Jan. 19, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. - No. 20 Northwestern takes its 7-0 nonconference dual record on the road this weekend, as the Wildcats open up Big Ten competition at Indiana Friday, Jan. 21 before facing Purdue Saturday, Jan. 22.
"We really get the opportunity to see what we're made of now heading into the Big Ten season," Head Coach Tim Cysewski said. "We've been improving every week and need to continue to do so."
After a 41-3 drubbing of Eastern Illinois last weekend, Northwestern has moved up one spot in the national rankings to No. 20. The `Cats also still have five wrestlers ranked in the nation's top-20 at their respective weight classes.
Freshman Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) ranks fourth at 174 lbs. Junior Matt Delguyd (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) bumped up one spot to 14th at 197 lbs. Freshmen Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward's) and Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) both rank 16th at 141 lbs. and 184 lbs., respectively. Junior John Velez (Kings Mills, Ohio/Kings) ranks 17th at 125 lbs.
No. 19 Indiana brings a 6-1 dual record into conference play, most recently going 3-1 at the Virginia Duals. The Hoosiers saw their eight-match winning streak come to an end in the finals of the duals with a 25-9 loss to fifth-ranked Nebraska.
In the semifinals, the Hoosiers scored a 30-14 win over Tennessee-Chattanooga in the afternoon session.
Just like Northwestern, Indiana features five wrestlers ranked in the top-20 in their weight classes. Most notably, heavyweight Pat DeGain is fifth in the nation and also won the heavyweight title at the 42nd Midlands Championships.
Purdue is an even 6-6 in dual competition heading into the Big Ten season. The Boilermakers most recently went 2-1 at the Wendy's Duals in Ashland, Ohio. They began the duals with a 26-6 win over Appalachian State before falling to No. 13 Central Michigan 36-3. In the day's finale, Purdue bested the Golden Flashes of Kent State by a score of 28-13.
Doug Withstandley, a 149-pounder, was the only Boilermaker to post a 3-0 record on the day. Withstandley will most likely face the NU's junior Jimmy Kim (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria Community) or freshman Greg Hagel (Linwood, N.J./Blair Academy). Kim and Hagel are a combined 5-2 in duals this year.
The `Cats return home Saturday, Jan. 29 to face Iowa. The Hawkeyes are currently eighth in the nation.