Jan. 7, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's 13th-ranked wrestling team travels to Charleston, Ill., to face Eastern Illinois at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, in its first dual match of 2006. The Wildcats, who haven't seen dual-match action since Dec. 15, look to improve their dual record to 4-0 this season.
Northwestern is coming off a solid performance at the 43rd Midlands Wrestling Championships.
Sophomore All-American Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) went 5-0 at the tournament, becoming Northwestern's first back-to-back Midlands champion. With his performance, Herbert improved his record to 16-0.
Senior Matt Delguyd (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) also delivered an impressive performance, taking a career-best fourth place.
Sophomore Dustin Fox (Galion, Ohio/Galion) was the third Wildcat to place at the tournament. Fox topped American's Adam Lopiccolo, 14-5, in the consolation bracket to claim a seventh-place finish.
Eastern Illinois has recorded a 1-1 dual-match record this season. The Panthers opened the season with a 36-3 loss to Indiana. Junior Kenny Robertson was the only Panther to record a victory in the dual, topping the Hoosiers' Marc Bennett 4-1 at 174 lbs. Robertson, who placed eighth at this season's Midlands, is expected to face the 174-pound Midlands champion Herbert.
EIU followed its performance against Indiana by edging Gardner Webb, 24-19. The Panthers recorded wins in five of the 10 weight classes, including four-consecutive wins from 174 through 285 lbs.
Besides Robertson, the Panthers have received solid performances this season from Jeff Tharp at 149 lbs. and Daniel Perez at 285 lbs. Tharp has compiled a 12-9 record this season, while Perez is 11-9.
In their last meeting on January 15, 2005, Northwestern rolled past the Panthers 41-3.