Indiana University Athletics
2003-04 Wrestling Preview
10/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Bloomington, Ind. - The 2003-04 wrestling squad will once again be youthful, but with the help of top returnees, Coyte Cooper and Pat DeGain, as well as a slew of sophomores with a year of experience, this year's wrestling team should be able to produce some top wrestlers for each weight class as well as compete among the top teams in the country.
Head coach Duane Goldman will rely heavily on Cooper and DeGain, the only upperclassmen, as both were major contributors to last year's 16-9 season.
"We have some good leaders coming back," said Goldman. "Cooper, being a senior at 141 lbs, has been ranked for the most part throughout his career and has had some success in the national tournament. I know he is looking to become an All-American or better. He has been a great leader for us both on the mat and in the classroom."
"Pat DeGain at 197 has also been to the NCAA Tournament as a freshmen," said Goldman. "Last year he was ranked pretty high until he had a pretty serious ankle injury at the Big Ten tournament and didn't get to go to nationals. Now, in his junior year, he is looking to become an All-American as well."
Last year the Hoosiers had a young group consisting of mostly freshmen. This year they have a young group again, but they are mostly sophomores, so they do have a season under their belt. In that regard, Goldman and the Hoosiers hope to pick it up a notch this year.
"We have high hopes for Joe Dubuque (125), Joel Powers (HWT), Brady Richardson (174), and Nathan McMillan (165)," said Goldman. "All of them are looking for big seasons. In addition, senior Andrew Wolf and Andy Rios (184) are looking to get in lineup. With either of those guys in there we feel pretty confident."
The Hoosiers welcome 12 freshmen to this year's team. Of those newcomers, Brian Dyer is most likely to see varsity competition this season. Dyer, a Naperville, Ill., product is a two-time state champion in the state of Illinois, a four-time state qualifier and a three-time state finalist.
Goldman has a lot to work with during 2003-04 and the team can expect to see some changes throughout.
"We still have a couple question marks at some weights, but we feel pretty confident that if we get our best lineup out there on the mat and keep them healthy that we should have a good season."
Goldman hopes this year's team can stay healthier than they did during the 2002-03 season. Last year the team was plagued with several significant injuries that caused the Hoosiers to be down in numbers.
"Dubuque was having a good year and then didn't get into the Big Ten Tournament because of concussion syndrome, that hurt us. DeGain was the No.2 seed at Big Tens, but hurt his ankle and didn't get to finish the tournament."
The Hoosiers will once again face a tough schedule, especially when it comes to Big Ten conference opponents. The wrestling teams in the Big Ten stand out above all other conferences in the nation and the Hoosiers will work all season on trying to find a spot in the mix.
"It is the best conference there is. There really is not another sport like it, even the other sports that are strong within conference are not even close to wrestling. Virtually every team is ranked in here."
The typical front-runners within the conference will be Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, and Penn State. There will most likely be five teams in the top 10 and several are in the top 25.
"It's a challenge every year to perform at the Big Ten Tournament. It's like a mini nationals, that's why we are hoping to be healthy going into that tournament so we can perform at our best."
"We feel good about our talent for this season; we just need to keep everyone healthy and ready to go," said Goldman. "We are still young team, but we feel good about what they are able to do."
Weight Classes
125
At 125 pounds, Joe Dubuque enters his third season as a Hoosier. In 2002, Dubuque was a redshirt freshman who compiled a 23-5 record despite battling through an injury. Dubuque was also ranked as high as 12th during the season.
133
With a year of experience under his belt, sophomore Nick Spatola will most likely be the top performer in the 133 pound class. Spatola closed the 2002 season with a sixth place finish at the USA Collegiate Championships. Spatola, who wrestled unattached throughout the 2002 season and battled an injury early on, will look to maintain his health and compete among the best. Goldman expects newcomer Brian Dyer to make an easy tranistion into college wrestling, and be a big part of the Hoosiers' squad at 133 pounds.
141
Perhaps the Hoosiers' most prolific leader on the mat, senior Coyte Cooper, returns to the Hoosier lineup at 141 pounds.
Cooper, who went 38-5 overall, 24-1 in dual meets and 6-1 in the Big Ten in 2002-03, has a slew of accomplishments coming into the 2003-04 season. Not only has Cooper been an NCAA qualifier for the past two years, he also won his first collegiate title of his career by taking top honors at the Northern Iowa open last season and went on an 18-match winning streak.
