Indiana University Athletics
Wrestling Season Preview - 125-149
11/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 3, 2006
With the 2006-07 wrestling season kicking off on Sunday, Nov. 5, with the intra-squad wrestle-offs, IUHOOSIERS.com will take a look at the Hoosiers for the upcoming season. On Friday, Nov. 3, we will look at the weight classes from 125-149 pounds, and on Saturday, Nov. 4, we will look at the weight classes from 157 pounds and up.
After yet another successful season in 2005-06, the Indiana wrestling team returns to the mat under the leadership of head coach Duane Goldman for the 15th season. The Hoosiers, who placed for the 13th year in a row at the NCAA Tournament in 2005-06, are looking to return to the NCAAs and the top of the Big Ten in 2006-07.
The Hoosiers will face the task of replacing two-time national champion Joe Dubuque, who wrapped up his career with a 28-1 record in 2005-06 and his second straight first team All-America selection.
"Any time your program produces an individual like that, it's a great showpiece for that program and Joe is no different," Goldman said. "He had a great career. I think any individual that aspires to be a national champion, the fact that they know this is a place where they can win one is great."
125 POUNDS
With Dubuque's departure, the Hoosiers will have huge shoes to fill at the 125-pound class. Stepping into the starter's role will be Angel Escobedo, who had an outstanding redshirt freshman season, going 20-3 on the year. Escobedo, a native of Griffith, Ind., placed in all five tournaments he competed in last season. Escobedo took home titles at the Michigan State Open and the Kent State Open a year ago.
"Angel Escobedo will be our starter after coming off a good redshirt freshman year," Goldman said. "He's ready to begin his career at the varsity level. He's stepping into big shoes, coming in after Joey Dubuque. But he has great talent and we are looking forward to his career. Also that way we have Mike Peysakhovich, Ted Strychalski and Wesley Fike."
Strychalski was a two-time state qualifier while wrestling for Libertyville High School in Illinois, finishing sixth in the state in 2006. Fike went 2-9 as a freshman in 2005-06, participating in five events for the Hoosiers, while Peysakhovich gives the Hoosiers added depth after being a standout on the mat for Lyons Township High School in Highland Park, Ill.
133 POUNDS
In the 133-pound class, sophomore Andrae Hernandez returns to the Hoosiers after an outstanding first season as a starter. Hernandez went 28-11 in his first year as a starter, placing seventh at the Big Ten Tournament and competing in the NCAA Championship. He went 7-6 against ranked opponents and moved his ranking to as high as 18th on the year.
Also competing at 133 will be Jose Escobedo, who competed at 125 last season and recorded a 4-4 record and a 1-0 mark in dual meets. The sophomore posted a third-place finish at the Missouri Open for Indiana.
141 POUNDS
At 141 pounds, three grapplers will battle for the starting spot, all of them former Indiana state champions. The only returning wrestler in the mix is Scott Kelly, who wrestled most of last year at 133 pounds. In his time at various classes, Kelly went 5-13 and recorded a 1-4 dual meet record as a true freshman after winning the state championship in 2005.
Also in the mix will be a pair of incoming freshmen that also can stake a claim as former state champs. Nick Walpole was a four-time state qualifier at Perry Meridian, earning two third-place finishes and a state championship in his four years. Alex Warren will also be competing for time at 141 after going undefeated at 130 pounds last year and winning the state championship. Also competing for time at 141 will be junior Justin Sciscoe, who was a standout at Martinsville High School.
"At 141 we have a battle between a number of people," Goldman said. "Scott Kelly is a returner, moving up from 133 to 141. Nick Walpole and Alex Warren are both Indiana state champions. So we have three former Indiana state champions competing for the starting position."
149 POUNDS
At the 149-pound class, the Hoosiers will see the debut of one of last year's top recruits, Matt Coughlin. Coughlin redshirted in 2005-06 and compiled a 19-7 record and five pins throughout the year. Coughlin notched a first-place finish at the Cleveland State Open and a fifth-place result at the Michigan State Open. Coughlin entered college as the ninth-ranked wrestler in the nation at 160 pounds and was a 2004 and 2005 Indiana state champion.
"Matt Coughlin, a kid who was one of the top wrestlers in the nation, will begin his career after being a redshirt last year and then spending the summer on the junior world team," Goldman said. "We have high hopes for his success. We also have Kurt Kinser at 149, a Bloomington kid who we look to redshirt this year."
Kinser was one of the top wrestlers in the state and the nation a year ago. The Bloomington native, who helped South to four regional championships and three semi-state championships, won the Indiana state title in his senior year after finishing as runner-up as a junior.
