Indiana Heads to Big Tens

3/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling

Bloomington, Ind. - After a two-week break, the Indiana wrestling team heads to the Big Ten Championships on Saturday-Sunday, March 6-7. The Ohio State Buckeyes will host the Championships. On Saturday, Session I will begin at 11 a.m. with Session II starting at 6 p.m. The following afternoon, Session III opens at noon with the Finals beginning at 2 p.m.

The top seven finishers in each weight class advance to nationals, which will be held on March 18-20 in St. Louis, Mo. Senior Coyte Cooper looks to earn his fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships. The Anacortes, Wash., native is ranked eight in the country at 141 with a 34-2 overall record and a 6-1 Big Ten mark. Cooper finished second at last season's Big Tens, falling to Penn State's Scott Moore, 8-5 in the finals at 141.

In addition to Cooper, departed seniors Ty Matthews and Greg Schaefer qualified for the NCAAs last year. Matthews (184) finished third, while Schaefer (133) earned a seventh-place finish at the Championships.

Cooper enters the Big Tens seeded third in the 141-pound weight class. Additionally, junior Pat DeGain is ranked fourth at 197, sophomore Joe Dubuque is seeded fourth at 125, sophomore Brady Richardson is ranked sixth at 174, redshirt freshman Josh Buuck is sixth at heavyweight, and sophomore Nick Spatola is seeded eighth at 133.

HOOSIER REPORT
On Feb. 22, the Hoosiers concluded their regular season with a 19-14 loss at Michigan State. With the loss, IU closed out its campaign with a 17-8 overall record and a 1-6 mark in the Big Ten. Indiana's 17 victories set a new school record for dual meet victories. The team broke the previous mark of 16 wins, set by the 1995-96 squad and matched by last year's team.

Against the Spartans, four Hoosiers earned victories on the afternoon, led by No. 8 Joe Dubuque (125). The sophomore defeated Craig Trombly by major decision, 11-3 for his 27th victory of the season. After starting the season 1-2, Dubuque has reeled off 26 victories in 28 matches. The Bloomfield, N.J., native closed the Big Ten season with a 5-2 record and carded a 27-4 overall record.

Nick Spatola scored his second conference victory of the season, downing Tony Greathouse with a 12-3 major decision at 133. Spatola evened his overall record at 11-11 and dual record at 9-9.

13th-ranked Brady Richardson knocked off Anton Hall, 10-6 at 174. The Vincennes, Ind., native finished the Big Ten campaign with a 3-4 mark and an impressive 24-9 overall record.

Returning to the lineup for the first time since sustaining a severe ankle sprain against Minnesota (Feb. 7), No. 9 Pat DeGain picked up a 6-3 win over Jeff Clemens in the 197-pound match. The junior ended the regular season with a 23-5 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the Big Ten.

In addition to Cooper, Dubuque, Richardson and DeGain, Josh Buuck (16-7, 4-3) is ranked 11th in the country at heavyweight.

Hoosiers In The Rankings
Senior Coyte Cooper (141) and sophomore Joe Dubuque (125) are both ranked eighth in the national rankings and are the highest ranked Hoosiers. Joining Cooper and Dubuque in the rankings are junior Pat DeGain (ninth at 197) as well as sophomore Brady Richardson (13h at 174). Redshirt freshman Josh Buuck is ranked 11th in the heavyweight division, his highest ranking of the season.

In addition, Dubuque's seven pins are tops in the nation at 125 pounds, and his 27 victories are good for sixth, while Cooper is second at 141 with 34 wins and fourth with 12 pins. Junior Andy Rios is 10th with 24 victories at 184.

Cooper Looks For No. 4
After three consecutive trips to the NCAA Championships, Coyte Cooper looks to earn his fourth consecutive trip at the Big Ten Championships. The top seven wrestlers in each weight class advance to the NCAAs. Last season, the Anacortes, Wash., native finished second at the Big Tens, falling to Penn State's Scott Moore, 8-5 in the finals at 141.

DeGain Returns To Form
Pat DeGain returned to the lineup for the first time since sustaining a severe ankle sprain against Minnesota (Feb. 7). The ninth-ranked wrestler in the nation continued his winning ways with a 6-3 win over Jeff Clemens of Michigan State in the 197-pound match. DeGain's victory ended his regular season at 23-5 with a 3-2 Big Ten mark.

Hanging With The Big Boys
No. 10 Joe Dubuque (125) and No. 15 Josh Buuck (HWT) have both upset a pair of top 10 opponents this season. On Feb. 13, Dubuque downed then-No. 3 Mark Moos of U-M, 5-2, while Buuck handled then-No. 6 Israel Blevins of Purdue, 11-6 on Feb. 15. Earlier this season, Dubuque beat then-No. 10 John Velez of Northwestern, 8-2 on Jan. 24, and Buuck pinned then-No. 9 Mike Behnke of Illinois on Jan. 31.

