ISU wrestling coach Kevin Jackson sat down at the press conference after Iowa State’s big loss in the Iowa dual Saturday with a big sigh. This weekend, the frustration behind that sigh can turn into a grin of relief. 

The ISU wrestling team will travel to Las Vegas to wrestle in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. This will be the last of tournament-style play for Iowa State (2-2, 0-0 Big 12) until Winter Break, so the wrestlers are trying to take advantage of it before it’s gone. But it also provides the team a chance at redemption. 

“We’re not going to dwell in the past because there’s a lot of season left,” said 125-pounder Kyle Larson. “We’re excited for the tournament this weekend, and we’re ready to compete hard.”

The Cyclones better be ready because the competition brings high-ranked wrestling teams into town. Some of the teams include No. 18 Minnesota, No. 5 Nebraska, No. 14 Cornell, No. 19 Virginia, No. 20 Ohio and in-state rival No. 25 Northern Iowa. The tournament will have about 40 teams all together. 

The tournament-style play allows Iowa State to see similar competition to that in the Big 12 or NCAA tournament. 

Most of the wrestlers enjoy the competition level at a tournament or invitational, but 141-pound wrestler Dante Rodriguez enjoys a different aspect of wrestling in these tournaments. 

“I enjoy wrestling five or six matches throughout a couple of days because it gives me more practice time,” Rodriguez said. “The more I practice now, the better I’ll be prepared for the important tournaments in March.”

Rodriguez will be competing this weekend at the invitational, but he’ll be doing it with some pressure on him. John Meeks and Rodriguez are still competing for the starting spot for the 141-pound class.

Jackson said after the Iowa match that the Las Vegas Invitational will help him and the coaching staff determine who will be wrestling at 141 from here on out. It will be important since Big 12 wrestling starts in January, and Jackson wants to have a firm lineup to present to these teams so the Cyclones can have consistent success. 

“I believe, right now, that Dante has earned the spot, but John Meeks will have his chance in Midlands,” said ISU wrestling assistant coach Trent Paulson. “If John can place higher [at Midlands], then we’ll have to talk as a coaching staff, but right now, it’s Dante.”

Rodriguez and the rest of the ISU wrestling team will be prepared to wrestle up to six or seven matches throughout the two-day event. The team is ready for some redemption after a tough Iowa loss.  

“We’re always looking at March, and we’re not going to let the Iowa match get to us,” Larson said. “We’re going to come into this week ready to put the work in and head out to Las Vegas and get a title.”