GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence wrestling team will get a chance to compete against some of the top wrestlers in the nation when they take on Iowa State. in a dual on Sunday. The dual against the Cyclones (5-1), who are ranked #11 in the NCAA Division I National Rankings, will begin at 4:00 p.m. in Belgrade, Mont.

The dual came about as a way to honor Jarrett Degen, who is one of the top wrestlers for the Cyclones program. Degen, who graduated from Belgrade High School, is a senior for the Cyclones. The team wanted to give him a chance to compete in his home state during his final season.

"Jarrett is a young man that all of us in Montana are proud of," head coach Steve Komac said. "It worked out well for all of us. We appreciate the Degen family for leading the charge and putting this together and we appreciate Iowa State for giving us the opportunity to compete against them."

The event will mark the first competition of the new year for the Argos (3-3). After a sluggish start, the team responded valiantly, showcasing a handful of wrestlers who had top finishes at several national tournaments. Their success was seen at the Battle of the Rockies, which the team won.

"The break was good for us," Komac said. "We had to make some pretty large adjustments in terms of our style and our pace. We covered a lot of ground in the first semester. I think we're on track for a good second half of the season."

The team knows that the intensity will pick up in the second semester. The squad is looking at the dual with the Cyclones as a way to prepare for some bigger tournaments throughout the rest of the season, starting with the Missouri Valley Invite next weekend. 

"We won't see anybody any tougher for the rest of the year," Komac said. "We only have a handful of events left in the season. They're all going to be tough. We're going to see a lot of ranked opponents in those competitions. This dual with Iowa State is going to help us with those. As long as we give our best effort up and down the lineup that's all that we'll be waiting for."