Feb. 14, 2008
Wrestling Notes (at Purdue/vs. Illinois) 
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Fresh off a road victory over Michigan State last weekend, the 12th-ranked Wildcats will battle Purdue and No. 9 Illinois in a crucial weekend of conference action. The Wildcats will take on the Boilermakers at 6 p.m. CT Friday in West Lafayette before welcoming instate rival Illinois to Welsh-Ryan Arena at 2 p.m. Sunday for Alumni and Senior Day.
"We worked hard to establish momentum after our Michigan State victory and we will need to win two more Big Ten matches this weekend," head coach Tim Cysewski said. "We will not allow our team to have a letdown at this point of the season."
On Sunday, Northwestern will welcome back its wrestling alums and honor the 2008 Senior Class. Nick Hayes, Ryan Lang, Dustin Fox, Mike Tamillow and Adil Kolovic will be wrestling their last dual meet at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The class, arguably one of the most successful in Northwestern history, contains four All-Americans, three Midlands champions, two Big Ten champions and a combined nine NCAA qualifiers. Fox is the nation's top-ranked heavyweight, Tamillow is No. 2 at 197 lbs., Lang is No. 6 at 149 lbs. and Hayes is No. 12 at 174.
Scouting The Boilermakers
Purdue plays host to the Wildcats after an upset victory against Indiana and a tough loss to Minnesota. Purdue is currently one spot ahead of Northwestern in the Big Ten Standings and boasts two ranked wrestlers with No. 14 Jake Patacsil at 149 lbs. and No. 17 Nick Corpe at 174. NU took the last meeting, 31-13, last year at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Scouting The Fighting Illini
Illinois comes into Welsh-Ryan Arena after three consecutive Big Ten victories. Illinois is ranked in the top-20 nationally in seven of the 10 weight classes. Mike Poeta leads the way as the second-ranked 157-pounder.
Last Time Out...
The Wildcats got their first Big Ten dual win of the season against the Michigan State Spartans to snap a three-dual losing skid. The 'Cats jumped out to an early lead, with a pin to start the dual at 149 lbs. from Lang. The Spartans tried to answer the early pin, but NU stifled the come back attempt with major decision victories from Hayes, Fox, Brandon Precin and James Kohlberg, filling in for the injured Keith Sulzer. The six victories are the most in a Big Ten dual for the Wildcats this season.
For complete game notes, click the .pdf link above.