149
The 149 pound spot will be a battle between sophomore Matt Cooper and Matt McIntire. Cooper racked up five pins and four major decisions during the 2002 season. He also compiled a 17-22 record. McIntire, who battled an injury for part of the season, wrestled unattached last season for the Hoosiers and went 12-5. He closed the season out with a sixth-place finish at the USA Collegiate Championships.
157
Between Cooper and McIntire, whoever doesn't wrestle at 149 pounds will compete at 157 pounds. The Hoosiers may also see action from sophomore Tim Falls who wrestled unattached in 2002 and went 2-4. Isaac Knable, who wrestled at 157 pounds last season is expected to redshirt.
165
A transfer from University of Nebraska, Nathan McMillian will most likely be eligible second semester and should add an immediate impact to the 165 pound class. "While McMillan is new to the team, he did go through the growing pains of being a freshman already when he was at Nebraska," said Coach Goldman. "I know he is looking for a good season."
174
Sophomore Brady Richardson, who finished the 2002 season 18-11 overall with a 6-6 dual meet record, will hold down the 174- pound spot for the upcoming season. Richardson went an even 3-3 in Big Ten matches, including an upset-win over Minnesota's No. 20 Josh McLay.
184
Just like the toss up at the 149 pound spot, the 184 pound spot will be similar. Andy Rios and Andy Wolf will challenge each other for this position. Rios enters his junior campaign after compiling a 15-6 record for 2002 and finishing sixth at the Nothern Iowa Open early in the season. Wolf, a fifth year senior, went 14-2 overall and 7-6 in dual meets last season. "With either of these guys in here we feel pretty confident," said Goldman.
197
At 197 pounds, Pat DeGain has made steady improvment in his tenure as a Hoosier. DeGain exploded in the beginning of the season, as he earned an individual title at the Missouri Open, followed that with a third-place finish at the Nothern Iowa Open, and then went on an 18-match winning streak. He compiled a remarkable 29-7 record, including a 3-3 record in the extremely difficult Big Ten conference. Coach Goldman hopes DeGain can stay healthy and will look to him to be one of leaders on the mat for the 2003-04 season.
HWT
Heavyweight returnee Joel Powers , one of four true freshmen on the squad last year, finished the season with a 20-17 mark overall and a 12-11 record in dual meets.
Head coach Duane Goldman will rely heavily on Cooper and DeGain, the only upperclassmen, as both were major contributors to last year's 16-9 season.
"We have some good leaders coming back," said Goldman. "Cooper, being a senior at 141 lbs, has been ranked for the most part throughout his career and has had some success in the national tournament. I know he is looking to become an All-American or better. He has been a great leader for us both on the mat and in the classroom."
"Pat DeGain at 197 has also been to the NCAA Tournament as a freshmen," said Goldman. "Last year he was ranked pretty high until he had a pretty serious ankle injury at the Big Ten tournament and didn't get to go to nationals. Now, in his junior year, he is looking to become an All-American as well."
Last year the Hoosiers had a young group consisting of mostly freshmen. This year they have a young group again, but they are mostly sophomores, so they do have a season under their belt. In that regard, Goldman and the Hoosiers hope to pick it up a notch this year.
"We have high hopes for Joe Dubuque (125), Joel Powers (HWT), Brady Richardson (174), and Nathan McMillan (165)," said Goldman. "All of them are looking for big seasons. In addition, senior Andrew Wolf and Andy Rios (184) are looking to get in lineup. With either of those guys in there we feel pretty confident."
The Hoosiers welcome 12 freshmen to this year's team. Of those newcomers, Brian Dyer is most likely to see varsity competition this season. Dyer, a Naperville, Ill., product is a two-time state champion in the state of Illinois, a four-time state qualifier and a three-time state finalist.
Goldman has a lot to work with during 2003-04 and the team can expect to see some changes throughout.
"We still have a couple question marks at some weights, but we feel pretty confident that if we get our best lineup out there on the mat and keep them healthy that we should have a good season."
Goldman hopes this year's team can stay healthier than they did during the 2002-03 season. Last year the team was plagued with several significant injuries that caused the Hoosiers to be down in numbers.
"Dubuque was having a good year and then didn't get into the Big Ten Tournament because of concussion syndrome, that hurt us. DeGain was the No.2 seed at Big Tens, but hurt his ankle and didn't get to finish the tournament."
