AMES - To name every memorable moment in the history of the Iowa-Iowa State wrestling rivalry would be a staggering feat.

But one season after leading Iowa State to the Big 12 championship and a national runner-up finish, Cyclone head coach Cael Sanderson is asked about one thing more than anything else: Did Dan Gable direct an unflattering hand gesture at him during Iowa's 24-6 victory over Iowa State last season.

"No, but I've gotten the arm," laughed Sanderson on Monday at his weekly press conference, referring to famous showdown between the coaching staffs during last year's meet.

More than 13,000 showed up for the first meeting between Sanderson and Iowa coach Tom Brands last year at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This year, a soldout crowd of 9,000 is expected today at Hilton Coliseum.

This rivalry, says Sanderson, is why he's a college wrestling coach.

"Obviously, that match got heated last year, but that is just a good sign of a strong rivalry," said Sanderson. "The last dual, and the way things went down … that threw some fuel onto the fire. This is by far the biggest dual of the year for us.

"We won the Big 12 championship and finished second in the nation last year, but I've heard more about this dual than everything else combined. That just shows how important this dual is for the state of Iowa."

A week ago, Iowa State defeated top-ranked Minnesota, 18-13, snapping the Golden Gophers' 23-match win streak and vaulting the Cyclones to their first No. 1 ranking since December 1999.

Five Cyclone wrestlers are bringing in spotless records - Nick Fanthorpe at 133 pounds, Cyler Sanderson at 157, Jon Reader at 165, Jake Varner at 184 and David Zabriskie at heavyweight.

Iowa State is 6-0 in dual meets this year, outscoring opponents 185-41 in those six victories.

Iowa is also undefeated at 4-0 and also features five undefeated wrestlers - Charlie Falck at 125, Joe Slaton at 133, Jay Borschel at 174, Phillip Keddy at 184 and Matt Fields at heavyweight.

The Hawkeyes, however, will be without defending 165-pound national champion Mark Perry, who will be serving a one-match suspension after drawing a flagrant misconduct penalty two weeks ago at the St. Edward Duals.

"We will find out about our depth and preparation," said Brands. "We will find out on Sunday how good we are, and that is why we are looking for to this … looking forward to a big battle, and it will be a battle that is important to a lot of people in the state of Iowa."

Iowa has won the last two of the 72 previous meetings between the rivals and holds a 21-11-1 advantage in Ames.

In last season's match, the Hawkeyes won eight of the 10 matches, including six by two points or fewer in front of the fifth-largest wrestling crowd (13,732) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena history.

"That is one of the reasons why I'm here, one of the reasons I'm coaching college wrestling," said Sanderson said of the expected crowd of 9,000. "The Iowa-Iowa State rivalry … that is what it is all about, and that is why we work so hard to wrestle in front of 9,000 fans. That is what … is fun."

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com

MATCH TRACKER

No. 4 Iowa (4-0) vs. No. 1 Iowa State (6-0)

When: Today, 2 p.m.

Where: Hilton Coliseum, Ames

TV: Iowa Public Television (Tim Johnson and Jim Gibbons)

Tickets: Sold out (9,000).

Last year The Hawkeyes won 24-6 in Iowa City.

Probable lineups:

Iowa

125 - Charlie Falck (4-0), jr.; 133 - Joe Slaton (4-0), so.; 141 - Dan LeClere (2-2), so. or Alex Tsirtsis (0-0), sr.; 149 - Brent Metcalf (3-1), so.; 157 - Ryan Morningstar (3-1), so.; 165 - Jake Kerr (3-2), fr.; 174 - Chad Beatty (5-3), so. or Jay Borschel (4-0), so.; 184 - Philip Keddy (4-0), so.; or Rick Loera (5-3), so.; 197 - Philip Keddy (4-0), so.; or Rick Loera (5-3), so.; Hwt. - Matt Fields (4-0), sr.

Iowa State

125 - Ben Hanisch (6-4), sr. or Mark Kist (7-1), fr.; 133 - Nick Fanthorpe (10-0), so.; 141 - Nick Gallick (8-3), so.; 149 - Mitch Mueller (9-2), so.; 157 - Cyler Sanderson (9-0), so.; 165 - Jon Reader (10-0), fr.; 174 - Aaron Scott (2-2), sr. or Chris Pursel (5-3), so.; 184 - Jake Varner (5-0), so.; 197 - David Bertolino (8-1), sr.; Hwt. - David Zabriskie (8-0), so.