Saturday, March 4
Bloomington, IN
6 PM
Indiana University
vs
Session II
Hoosiers Earn Three NCAA Bids in Second Session
3/5/2017 12:11:00 AM | Wrestling
Danishek joins travel party with a win tomorrow
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Saturday's Session II action of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships continued on the modified floor of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The hometown fans witnessed three Hoosiers—Elijah Oliver, Devin Skatzka, and Nate Jackson—earn bids to the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championships later this month in St. Louis.
Leading the way were Oliver and Jackson, who competed tonight in the first Big Ten semifinal matches of their careers. Their reaching the semifinals secured the national tickets, even though both fell to the wrong side of the results against top-10 wrestlers.
Oliver (15-7) began the session in the 125 lbs. semifinals against Tim Lambert (Nebraska), a rematch from last year's Big Ten Championships quarterfinal round. Lambert pushed the pace and had a late lead before securing his 5:59 win by fall, sending Oliver to the consolation semifinals.
A similar fate befell upon Jackson (31-3), who entered his third match of the season with No. 3 Sammy Brooks (Iowa) in the 184 lbs. semifinals. It was Jackson who struck first a minute into the match, but Brooks took the lead with an escape and a takedown with 45 seconds to go in the first. Jackson broke free to tie the bout after three minutes.
Brooks took the title slot in the second period. Jackson rode Brooks for the first two minutes before the Hawkeye broke out. Brooks shot into a single, forcing Jackson to take a risk in order to break the hold. The maneuver put Jackson face-up on the mat, and Brooks adjusted to gain a quadrant of crucial back points. Brooks held off Jackson's valiant final effort for the 13-6 decision.
The day didn't end with the semifinals, as one Hoosier locked his NCAA trip while another set the stage for an intriguing Session III match. First, Devin Skatzka's (174) efforts in the consolation bracket led to his first-ever NCAA qualification. Skatzka (24-11) rebounded from his airtight decision loss to top-seeded, third-ranked Bo Jordan (Ohio State) with a victory in the wrestle-backs.
The matchup was his second of the season against Chris Pfarr (Minnesota), but this time Pfarr took Skatzka to the wire. Skatzka had a speedy start to the bout, gaining a 4-2 lead after two minutes and using a counterattack for a 7-2 lead midway through the second period. Pfarr bounced back in the third period, eventually coming within one point before Skatzka sealed a 10-9 decision. With an eighth-place finish as his lowest possible finish, and nine allocation spots given to the Big Ten at that weight, Skatzka is headed to St. Louis.
Another underclassman has an opportunity to join the fold on Sunday evening for his never-quit efforts in the second session. Jake Danishek (157) fell out of the championship and lost his consolation bout to #19 John Van Brill (Rutgers), 3-0, but the sophomore's consolation bye allowed another chance in the de facto ninth-place semifinal.
In that match, his last chance to keep the NCAA hopes alive, Danishek delivered with a thorough decision over Justin Alexander (Maryland). Danishek (19-13) poured time onto the riding clock for a 7-1 decision victory, scoring two takedowns in the first period. With that win, Danishek needs just one more win tomorrow afternoon to grab the coveted ninth allocation spot at 157 lbs.
Up Next: The Final Day of the 2017 Big Ten Wrestling Championships
Sunday, March 5 • Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall • Bloomington, Ind.
12:00 p.m. – Session III (consolation semifinals, 7th-place, 9th-place)
3:00 p.m. – Session IV (Big Ten Championships, 3rd-place, 5th-place)
Much of the Big Ten's tournament field hangs in the balance of tomorrow's results in the final two sessions on Sunday afternoon. The day begins for Indiana with Jake Danishek's ninth-place bout against Jake Ryan (Ohio State). The wrestlers, both native to Ohio, will battle for the Big Ten's final spot at that weight.
After that, Jackson and Oliver will take the mat in the consolation semifinals. Jackson's semifinals quadrant is loaded with talent, including #2 Bo Nickal (Penn State), #5 TJ Dudley (Nebraska), and #11 Emery Parker (Illinois). His day starts with Dudley in a rematch of the #Midlands54 semifinals.
Oliver will face #7 Ethan Lizak for the first time in his career at the start of Session III, as Oliver missed their potential January meeting due to injury. Should he win, a match between Travis Piotrowski (Illinois) and #16 Conor Youtsey (Michigan) will determine the other third-place combatant.
