Some rebuilding season.    The Iowa Hawkeyes, hit hard by the loss of four NCAA finalists from last year's national runner-up team, were expected by many to struggle by lofty Hawkeye standards this season.    But as the calendar flips to 2002, Iowa appears to be gathering momentum for another strong late-season run.    The Hawkeyes won the Midlands Championships last weekend in Evanston, Ill., crowning champions in sophomore Cliff Moore (133), senior Mike Zadick (149) and freshman Steve Mocco (heavyweight). Defending national champion and top-ranked Minnesota finished third.    The Gophers were competing with a short-handed lineup as starters Ryan Lewis (133), Chad Erikson (141) and Garrett Lowney (heavyweight) did not compete because of injuries or illness, but Iowa was missing regulars Luke Moffitt (141) and Ben Shirk (165).    "People are going to say, 'Well, Minnesota didn't have three guys here.' I can't help that," Iowa coach Jim Zalesky said. "We didn't have two of our guys. We can build off this championship."    Iowa and Minnesota could meet twice over the next month in dual meets. The teams could square off at the National Duals on Jan 19-20 in Columbus, Ohio, before meeting in a Feb. 1 dual at the Target Center in Minneapolis.    The Gophers return to action against Oregon State on Sunday at home. Iowa, ranked fifth, will wrestle No. 2 Oklahoma State on Jan. 11 in Iowa City.    Before battling the Hawkeyes, Oklahoma State is among a number of top teams scheduled to compete in the Lone Star Duals on Saturday in Dallas. Third-ranked Oklahoma also is entered in the meet.    Fourth-ranked Michigan, coming off a strong first half of the season that included the team title at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas, wrestles No. 12 Lehigh at home on Friday before traveling to Cleveland State on Saturday.    Sixth-ranked Iowa State, coming off a second-place finish at the Midlands, is slated to meet No. 10 Northern Iowa on Sunday in Ames. Cyclone seniors Joe Heskett (165) and Cael Sanderson (197) remained undefeated by winning titles at the Midlands.    Sanderson, a three-time NCAA champion, is unbeaten in 137 collegiate matches. He is seeking to become the second wrestler to win four national titles and the first to do it with an unbeaten record. Sanderson beat former Iowa national champion Lee Fullhart 5-3 in the finals of the Midlands.    Seventh-ranked Ohio State will host the Buckeye Duals on Saturday.