Indiana University Athletics
Spotlight: Joe Dubuque
2/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Bloomington, Ind. - Junior Joe Dubuque enters this weekend's duals with a 19-1 overall record including a 16-0 record, in dual action. Dubuque also sports a 4-0 record in Big Ten duals. The Bloomfield, N.J., native is currently ranked in the top 10 in all the major wrestling polls.
Dubuque faces off against third-ranked Nick Simmons of Michigan State on Feb. 12, before heading to Illinois to take on second-ranked and 2004 NCAA runner-up Kyle Ott on Feb. 13. Dubuque is riding a 16 match-winning streak that includes two wins over ranked opponents. He sat down and talked about last Sunday's match against Wisconsin and these weekends' duals against Michigan State and Illinois.
On the Wisconsin loss:
JD: "I felt that we put up a good fight. We had a good opportunity to take out a top 15 team and just missed out. As a team our effort was there we just couldn't finish it off. It's frustrating to be that close and know that you should have won. To come away feeling that it shows that our program is moving in the right direction."
On his season to date:
JD: "I think I have done pretty good so far. I don't think I have wrestled my best yet. I know that my best wrestling is yet to come."
On facing second-ranked Kyle Ott of Illinois and third-ranked Nick Simmons this weekend:
JD: "It's going to be a really tough couple of matches. I have wrestled them both before, Nick in high school and Kyle last season. I'm going to approach it as just another weekend. Neither of them are not going to do something I haven't seen before. I am going to prepare the same way I usually prepare. It doesn't matter who they are or where they are ranked."
On the team's performance:
JD: "I think we are doing a tremendous job so far this season. We have a young team and some guys banged up, but we are all competing at a high level. From the coaches to the wrestlers everybody is going at it hard. I feel that we are going to turn a lot of heads come Big Ten Championship time."
Dubuque faces off against third-ranked Nick Simmons of Michigan State on Feb. 12, before heading to Illinois to take on second-ranked and 2004 NCAA runner-up Kyle Ott on Feb. 13. Dubuque is riding a 16 match-winning streak that includes two wins over ranked opponents. He sat down and talked about last Sunday's match against Wisconsin and these weekends' duals against Michigan State and Illinois.
On the Wisconsin loss:
JD: "I felt that we put up a good fight. We had a good opportunity to take out a top 15 team and just missed out. As a team our effort was there we just couldn't finish it off. It's frustrating to be that close and know that you should have won. To come away feeling that it shows that our program is moving in the right direction."
On his season to date:
JD: "I think I have done pretty good so far. I don't think I have wrestled my best yet. I know that my best wrestling is yet to come."
On facing second-ranked Kyle Ott of Illinois and third-ranked Nick Simmons this weekend:
JD: "It's going to be a really tough couple of matches. I have wrestled them both before, Nick in high school and Kyle last season. I'm going to approach it as just another weekend. Neither of them are not going to do something I haven't seen before. I am going to prepare the same way I usually prepare. It doesn't matter who they are or where they are ranked."
On the team's performance:
JD: "I think we are doing a tremendous job so far this season. We have a young team and some guys banged up, but we are all competing at a high level. From the coaches to the wrestlers everybody is going at it hard. I feel that we are going to turn a lot of heads come Big Ten Championship time."
Players Mentioned
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13
Wednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12