Indiana University Athletics
Indiana's Youth Making Early Impact
11/20/2015 11:48:00 AM | Wrestling
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head coach Duane Goldman sees opportunity in his team's youth just like an artist sees potential in a blank canvas.
He's just not sure what that means yet.
"You hope you come up with a Rembrandt," Goldman said. "But in the meantime, you're always a little nervous that you come up with something that's not. I'm excited about the potential in these guys."
Goldman said he may be relying on as many as seven freshmen in his regular starting lineup by the time he has it finalized. He may not have a choice.
Of Indiana's 30 wrestlers, 21 are in either their freshman or sophomore year of eligibility. The Hoosiers' roster reflects a youth movement of sorts, with only a few battle-tested veterans leading a group of raw talent Goldman believes will help anchor his team for years to come.
"I think it's certainly an important year," Goldman said. "I expect them to do well and compete hard of course, but I'm also looking at the progress they make as the season goes along and what that's going to mean for us in the future."
In the present, Indiana is preparing for Sunday's Keystone Classic in Philadelphia, Pa. where the Hoosiers will face some of their stiffest competition to date. IU has had success in the tournament before, returning junior Nate Jackson as the defending champion.
Jackson knows the types of tests he'll face throughout the tournament. The freshmen he'll have his name alongside in the lineup do not.
It's a learning curve freshmen like Norman "Buddy" Conley are quickly having to get over.
"There's something about the wrestling mentality in college where, quite frankly, it's brutal," Conley said. "College wrestling at any level, Division I or II or III, it's going to be a lot more brutal. All of the upperclassmen and the coaches really help us through that."
Conley's one of a few freshmen to already experience success this season. He joined fellow freshmen Elijah Oliver and Devin Skatzka as podium finishers at the EMU Open at Eastern Michigan earlier this month.
Although some already know what it's like to step on the podium, redshirt sophomore Luke Blanton said part of the struggles of being a young wrestler includes learning to manage defeat.
Virtually all of Indiana's wrestlers are used to winning. Many were either state champions or close to it in high school and haven't faced the type of competition they'll see in college or remember what it's like to be pinned in a match.
"It's a big wakeup call these first couple of tournaments," he said. "You go from sometimes never losing to going 0-2. It's hard on your self-esteem, but it's also huge in building for the future. You realize every match is going to be a dogfight."
It's a dogfight, but not an unfair fight, Conley said.
He and his classmates can't afford to feel like freshmen for long if they want to make the impact Goldman expects them to make on the team this season. It's a challenge he said they're ready for, as evident in a few good showings so far.
Just the other day, Conley and Oliver were having a conversation about how they've been able to compete right away against upperclassmen that have been around for years. He said the early wins build confidence that he hopes continues into the grind of the Big Ten season in the coming months.
"It's kind of scary to think these guys are seniors and we're competing," Conley said. "I think it's all in the mindset. Whether you're ready or not, you have to have the mindset that you are up at the top of your level and can compete with anyone."
That's exactly what Goldman said he expects this weekend and throughout the remainder of the season from his freshmen.
There's a sense of uncertainty surround what Indiana's youth will mean for the Hoosiers this season. This weekend's Keystone Classic will be only IU's second official meet of the season.
But the talent is there, Goldman insists. He's just not sure when the ink will meet the canvas.
"This is one of the best groups I've had in a long, long time," Goldman said. "When we will see the fruition of all that remains to be seen, but I can't downgrade the level of their work ethic and the effort they're putting in."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head coach Duane Goldman sees opportunity in his team's youth just like an artist sees potential in a blank canvas.
He's just not sure what that means yet.
"You hope you come up with a Rembrandt," Goldman said. "But in the meantime, you're always a little nervous that you come up with something that's not. I'm excited about the potential in these guys."
Goldman said he may be relying on as many as seven freshmen in his regular starting lineup by the time he has it finalized. He may not have a choice.
Of Indiana's 30 wrestlers, 21 are in either their freshman or sophomore year of eligibility. The Hoosiers' roster reflects a youth movement of sorts, with only a few battle-tested veterans leading a group of raw talent Goldman believes will help anchor his team for years to come.
"I think it's certainly an important year," Goldman said. "I expect them to do well and compete hard of course, but I'm also looking at the progress they make as the season goes along and what that's going to mean for us in the future."
In the present, Indiana is preparing for Sunday's Keystone Classic in Philadelphia, Pa. where the Hoosiers will face some of their stiffest competition to date. IU has had success in the tournament before, returning junior Nate Jackson as the defending champion.
Jackson knows the types of tests he'll face throughout the tournament. The freshmen he'll have his name alongside in the lineup do not.
It's a learning curve freshmen like Norman "Buddy" Conley are quickly having to get over.
"There's something about the wrestling mentality in college where, quite frankly, it's brutal," Conley said. "College wrestling at any level, Division I or II or III, it's going to be a lot more brutal. All of the upperclassmen and the coaches really help us through that."
Conley's one of a few freshmen to already experience success this season. He joined fellow freshmen Elijah Oliver and Devin Skatzka as podium finishers at the EMU Open at Eastern Michigan earlier this month.
Although some already know what it's like to step on the podium, redshirt sophomore Luke Blanton said part of the struggles of being a young wrestler includes learning to manage defeat.
Virtually all of Indiana's wrestlers are used to winning. Many were either state champions or close to it in high school and haven't faced the type of competition they'll see in college or remember what it's like to be pinned in a match.
"It's a big wakeup call these first couple of tournaments," he said. "You go from sometimes never losing to going 0-2. It's hard on your self-esteem, but it's also huge in building for the future. You realize every match is going to be a dogfight."
It's a dogfight, but not an unfair fight, Conley said.
He and his classmates can't afford to feel like freshmen for long if they want to make the impact Goldman expects them to make on the team this season. It's a challenge he said they're ready for, as evident in a few good showings so far.
Just the other day, Conley and Oliver were having a conversation about how they've been able to compete right away against upperclassmen that have been around for years. He said the early wins build confidence that he hopes continues into the grind of the Big Ten season in the coming months.
"It's kind of scary to think these guys are seniors and we're competing," Conley said. "I think it's all in the mindset. Whether you're ready or not, you have to have the mindset that you are up at the top of your level and can compete with anyone."
That's exactly what Goldman said he expects this weekend and throughout the remainder of the season from his freshmen.
There's a sense of uncertainty surround what Indiana's youth will mean for the Hoosiers this season. This weekend's Keystone Classic will be only IU's second official meet of the season.
But the talent is there, Goldman insists. He's just not sure when the ink will meet the canvas.
"This is one of the best groups I've had in a long, long time," Goldman said. "When we will see the fruition of all that remains to be seen, but I can't downgrade the level of their work ethic and the effort they're putting in."
Players Mentioned
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Thursday, April 16