Feb. 21, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Last call for Jason Erwinski (Tinley Park, Ill./Mt. Carmel) and John Giacche (Flemington, N.J./Blair Academy). The seniors say goodbye to Welsh-Ryan Arena this weekend against ninth-ranked Ohio State and second-ranked Iowa, just another day at the office for those competing in the Big Ten.
Erwinski enters the weekend with a 19-11 record, including 4-2 in conference play. He owns a 50-45 career mark. Giacche is 19-13 in 2003 and is 76-57 for his career. Both will have their hands full this weekend.
Giacche will look for redemption against OSU's Jeff Ratliff on Friday at 7 p.m. The two met twice earlier this season, with each wrestler winning one match each. Ratliff prevailed when they last met, winning 6-3 at the 40th Midlands. Erwinski faces yet another highly ranked 165 pounder in No. 6 John Clark. Clark leads the Buckeyes (10-7, 2-4 Big Ten) with a 30-4 record, including a 14-1 mark in dual play and a 4-0 clip in the Big Ten.
Then the Hawkeyes (15-3, 5-1) come to town at 2 p.m. Sunday for Senior Day. Two Iowa wrestlers currently hold the No. 1 ranking: Jessman Smith at 184 pounds and Steve Mocco at heavyweight. Mocco is 26-0 and Smith is 27-1.
Giacche will likely meet 141-pounder Luke Moffit, who has taken the first two matches between the wrestlers. Their last meeting came at the 2002 NCAA Championships, where Moffit prevailed 8-3. Erwinksi will face either Jason D'Agata or Adam Fellers at 165 pounds. Fellers got the nod in Iowa's last dual against Purdue, when he was edged, 12-10, by Oscar Santiago.
Ohio State leads the series 36-27, including a 33-3 win in the last meeting held Feb. 4, 2001 in Columbus. Iowa owns a 58-6-1 series advantage, including last season's 40-6 win in Iowa City.