The chase for championship honors is expected to be a tight race in Norman, Oklahoma this Saturday.  Though only five teams in the Big 12 Conference field wrestling teams the battles will be contentious for the thirty-six national qualifying spots.  The top three wrestlers will advance at each weight.  From there the coaches of the Big 12 will head to a back room and "vote-it-out" to see what six wrestlers will get to wrestle in Albany for a national title.      Across the board, the Big 12 coaches spoke of the difficulty in making sure that no qualified wrestler was left behind.  "It's scary," stated Jack Spate Head Coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, "There is no doubt from top to bottom the Big 12 is the toughest conference in the country."      Oklahoma State Head Coach, John Smith was not as vocal in the criticism of the allotment of qualifiers given to the Big 12, but still felt that good wrestlers won't get to move on to nationals.  "I think I'm like any other coach in the conference that wants to see qualified wrestlers go to nationals.  This year it will be tough to take a full team out of the Big 12."      A surging Missouri Tigers squad coached by Brian Smith, has put a strain on the number of qualifiers the other four teams can expect to garner.  Missouri has been the perennial cellar-dweller in the conference, but this year the program has turned a corner.  Early in the season Missouri upset the University of Illinois and in December the Tigers followed suit with its first conference victory ever, a win over the University of Nebraska.      "We knew we could be a good team this year if we stayed healthy.  Our wrestlers have demonstrated a deeper commitment to the sport and it is paying off.  There is a quiet confidence in our team members.  We are looking forward to the Big 12's and NCAA's," stated Brian Smith.    Each weight class in the Big 12 offers the potential for All-Americans.  At 125 pounds, last year's Big 12 Champion, Jason Powell, suffered a first match pin at the hands of unseeded Duke wrestler (see picture).  Powell was eliminated in two matches from the National Tournament.      This year the Powell, ranked 8th nationally, will have to battle against difficult opponents in Matt Ridings of Oklahoma and potential top-seed Skylar Holman of Oklahoma State.  Missouri's junior Mark Bader from Creve Couer, Missoui will face Iowa State's Ty Malia in the opening battle of the #4 and #5 seeds.      At 133, Oklahoma State's Johnny Thompson expects to propel himself into the National Tournament with a strong Big 12 performance.  Thompson, an aggressive wrestler with the bonus point potential with his patented "snake" front-headlock will face either the Missouri or Nebraska wrestler for his opening match.  On the opposite side Witt Durden who finished 3rd in the nation last season will face an important opening match with Iowa State's Zach Roberson.      Before the battles on the mat take place at 141 pounds, there will likely be chest pounding in the seeding meeting.  In a scramble weight Iowa State's Aaron Holker has earned All-American status for the now defunct BYU program.  Although Holker is heralded and highly rated he suffered a fall, to Missouri's J.P.Reese.      Reese, a Michigan native, is only a sophomore, but he also owns a win over Oklahoma's Nate Parker.  Reese's win over Holker came out of a front headlock, a move often characterized as the concrete roll.  The edge in votes for the #1 seed seems to be leaning towards the Missouri wrestler.      The seeding on Friday night has the potential to effect the title chase.  Regardless of who is granted the one, two, or three seeds at this weight; when the whistle blows look for the wrestlers to decide the champion.      Jared Frayer a dynamic wrestler at 149 pounds for the Sooners has serious AA potential.  At the National Duals Frayer let a massive eleven-point lead disappear over #1 ranked Mike Zadick of the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Zadick stormed back for the victory.      Coach Spates wants people to know that Frayer was a wrestler dealing with the lingering effects of an illness.  "That was just a tough match to watch after the first period; Jareddidn't have the conditioning he needed.  But I'll tell you that is not the same wrestler you'll see on the mat this weekend.  Jared is ready."      Another wrestler that could impact Frayer and the Sooners chances to upset Oklahoma State's title chase is close to home.  Jack Spates' son Jeremy is a sophomore business major at the University of Missouri.  Even with the weight of a Big 12 Title hanging in the balance Coach Spates will not be coaching against his own son.  "That's just a rule I've had in dealing with this, but it's tough," said Spates.    Billy Maldonado for Iowa State and Jerrod Sanders of Oklahoma State offer the biggest obstacle to Frayer's gold medal hunt.  The Huskers have a late season insertion of Travis Shufelt into their lineup.  Shufelt who suffered an early season elbow injury has returned to the varsity lineup and has tremendous scrambling ability.      One of America's most physical wrestlers will take to the mat for the Huskers at 157 pounds.  Last season's National Runner-up Bryan Snyder, from Easton Pennsylvania will take his skills to Norman.  Snyder's focus is on completing his collegiate resume with a National Title.  With the completion of his career he should achieve the recognition of the best Husker wrestler in history, with the potential of becoming Lincoln's first four-time All-American and owning the school's highest winning percentage.      Last season's final loss to T.J. Williams was a bitter disappointment, but according two second year coach Mark Manning Snyder's focus has been on staying sharp and enjoying his last season in college.  "Bryan has been sharp all year long; there has only been a handful of times where he hasn't scored bonus points.  Right now we are counting his final matches down with him.  We say to him you only got seven matches left-go out there and get it done," answered Manning on coaching his wrestler.      Snyder potentially could see last year's third place finisher in the finals.  Shane Roller, a junior, had a breakthrough National Tournament last season and has gained ground on Snyder in their last meetings.  Sophomore Kenny Burleson from Missouri, Doug Cieleski a transfer to OU from Slippery Rock, and Cyclone wrestler Matt Veach may vie for that critical third place finish.      The 165 pound weight class features two wrestlers that are highly touted nationally.  Joe Heskett, who failed to beat Donny Pritzlaff of Wisconsin in the National Finals will likely battle Tyrone Lewis of Oklahoma State.  Lewis may grab the number one seed and bring to the mat his ability to take opponents down to their back from any position.  While Lewis will be looking to throw, Heskett will be looking to lock up his vise-like cradles.  Joined in the ranks at 165 pounds will Robbie Waller of OU and Tyrone Woodley of Missouri.    The 174-pound class is another loaded division.  In fact a Big 12 Champion will probably receive the #5 seed.  Ty Wilcox of Oklahoma State, in Coach Smith's words, "Is the first #5 seed we've had in a while.  He's lost matches this year that he shouldn't have lost but we are looking for him to compete hard this weekend.  Just because you're the #5 seed doesn't mean you can make it to Nationals."      John Kopinsky, a senior from Missouri, will likely start the tournament as the favorite.  Michael Barger of Oklahoma and Tony Denke, up from 165 pounds earlier this season, will likely have a critical opening match meeting.  They will be joined by Nick Passolano from the Cyclones.      Josh Lambrecht of Oklahoma may be the favorite at 184 pounds.  Travis Pascoe a talented freshman from Nebraska will look to battle with Pat Popolizio of OSU and Dante Stone of Missouri.   Woodley Milford of ISU also looks to perform well this weekend.      The top nod at 197 pounds goes to the seemingly invincible Cael Sanderson.  Sanderson's quest to close-out wrestling perfection begins with his trip to Norman.  John Smith, when asked who could hand Sanderson his first collegia