Sabatello Surging Ahead
True Freshman Mike Sabatello earned his first career Big Ten victory, defeating John DeCeault of Purdue, 6-5 in sudden death on Feb. 15. The Arlington Heights, Ill, native narrowly missed his first conference victory on Feb. 13, losing a 9-6 struggle against then-No. 4 Pat Owen of Michigan. Sabatello is 4-5 on the season and closed out the Big Ten season with a 1-3 mark at 165.

Streaking Hoosiers
Joe Dubuque has captured victories in 26 of his last 28 matches since opening the season 1-2 at 125. The sophomore dispatched of Michigan State's Craig Trombly by major decision, 11-3, completing the regular season at 27-4 overall and 5-2 in the league.

At 141, Coyte Cooper enters the Big Ten Championships winning 11 out of his final 12 matches. The senior dropped his final bout of the regular season to eight-ranked Andy Simmons of Michigan State. Overall, Cooper finished the season 34-2 with a 6-1 league mark.

All-American Candidate
Coyte Cooper has put together an impressive resume worthy of All-America consideration. The eighth-ranked wrestler in the nation at 141 pounds has a 34-2 record, winning individual championships at the season-opening Missouri Open on Nov. 23 and the Northern Iowa Open on Dec. 5. Cooper has 12 pins and nine major decisions in his 34 victories.

Buuck Provides A Boost
Josh Buuck pulled off his second upset of a top 10 opponent this season on Feb. 15, knocking off then-No. 6 Israel Blevins of Purdue, 11-6. On Jan. 31, Buuck pinned then-No. 9 Mike Behnke of Illinois.

The redshirt freshman reeled off 12 straight victories in his first 12 matches as a heavyweight before losing a heartbreaking match to then-No. 6 Cole Konrad of Minnesota on Feb. 7. Buuck lost a tough 4-3 decision to Michigan State's Mike Keenan on Feb. 22 and is 16-7 overall this season, 13-3 as a heavyweight and ended Big Ten competition with a 4-3 record.

Moving Up The Charts
Coyte Cooper and Pat DeGain are climbing up the Indiana career wins and pins lists. With 34 victories this season, Cooper now has 120 in his career, moving into fourth place on IU's all-time career wins list. The senior's 12 pins have moved him into third place on the school's career pins list. Cooper now has 38 in his career, two pins behind former Hoosier standout Roger Chandler.

In addition to compiling a 23-5 record, DeGain netted his 24th career pin against Brady Reinke of Wisconsin on Jan. 23. The junior now sits in a tie for eighth place on the career list with Pat Cassidy, one pin behind Kevin Stanley's total of 24.

Conference Openers
The Hoosiers opened their conference season on the road against the Wisconsin Badgers on Jan. 23. U-W downed IU, 26-12 with Coyte Cooper, Pat DeGain and Josh Buuck picking up the only victories for the team.

The next day, Indiana bounced back with its first conference win, 19-12 over Northwestern. IU won their first four matches and six Hoosier grapplers earned victories as Indiana evened its conference record at 1-1.

Record-Setting Victory
With their 43-6 victory over Missouri Baptist on Jan. 24, the Hoosiers improved to 17-4 on the season, setting a new school record for victories. The team broke the previous mark of 16 wins, set by the 1995-96 squad and matched by last year's team.

Goldman Sets Wins Record
Hoosier head coach Duane Goldman became the program's all-time winningest coach as the Hoosiers swept three opponents at the Indianapolis Duals on Jan. 18. Goldman, in his 12th season, picked up his 146th career victory (148-85-4 overall), surpassing Charlie McDaniel's total of 145 wins (145-139-11).

In his career, he has compiled 10 winning seasons and reached the double-digit win plateau 10 times.

Additionally, 43 wrestlers have qualified for the NCAA Championships and 28 grapplers earned Academic All-Big Ten honors under Goldman's direction.

Rolling Through Indy
Indiana reeled off six straight victories on Jan. 17-18. Head coach Duane Goldman became the program's all-time winningest coach as the Hoosiers swept three opponents at the Indianapolis Duals on Jan. 18. IU defeated Carson-Newman, 47-0, Cumberland, 40-3 and Indianapolis, 46-6.

The previous afternoon, the Hoosiers disposed of Duke, 31-8, Eastern Michigan, 20-17 and Truman State, 35-8.

Overall, six Hoosier wrestlers posted undefeated records over the weekend. Josh Buuck (HWT) and sophomore Nick Spatola (133) finished with 5-0 marks. Pat DeGain (197) ended competition with a 4-0 record with Joe Dubuque and true freshman Pat Barth adding 3-0 marks at 125.

