked 13th nationally according to FloWrestling. The other spot belongs to Pestano.

Pestano’s effort and skill are not in question as he hopes to compete at a high level this upcoming season.

“The goal is to get back on the podium, make it back to the ‘big show’ and show what I’m capable of this year,” Pestano said.

Belief in the ability of Pestano extends well beyond himself and echoes amongst the coaching staff.

“I have a very high expectation [for Pestano] and it’s not because it’s unattainable by any means… I don’t really have a goal or an accolade at the end of the season that I put on him,” Zadick said.

Zadick believes that if Pestano has the expectation to be a champion then that is what the staff will help him achieve.

When asked if Zadick was referring to a Big 12 Championship berth for Pestano, Zadick said:

“I’m talking about [an] everything championship; an NCAA championship.”