After finishing the regular season 7-5 record (3-5 in the Big Ten), the Illinois wrestling team will take its No. 8 national ranking into Minneapolis on Friday to compete in the NWCA National Duals.

The duals will feature eight teams: Illinois, Oklahoma State, Iowa, Cornell, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia Tech and Ohio State, all of which are ranked in the top 10 in the country. Illinois will be thrown right into the fire Friday as it opens competition against No. 1 Oklahoma State.

With the Big Ten holding five of the top-10 spots in the national rankings this year, the Illini have become familiar with wrestling against the best programs in the nation. Illinois will still be without two-time All-American at 141 pounds B.J. Futrell.

“For us, I’m relieved more than anything that we get to wrestle somebody different even though it’s Oklahoma State,” head coach Jim Heffernan said. “We have an unbelievable opportunity to go up there and do something great but more than anything I’m glad we’re not wrestling another Big Ten team, especially in the first round.”

One of the key matchups for the Illini will be at the 165-pound weight class, as No. 8 Conrad Polz is set to wrestle the Cowboys’ No. 3 Tyler Caldwell. Polz finished the season with a 20-4 overall record and is coming off a 2-0 victory against No. 23 Pierce Harger of Northwestern.

After two weeks without competition, Polz said he is looking forward to getting back onto the mat to compete against a competitive Oklahoma State team.

“I think I can beat him (Caldwell). I plan on winning,” Polz said. “We’re walking into a weekend where if we beat Oklahoma State and we keep wrestling, we’re going to have someone good too.”

Another compelling matchup this weekend will be between the Illini’s No. 8 Jordan Blanton and Oklahoma State’s No. 2 Chris Perry, the younger brother of Illinois associate head coach Mark Perry.

The two wrestlers faced each other on three different occasions last year with all three bouts ending in decision victories for Perry.

Blanton said he is looking forward to the challenge and does not see wrestling his coach’s brother different than wrestling anyone else.

“I just see him (Perry) as a guy who is trying to take what I want,” Blanton said. “I don’t feel any extra added pressure, I just plan on going out and wrestling to dominate.”

After defeating Northwestern’s No. 9 Lee Munster in his last Big Ten dual of the season, Blanton said he’s had his best-ever weekend of training as far as getting the most out of his workouts and having to dig deep and find ways to get excited.

To win the NWCA championship, the Illini will need to beat three of the top-four teams in the country. More importantly, it is an opportunity for the Illini to gain even more experience against the top programs in the nation before the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Championships.

“We haven’t been consistent enough,” Heffernan said. “We need to make sure our guys are focused on where they’re good and are able to wrestle their style. Our shape is great right now and our mental health is pretty good.”

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @yaboybernie11.