The Missouri wrestling team has a lot to be positive about.

After a 33-6 win against Northern Iowa at Hearnes Center on Saturday, the Tigers are 18-0 with only two more away matches left until the conclusion of the regular season. Missouri is primed to win a third consecutive conference title and to make a run at a national championship.

Until recently, they’ve flown under the radar, with Minnesota and Iowa State holding the No. 1 and 2 spots until Feb. 2. Now, with a No. 3 ranking, the Tigers are finally on the radar.

The team also has 18 wins, surpassing a school record for victories in a single season.

Coach Brian Smith brushed off the school record as no big deal.

“I don’t really care,” he said. “It’s nice, but we’re not focused on that right now.”

Smith also raved about his team’s consistency.

“The thing I love most about this team is their consistency,” Smith said. “They show up and they compete hard. We’ve had some dips, but we continue to show more and more energy. This is the point of the season where you need to show more energy.”

Smith’s team is not new to success, but a national team title has eluded the Tigers thus far. Yet this year’s team is one of the deepest Smith has ever assembled. Eight of the 10 starters are ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight classes.

“Everyone works so hard, so to see it pay off on the mat is awesome,” senior Drake Houdashelt said. “Our team is very deep and it’s exciting to know that you can trust everyone to go out there and do their job, is pretty special.”

Houdashelt is the top-ranked wrestler at 149 pounds.

Senior Alan Waters was No. 1 at 125 pounds for most of the season but recently dropped to No. 2. Waters said that he feels like he is on the right track, though.

“I’ve been wrestling more like myself lately,” Waters said. “I keep improving. We’ve got six more weeks in the season; hopefully I’ll make my way back to the top.”

But Waters, a team player, stays focused on the bigger picture.

“We’re all focused on that team title,” he said.

If the Tigers were to win the team title this year, it would be only the third national championship in Mizzou Athletics history. Only the track and field team (1965) and the baseball team (1954) have ever won it all.

“The only thing I’m focused on is the team title,” Waters said.

Sophomore J’den Cox said that the team title is the last thing on his mind, though.

“That’s the way it has to be,” Cox said. “(A) team title won’t come until the end of the year. We’re grateful for where we’re at, but I think the reason our minds aren’t on the team title is because we know we aren’t where we want to be yet.”

Waters has other thoughts, though.

“Do I think this is the year? Definitely. Yeah, I think this is the year,” he said with a smile.