Indiana University Athletics
HOOSIER WRESTLERS HAVE SOLID SHOWING AT ST. LOUIS OPEN
11/24/1997 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
November 24, 1997
HOOSIER WRESTLERS HAVE SOLID SHOWING AT ST. LOUIS OPEN Indiana Led by Two True Freshman
Bloomington, Ind. - Five Hoosier wrestlers placed in the top four in IU's first tournament of the season in St. Louis this weekend. Indiana had two of the champions in Friday's freshman/sophomore division, while Saturday's open competition saw three Hoosier grapplers place.
True freshmen Brett Becks and Viktor Sveda took first place in the 177 and 190 pound weight classes, respectively. They were joined by senior Jason DeVries (third place @ 190 pounds), Kevin Stanley (third place @158), and James Torres (fourth place @134).
"We had good showings from certain individuals but on the whole, our inexperience showed," Head Coach Duane Goldman said. "We have a lot of ground to cover before March in order to compete nationally at the high level of which we've become accustomed to."
At this point, Goldman expects all but one of the Hoosiers' true freshmen to be redshirted this season. Freshman Brian Smiley will be given the opportunity to challenge junior Matt Deters at 126 in wrestle-offs this week.
The Hoosiers are also looking to replace sophomore Tim Myers who tore his ACL and will be lost for the season. The leading candidates at the moment are senior Eric Pitts and redshirt freshman Gabe Cook, who will also compete in wrestle-offs for the vacant 142 slot.
Indiana will next take to the mat in Las Vegas for the 16th Annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational December 5-6. The Hoosiers will have their hands full as six of the nation's Top Ten teams will be participating. Oklahoma State, Michigan, Nebraska, Arizona State, Iowa State, and Edinboro will all send wrestlers to Las Vegas, as will Big Ten foes Illinois, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin.
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