By DAN McCOOL
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

The University of Iowa wrestling team has a day of firsts in opening its dual meet schedule against Arizona State tonight in Tempe, Ariz.

This is the first time the fifth-ranked Hawkeyes have opened their dual-meet schedule in Arizona. The meet against the 10th-ranked Sun Devils, 3-1 and coached by former Iowa State assistant Thom Ortiz, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Iowa time.

Northern Iowa and Iowa State are idle until Dec. 2, when Northern Iowa will be host to Minnesota, and Iowa State is host to Iowa.

Iowa has participated in two tournaments and 157-pounder Joe Johnston and 184-pounder Paul Bradley participated in the NWCA All-Star meet in Stillwater, Okla., on Monday. Tonight’s meet will provide the first taste of what’s to come this season for the Hawkeyes, coach Jim Zalesky said.

“It’s the first time in a 7-minute match, first time making weight an hour before wrestling,” Zalesky said. “Let’s see if they are ready for them right now. Sometimes those things take a while to get used to.”

Zalesky said most weights have been settled for now, except heavyweight.

There is a possibility sophomore Matt Fields will be withheld from competition. The Hawkeyes have junior Ryan Fuller, the main varsity competitor two seasons ago, and Fields’ backup last season.

Zalesky said the decision on which wrestler will face Arizona State all-America Cain Velasquez, a former Iowa Central Community College wrestler, will come at match time.

“We don’t know 100 percent what’s going to go down (at heavyweight) yet,” Zalesky said.

Arizona State’s lineup could include 2005 all-Americans Brian Stith at 157, Ryan Bader at 197 and Velasquez.