Feb. 2, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern welcomes its second-consecutive top-10 opponent to Welsh-Ryan Arena this Friday, Feb. 4 when seventh-ranked Minnesota comes to town for a 7 p.m. bout. The Golden Gophers (6-6, 0-2 Big Ten) most recently fell to then-seventh-ranked Michigan 24-19, while the Wildcats (9-1, 2-1) are coming off their huge win over then-eighth-ranked Iowa.
Following the Wildcats' historic victory over the Hawkeyes last Saturday, Northwestern has leapt five spots in the national rankings to 16th.
A number of `Cats have moved up in the individual rankings, as well. Junior John Velez (Kings Mills, Ohio/Kings) jumped to 11th at 125 lbs. after being ranked 14th. Freshman Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St Edwards) vaulted six spots to 11th after beating then-11th-ranked Alex Tsirtsis at 141 lbs. Freshman Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) inched up to third from fourth. And after not being in the top-20 at all, freshman Dustin Fox (Galion, Ohio/Galion) has catapulted to 13th following his victory over then-seventh-ranked Matt Fields.
Freshman Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) and junior Matt Delguyd (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) both stand strong in the rankings of their individual weight classes at 16th and 17th, respectively.
Herbert and Lang remain perfect in dual competition, both with 10-0 marks. The duo are also the only undefeated 'Cats in Big Ten competition, each at 3-0.
Minnesota features six wrestlers in the nation's top-20, as well. Five of those six are in the top-10.
Following Friday's match, Northwestern travels to 17th-ranked Michigan State Sunday, Feb. 6.