Cooper's Streak Stopped
No. 6 Coyte Cooper lost his first match of the season to Jermaine Thompson of Eastern Michigan (7-6) on Jan. 17. The loss snapped the senior's winning streak at 23 matches.

Since the loss, Cooper has rebounded and continued his All-American campaign with 11 victories in his last 12 matches victories and sits at 34-2 on the year with a 6-1 Big Ten mark.

Facing Ranked Opponents
Against ranked teams, the Hoosiers compiled a 1-7 record this year, taking several top teams to the limit. Indiana's lone victory came against then-No. 25 Pittsburgh, 19-13 on Jan. 11. IU has lost to then-No. 8 Missouri, 29-15, then-No. 12 Ohio State, 29-17, then-No. 13 Wisconsin, 26-12, then-No. 2 Illinois, 24-13, then-No. 12 Minnesota, 32-7, then-No. 3 Michigan, 22-12 and then-No. 15 Purdue, 21-17.

Wrestling At The Wendy's Duals
IU went 2-1 at the Wendy's Duals on Jan. 11, downing VMI, 31-6 and then-No. 25 Pittsburgh, 19-13 before falling to Ohio, 25-15.

Senior Coyte Cooper (141) and sophomores Brady Richardson (174) and Joe Dubuque (125) went 3-0 on the day, while redshirt freshman Josh Buuck picked up two wins in his first action of the season in the heavyweight division.

Back At The Buckeye Duals
IU put forth a solid showing at the Buckeye Duals, going 2-1 in its three matches. The Hoosiers dropped its match against then-No. 12 Ohio State, 29-17 before rebounding with wins over Buffalo, 27-8 and Bloomsburg, 23-15. On the day, Coyte Cooper, Pat DeGain, Joe Dubuque and Brady Richardson posted undefeated 3-0 records.

Return To The Mat
Sophomores Matt Cooper and Nate McMillin returned to the mat for the first time at the Buckeye Duals since suffering injuries at the season-opening Missouri Open. Cooper went 2-1 in three matches at 157, downing Chris Tate of Bloomsburg, 7-3 and defeating Casey Burchfield of Buffalo, 15-13.

McMillin participated in three matches as well and has recorded six victories at 165 since the event.

Four Finish First
IU concluded a successful weekend at the Northern Iowa Open, claiming four individual titles and placing a total of nine wrestlers in the top six in their weight classes. Coyte Cooper won his second title of the season at 141 pounds and second straight championship at the UNI Open, dropping second-seeded Jason Rhoten from Minnesota State in the title match. Joining Cooper in the winner's circle were Joe Dubuque (125), Andy Rios (184) and Pat DeGain (197).

Brady Richardson finished runner-up at 174, while redshirt freshman Matt McIntire earned a fourth-place finish at 149. Sophomore Joel Powers (HWT) and freshman Brian Dyer (133) both turned out fifth-place performances, and junior J.P. Stanley carded a sixth-place finish in the 157-pound weight class.

Dubuque Picks Up First Title
By winning the 125-pound class at the Northern Iowa Open, Joe Dubuque collected his first collegiate tournament victory to add to an already impressive career resume.

The Bloomfield, N.J., native swept five consecutive matches, defeating Chris Helegassen of Northern Iowa en route to the championship. Last season, Dubuque compiled a 23-5 record as a redshirt freshman with seven major decisions and three pins.

Brothers In Arms
Last year, the Cooper brothers reunited in Bloomington when Matt joined his older brother Coyte on the squad. Wrestling as a true freshman last season, Matt went 17-22 at 149 pounds. Meanwhile, Coyte enjoyed an incredible season, compiling a 38-5 record and qualifying for his third consecutive NCAA Championship.

In their second season together, the two enjoy pushing each other and seeing each other succeed. Coyte is 34-2 this season at 141 pounds, while Matt is 10-13 at 157 pounds.

Dominating Dual
Indiana opened its dual meet season at home on Nov. 29 with victories over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Manchester. The Hoosiers dominated both clubs, knocking off Manchester, 32-6 and beating SIU-Edwardsville, 36-9. Seven Hoosiers swept a pair of matches including Joe Dubuque, Coyte Cooper, J.P. Stanley, Tim Falls, Brady Richardson, Andy Rios and Joel Powers.

Opener At Mizzou
The Hoosiers opened their season on Nov. 23 with a strong showing at one of the nation's most competitive events, the Missouri Open. Coyte Cooper captured his second collegiate title after rolling off four straight victories to win the championship at 141.

Four other IU wrestlers garnered top-five finishes in their respective weight classes. Matt McIntire placed second (149), Andy Rios netted third (184), Cameron Sakon finished fourth (141), and Brady Richardson claimed fourth (174).