CEDAR FALLS - A lasting image of the 2006 Cliff Keen NWCA National Duals was Minnesota's Cole Konrad pinning Oklahoma State's Steve Mocco to clinch the title for the Golden Gophers.

Who knows what defining moment will arise when the 2007 edition of the Duals kicks off today at the UNI-Dome? However, rest assured there will be one.

While Missouri enters the meet as the consensus No. 1-ranked team, many believe the tournament is as wide open as ever.

"I think a lot of people are saying that," agreed Iowa coach Tom Brands, whose Hawkeyes are seeded fifth.

"I don't make predictions, because you would've never predicted what would've happened last year," said UNI head coach Brad Penrith. "You wouldn't have called that in a million years. It's anybody's tournament to take. It's about being consistent throughout your lineup and keeping consistent for four matches.

"The team who is best able to do that will win it, because I don't think there is a favorite."

There may not be a favorite, but there is a top seed - Missouri. The Tigers enter the meet 4-0 in duals, while nine of their 10 wrestlers are ranked in the latest NWCA/Intermat Top 20 poll. Paced by top-ranked Ben Askren at 174 pounds and Max Askren at 197, the Tigers have claimed the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and Southern Scuffle team titles. Minnesota, Hofstra and Oklahoma State round out the top four seeds.

Action gets under way with preliminary rounds in five divisions - Division I, II, III, NAIA and junior college - at 9 a.m. Saturday. Quarterfinals will be held at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., while semifinals and placing matches in all divisions are Sunday. All session tickets are $30.

"There is only so much you can control," said Brands. "If you look at if from your own perspective, you just want to take care of business.

"For our team, I think consistency is one of things we really need to see out of our guys. We've got to be able to string a series of performances together."

Defending champion Minnesota has not lost a dual since its Nov. 25 defeat to Hofstra, 18-17, at the Northeast Duals in Albany, N.Y. The Golden Gophers are 7-1, including a 21-15 win over then-No. 1 Oklahoma State on Dec. 6.

Hofstra coach Tom Shifflet believes his team could be the first champ from east of the Mississippi River since Penn State captured the title in 1993.

In Division II, two-time defending champion Nebraska-Omaha is only seeded fourth, while the top seed is Central Oklahoma, who won the initial Division II Duals title in 2002.

Nebraska-Kearney, led by Midlands heavyweight champion Tervel Dlagnev, is seeded second, and Minnesota State-Mankato is the third seed.

Division III has long been a dominated by Augsburg College and Wartburg College, and it appears it won't be any different this year. Augsburg is the top seed and boasts three top-ranked individuals - Jafier Vanier at 133, Jeremy Anderson at 157 and Marcus LeVesseur at 165. The Auggies own two NWCA titles, from 2002 and 2005.

Defending champ Wartburg comes in banged up but got some help at the break with the transfer of Jason Knipp from Iowa State. Knipp was the Cyclones' starter at 149 last year, but the Don Bosco of Gilbertville grad is expected to man 165 for the Knights, a position that has been decimated by injuries.

Wartburg also lost 149-pound national runner-up Jacob Naig for the season to a knee injury, and he will be replaced by another Don Bosco product, Adam Weber.

Still, Wartburg head coach Jim Miller is excited about being in wrestling's spotlight.

"Obviously, the stage doesn't get much bigger for a dual tournament," Miller said. "It is the ultimate stage. It's a nerve-wracking weekend. You have to be ready to go. It's one of those deals where you try to be at your best. I don't think you can do that every weekend, but this is one of those where you try to be."

Nobody in Division III can close a meet like the Knights can with No. 2 Romeo Djoumessi at 184, No. 1 T.J. Miller at 197 and No. 1 Blake Gillis, who was third at the Midlands, at heavyweight.

Third-seeded Luther College, like Wartburg, won't be at full strength.

"We are getting closer to having our best 10 guys in the lineup, but I think it probably won't be until closer to the end of the month," said Norse head coach Dave Mitchell.

Heidelberg College is seeded fourth, while Wisconsin-La Crosse, ranked third in the nation, is not entered.

In all, there are seven different divisions of competition that will play out on 18 different mats over two days.

NWCA executive director Mike Moyer is pumped.

"We think this is something the wrestling community can look at and just say, 'Wow,'" said Moyer. "The quality of wrestling in each dual, not just each session, will be simply amazing.

"Anytime you have the top programs in your division coming together to crown a champion, it makes the competition just that much better."

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