Before the 2008-09 collegiate wrestling campaign the Iowa Hawkeyes were shoe-ins to repeat as national champions. After all, the Hawks returned a powerful lineup that included national champion Brent Metcalf (149) and All-Americans Charlie Falck (125), Joey Slaton (133), Jay Borschel (174) and Phillip Keddy (184).

But after three days of competition at the 2009 NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Mo., the difference between first and second was 4 ½ points. Big Ten rival Ohio State, with three finalists, finished second for a second straight season with Big 12 Conference schools Iowa State and Nebraska in third and fourth, respectively.

The East Coast had a solid showing with Cornell, Edinboro and Maryland among the Top 10.

The prognosis for 2009-10?

Iowa will again be the favorite and attempt to win the program's 23^rd team championship. Head coach Tom Brands' squad could start as many as eight seniors with Metcalf leading a pack of six returning All-Americans.

How tough will Iowa be? 2008 NCAA finalist Joey Slaton may be No. 2 on the depth chart for a second straight season as sophomore Montell Marion may be the man at 141 this season.

Iowa State returns eight starters led by 2009 NCAA champion and U.S. World Team member Jake Varner (197). The Cyclones will be under first-year coach Kevin Jackson, a former World champion in freestyle and ISU alum who replaces Cael Sanderson, now the coach at Penn State.

Ohio State returns 2008 NCAA champion and 2009 finalist Mike Pucillo (184) and 2009 NCAA runner-up Reece Humphrey, who will move to 141 pounds this season. Tom Ryan's Buckeyes also have three-time All-American Lance Palmer at 149 pounds.

Rob Koll's Cornell squad is also capable of making a run with 2009 NCAA champion Troy Nickerson (125) and the uber-talented Mack Lewnes (174).

Minnesota's Golden Gophers won the 2007 NCAA title but dropped to 14^th in 2009. The Gophers should be back in the mix with three-time All-American Jayson Ness (133) and 2006 NCAA champion Dustin Schlatter (165). Also entering the lineup will be super redshirt-freshman Mario Mason (149) and 2008 Olympian Jake Deitchler (157).

After winning the 149-pound title as a true freshman, Schlatter battled injuries the next two seasons. He redshirted last season but eventually made the U.S. World freestyle squad and competed at the 2009 World Championships along with Varner.

Kerry McCoy worked some magic at Maryland in his first season. His Terrapins are ranked in the Top 10 to start the season and return three All-Americans.

Returning NCAA champion Jordan Burroughs (157) leads Nebraska, who joins Missouri, Central Michigan, Boise State, Edinboro and Oklahoma State as squads looking to crack the Top 8.

Oklahoma State, winners of 34 NCAA titles, finished 16^th in 2009. 285-pounder Jared Rosholt, a senior, is the only returning All-American for head coach John Smith's squad. However, a pair of transfers - Albert White (149) and Mike Benefiel (174) - and redshirt-freshman Jordan Oliver (133) plus Russian Alan Gelogaev (197) give the Cowboys plenty of optimism.

Without question, the race for the team title next March in Omaha, Neb., will be a tight one.