Ninth-Place Match
157: Jake Danishek (Indiana) vs. Jake Ryan (Ohio State)
Consolation Semifinals
125: Elijah Oliver (Indiana) vs. Ethan Lizak (Minnesota)
184: Nate Jackson (Indiana) vs. TJ Dudley (Nebraska)
Leading the way were Oliver and Jackson, who competed tonight in the first Big Ten semifinal matches of their careers. Their reaching the semifinals secured the national tickets, even though both fell to the wrong side of the results against top-10 wrestlers.
Oliver (15-7) began the session in the 125 lbs. semifinals against Tim Lambert (Nebraska), a rematch from last year's Big Ten Championships quarterfinal round. Lambert pushed the pace and had a late lead before securing his 5:59 win by fall, sending Oliver to the consolation semifinals.
A similar fate befell upon Jackson (31-3), who entered his third match of the season with No. 3 Sammy Brooks (Iowa) in the 184 lbs. semifinals. It was Jackson who struck first a minute into the match, but Brooks took the lead with an escape and a takedown with 45 seconds to go in the first. Jackson broke free to tie the bout after three minutes.
Brooks took the title slot in the second period. Jackson rode Brooks for the first two minutes before the Hawkeye broke out. Brooks shot into a single, forcing Jackson to take a risk in order to break the hold. The maneuver put Jackson face-up on the mat, and Brooks adjusted to gain a quadrant of crucial back points. Brooks held off Jackson's valiant final effort for the 13-6 decision.
The day didn't end with the semifinals, as one Hoosier locked his NCAA trip while another set the stage for an intriguing Session III match. First, Devin Skatzka's (174) efforts in the consolation bracket led to his first-ever NCAA qualification. Skatzka (24-11) rebounded from his airtight decision loss to top-seeded, third-ranked Bo Jordan (Ohio State) with a victory in the wrestle-backs.
The matchup was his second of the season against Chris Pfarr (Minnesota), but this time Pfarr took Skatzka to the wire. Skatzka had a speedy start to the bout, gaining a 4-2 lead after two minutes and using a counterattack for a 7-2 lead midway through the second period. Pfarr bounced back in the third period, eventually coming within one point before Skatzka sealed a 10-9 decision. With an eighth-place finish as his lowest possible finish, and nine allocation spots given to the Big Ten at that weight, Skatzka is headed to St. Louis.
Another underclassman has an opportunity to join the fold on Sunday evening for his never-quit efforts in the second session. Jake Danishek (157) fell out of the championship and lost his consolation bout to #19 John Van Brill (Rutgers), 3-0, but the sophomore's consolation bye allowed another chance in the de facto ninth-place semifinal.
In that match, his last chance to keep the NCAA hopes alive, Danishek delivered with a thorough decision over Justin Alexander (Maryland). Danishek (19-13) poured time onto the riding clock for a 7-1 decision victory, scoring two takedowns in the first period. With that win, Danishek needs just one more win tomorrow afternoon to grab the coveted ninth allocation spot at 157 lbs.
Up Next: The Final Day of the 2017 Big Ten Wrestling Championships
Sunday, March 5 • Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall • Bloomington, Ind.
12:00 p.m. – Session III (consolation semifinals, 7th-place, 9th-place)
3:00 p.m. – Session IV (Big Ten Championships, 3rd-place, 5th-place)
Much of the Big Ten's tournament field hangs in the balance of tomorrow's results in the final two sessions on Sunday afternoon. The day begins for Indiana with Jake Danishek's ninth-place bout against Jake Ryan (Ohio State). The wrestlers, both native to Ohio, will battle for the Big Ten's final spot at that weight.
After that, Jackson and Oliver will take the mat in the consolation semifinals. Jackson's semifinals quadrant is loaded with talent, including #2 Bo Nickal (Penn State), #5 TJ Dudley (Nebraska), and #11 Emery Parker (Illinois). His day starts with Dudley in a rematch of the #Midlands54 semifinals.
Oliver will face #7 Ethan Lizak for the first time in his career at the start of Session III, as Oliver missed their potential January meeting due to injury. Should he win, a match between Travis Piotrowski (Illinois) and #16 Conor Youtsey (Michigan) will determine the other third-place combatant.
Ninth-Place Match
157: Jake Danishek (Indiana) vs. Jake Ryan (Ohio State)
Consolation Semifinals
125: Elijah Oliver (Indiana) vs. Ethan Lizak (Minnesota)
184: Nate Jackson (Indiana) vs. TJ Dudley (Nebraska)
Players Mentioned
FB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (9/15/25)
Monday, September 15
FB: Under The Hood - Week 3 (Indiana State)
Thursday, September 11
FB: Elijah Sarratt Media Availability (9/9/25)
Tuesday, September 09
FB: Roman Hemby Media Availability (9/9/25)
Tuesday, September 09