Indiana University Athletics
IU Opens Conference Action at #7 Ohio State
12/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 16, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sunday's dual match featuring Indiana (6-0) at Ohio State (6-0) will be the Big Ten opener for both teams. The Hoosiers and Buckeyes are two of five conference schools that remain undefeated heading into the weekend. Indiana's Matt Powless is ranked fifth nationally at 197 pounds, and OSU is expected to send eight nationally-ranked grapplers to the mat.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
125 lbs - Zach Zimmer, r-Fr. (7-3) vs. #15 Johnni Dijulius, Fr. (11-7)
133 lbs - Joe Duca, r-Fr. (5-7) vs. #3 Logan Stieber, r-Fr. (15-0)
141 lbs - Matt Ortega, r-Sr. 14-5 or Mitchell Richey, So. (4-2) vs. #6 Hunter Stieber, Fr. (14-2)
149 lbs - Taylor Walsh, r-Fr. (15-4) vs. #16 Cam Tessari, Fr. (12-5)
157 lbs - Ryan Konz, r-Jr. (4-5) vs. #19 Josh Demas, r-Fr. (13-5)
165 lbs - Anthony Fretwell, r-So. (2-4) vs. Derek Garcia, Fr. (8-5)
174 lbs - Ryan LeBlanc, r-So. (20-5) vs. #5 Nick Heflin, r-So. (15-1)
184 lbs - Cheney Dale, r-Fr. (5-9) vs. #15 C.J. Magrum, r-Jr. (13-3)
197 lbs - #5 Matt Powless, r-Sr. (14-1) vs. Andrew Campolattano, Fr. (10-5)
285 lbs - Jowan Gill, So. (4-7) vs. #16 Peter Capone, r-So. (10-5)
BUCKEYE VISION STREAMING
Go to www.OhioStateBuckeyes.com and log on to Buckeye Vision (fee required) for a live stream of the competition. Twitter updates for each bout will also be available via @WrestlingBucks.
HOT START HOOSIERS
Indiana has now started 6-0 or better in eight consecutive seasons. The longest winning streak in the last decade is 11 matches, occurring twice (2005-06; 2009-10).
GOLDMAN SEEKING WIN #250
Duane Goldman, the all-time winningest coach in school history, will reach a milestone with IU's next dual victory. It will be the 250th of his career. His career coaching record is 249-127-5 (.660).
6-0, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0
In the battle of two 6-0 teams in Indiana and Ohio State, there will also be six individuals which are each 6-0 in dual match competition this season. Indiana's trio includes Ryan LeBlanc, Matt Powless and Taylor Walsh while Buckeyes Nick Heflin, C.J. Magrum and Logan Steiber remain unbeaten in duals as well.
SERIES INFO vs. OHIO STATE
Ohio State leads the all-time series, 48-37-2, and is riding a four-match winning streak. Indiana's last win over the Buckyes came in 2006, stomping OSU, 31-7, in Bloomington.
POWLESS APPROACHING TOP TEN
Returning All-American Matt Powless has racked up 103 wins thus far in his career, putting him just eight victories away from IU's all-time top ten. Powless is also in range of surpassing assistant coaches Pat DeGain (115) and Joe Dubuque (114); and volunteer coach Brandon Becker (119) on the all-time wins list.
NATIONAL NUMBERS
A year after Matt Powless led the country with 13 major decisions in 2010-11, Ryan LeBlanc is making a run to top the NCAA in total wins early on this season. LeBlanc's 20 total victories slot him third nationally and atop the Big Ten.
Taylor Walsh can also be found amongst the statistical leaders. His seven pins are second-best in the conference and tied for 11th in all of Division-I wrestling.
WALSH JUMPS TO NATIONAL STAGE
After winning the 149-pound title at the Michigan State Open in mid-November, redshirt freshman Taylor Walsh crashed into the national rankings; rising as high as No. 17.
Matt Powless has been in the 197-lbs. national rankings all season long, currently sitting at No. 5.
Players Mentioned
