Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Wrestle a Double Dip on Saturday
12/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 10, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The No. 13 Indiana University wrestling team (6-0) is set to compete in the F.I.T.E. Duals on Saturday (Dec. 12) in Oak Lawn, Ill. The Hoosiers will hit the mats for two dual matches, taking on Eastern Michigan (2-2-1) and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (0-4).
Indiana opens with the EMU Eagles at 10 a.m. central time (11 a.m. eastern). Eastern Michigan and SIU-Edwardsville will then wrestle before the day is concluded with IU and the Cougars entering the circle around 2 p.m. central (3 p.m. EST).
Click here 
for the F.I.T.E. Duals program, which includes each team's expected line-up with season records.
The all-time series with both schools leans in favor of Indiana. The Hoosiers have won all eight matches versus EMU, including a 31-6 victory at last season's F.I.T.E. Duals. Indiana owns a stronghold on the all-time series against SIU-Edwardsville as well, winning the last 12 meetings with the Cougars and holding a 15-7 advantage overall.
PAIR OF ACES IN VEGAS
Four Hoosiers placed at the 28th Annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, including Angel Escobedo and Nate Everhart; and their individual championships in the 125 lbs. and 285 lbs. weight classes, respectively. Escobedo was named the tournament's "Most Outstanding Wrestler." He was also awarded the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week a few days after his title run.
Additional IU placers were Paul Young finishing fifth and Matt Powless coming in at eighth.
As a team, the Hoosiers finished in sixth place out 44 schools competing in the event. Twelve of the nation's top-25 teams were in the field.
BOOKENDS HOLDING STRONG
The top and bottom of the line-up have been flawless thus far for IU. Heavyweight Nate Everhart paces the Hoosiers with 14 wins compared to zero defeats while 125-pounder Angel Escobedo is also undefeated with his 12-0 season record.
In addition, true freshman Ryan LeBlanc has won all nine of his matches this year while wrestling unattached.
AMONGST NATION'S ELITE
Five of Indiana's 10 regular starters are ranked in the latest Intermat national rankings. Four have been ranked sinced the preseason poll while Matt Powless cracked the top-20 this week.
Angel Escobedo- #2 at 125 lbs.
Nate Everhart- #6 at 285 lbs.
Kurt Kinser- #9 at 157 lbs.
Paul Young- #14 at 165 lbs.
Matt Powless- #20 at 197 lbs.
As a team, Indiana is ranked 13th nationally.
FLAT TO THE MAT
A trio of current Hoosiers have each placed themselves into the top-10 for career pins in school history. Angel Escobedo is tied with assistant coach Pat DeGaian for fourth all-time with 35 fall while Kurt Kinser's 26 pins and Trevor Perry's 25 sticks are tied for eighth and tenth, respectively.
Players Mentioned