The Hoosiers will once again face a tough schedule, especially when it comes to Big Ten conference opponents. The wrestling teams in the Big Ten stand out above all other conferences in the nation and the Hoosiers will work all season on trying to find a spot in the mix.
"It is the best conference there is. There really is not another sport like it, even the other sports that are strong within conference are not even close to wrestling. Virtually every team is ranked in here."
The typical front-runners within the conference will be Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, and Penn State. There will most likely be five teams in the top 10 and several are in the top 25.
"It's a challenge every year to perform at the Big Ten Tournament. It's like a mini nationals, that's why we are hoping to be healthy going into that tournament so we can perform at our best."
"We feel good about our talent for this season; we just need to keep everyone healthy and ready to go," said Goldman. "We are still young team, but we feel good about what they are able to do."
Weight Classes
125
At 125 pounds, Joe Dubuque enters his third season as a Hoosier. In 2002, Dubuque was a redshirt freshman who compiled a 23-5 record despite battling through an injury. Dubuque was also ranked as high as 12th during the season.
133
With a year of experience under his belt, sophomore Nick Spatola will most likely be the top performer in the 133 pound class. Spatola closed the 2002 season with a sixth place finish at the USA Collegiate Championships. Spatola, who wrestled unattached throughout the 2002 season and battled an injury early on, will look to maintain his health and compete among the best. Goldman expects newcomer Brian Dyer to make an easy tranistion into college wrestling, and be a big part of the Hoosiers' squad at 133 pounds.
141
Perhaps the Hoosiers' most prolific leader on the mat, senior Coyte Cooper, returns to the Hoosier lineup at 141 pounds.
Cooper, who went 38-5 overall, 24-1 in dual meets and 6-1 in the Big Ten in 2002-03, has a slew of accomplishments coming into the 2003-04 season. Not only has Cooper been an NCAA qualifier for the past two years, he also won his first collegiate title of his career by taking top honors at the Northern Iowa open last season and went on an 18-match winning streak.
149
The 149 pound spot will be a battle between sophomore Matt Cooper and Matt McIntire. Cooper racked up five pins and four major decisions during the 2002 season. He also compiled a 17-22 record. McIntire, who battled an injury for part of the season, wrestled unattached last season for the Hoosiers and went 12-5. He closed the season out with a sixth-place finish at the USA Collegiate Championships.
157
Between Cooper and McIntire, whoever doesn't wrestle at 149 pounds will compete at 157 pounds. The Hoosiers may also see action from sophomore Tim Falls who wrestled unattached in 2002 and went 2-4. Isaac Knable, who wrestled at 157 pounds last season is expected to redshirt.
165
A transfer from University of Nebraska, Nathan McMillian will most likely be eligible second semester and should add an immediate impact to the 165 pound class. "While McMillan is new to the team, he did go through the growing pains of being a freshman already when he was at Nebraska," said Coach Goldman. "I know he is looking for a good season."
174
Sophomore Brady Richardson, who finished the 2002 season 18-11 overall with a 6-6 dual meet record, will hold down the 174- pound spot for the upcoming season. Richardson went an even 3-3 in Big Ten matches, including an upset-win over Minnesota's No. 20 Josh McLay.
184
Just like the toss up at the 149 pound spot, the 184 pound spot will be similar. Andy Rios and Andy Wolf will challenge each other for this position. Rios enters his junior campaign after compiling a 15-6 record for 2002 and finishing sixth at the Nothern Iowa Open early in the season. Wolf, a fifth year senior, went 14-2 overall and 7-6 in dual meets last season. "With either of these guys in here we feel pretty confident," said Goldman.
197
At 197 pounds, Pat DeGain has made steady improvment in his tenure as a Hoosier. DeGain exploded in the beginning of the season, as he earned an individual title at the Missouri Open, followed that with a third-place finish at the Nothern Iowa Open, and then went on an 18-match winning streak. He compiled a remarkable 29-7 record, including a 3-3 record in the extremely difficult Big Ten conference. Coach Goldman hopes DeGain can stay healthy and will look to him to be one of leaders on the mat for the 2003-04 season.
HWT
Heavyweight returnee Joel Powers , one of four true freshmen on the squad last year, finished the season with a 20-17 mark overall and a 12-11 record in dual meets.
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