COLUMBIA, Mo. - College wrestling coaches will tell you that conference tournaments are only NCAA Tournament qualifiers.

The mission is to qualify 10 wrestlers.

Second-ranked Iowa State did just that, pushing 10 through to the 2007 NCAA Championships in Auburn Hills, Mich., March 15-17. But first-year coach Cael Sanderson also threw in Iowa State's first league crown since 1982 - the Cyclones shared the title with Oklahoma State in 1987.

"Our coaching staff has done a great job with us," said ISU senior Travis Paulson, a silver medalist at 165 pounds. "(Coach Sanderson) has done a great job of getting us ready for this time of year. All of our coaches have been great.

"He's an icon of the sport, so when he says something you tend to listen."

Paulson was one of five finalists for ISU. Travis' twin brother Trent won the title at 157 pounds with a dominating 11-1 win over Nebraska's Chris Oliver, but Cyler Sanderson (149) and Jake Varner (184) each lost finals bouts to keep the team race anything but secured.

In fact, when Missouri's Ben Askren, who won his 82nd straight match; Raymond Jordan, who edged Varner; and Max Askren each won titles it pushed the host Tigers past Oklahoma State into second in the three-team race.

Oklahoma State, seeking a fifth straight league title and ninth in the 11-year history of the Big 12, got titles from Coleman Scott (25-3), Nathan Morgan (16-3) and Johny Hendricks (30-0) to stay in striking distance of Iowa State. 

The team title was finally determined in the tournament's final bout, a 285-pounder between OSU's Jared Rosholt and ISU's David Zabriskie.

The ISU rookie (24-6) beat Rosholt for the third time this season and ISU totaled 66.5 points. A first-period takedown was the difference in a 3-2 match.

Missouri (61.5) was runner-up with OSU (61) in third. Had Rosholt won, the Cowboys would be conference champions.

"We didn't do enough," said OSU head coach John Smith. "We were in position to win the tournament, and that says something about the last two weeks of training.

"We were a little lethargic at times, but we had some guys find ways to win matches and others who didn't. This time of year, you just have to find a way."

"We tried to downplay it a little, but (Zabriskie) knew the situation," said Sanderson. "We have a solid team and we have four seniors who did a great job for us (Saturday) and six freshmen who are getting valuable experience.

"We'll take this and go get ready for the national tournament."

Oklahoma crowned two champions, seniors Sam Hazewinkel (21-0) and Matt Storniolo (16-1). Hazewinkel won his third league crown in dominating fashion, pinning OSU's Tyler Shinn in the semifinals and beating Nebraska's Paul Donahoe, 12-3, in the 125-pound finale. The three-time All-American was named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler. 

ISU won the title with two champions, three runner-ups and two bronze medals. Fourth place finishers Kurt Backes (197), Mitch Mueller (141) and Nik Fanthorpe (125) all earned wild-card picks.

Backes was part of a wild 197-pound bracket that saw him beat OSU's Jared Shelton, lose to Missouri's Max Askren then fall to OU's Joel Flaggert in the third place bout. Flaggert was beaten 17-2 by Nebraska's Craig Brester in the semifinals.

The Sooners got wild-cards for Will Rowe (157) and Josh Weitzel (174). OSU's Newly McSpadden (157) and Missouri's Matt Pell (165) and Josh Wagner (149) rounded out the eight selections for the conference.
Pell lost his third place match to Nebraska rookie Stephen Dwyer, who had an outstanding day. Dwyer whipped OU's Shane Seibert, then took OSU's Johny Hendricks to the wire in the semifinals before losing 8-5.

The Husker came back to beat Pell in overtime to take third and qualify for the NCAAs along with teammate Jordan Burroughs, who majored Wagner in the bronze medal bout.

Oklahoma State, winners of the last four NCAA titles, qualified eight along with Missouri. Nebraska and OU will each send six to Auburn Hills.