Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
North Dakota State
Wrestling Heads to Tri Dual at SIU-Edwardsville
12/3/2016 2:40:00 PM | Wrestling
Hoosiers slated to face North Dakota State before taking on the Cougars
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana readies for their second tri dual of the season, following a resounding team championship at the 2016 Navy Classic two weekends ago. The Hoosiers earned two tournament champions, undefeated #6 Nate Jackson (184) and sophomore Bryce Martin (165), along with seven other podium finishes. It's the final weekend of competition before beginning their Big Ten dual schedule, and both teams are sure to provide a test for IU.
The Bison, clashing with the Hoosiers for the first time in 36 seasons, boast a trio of ranked grapplers including #6 Josh Rodriguez (125). The Cougars, who dual the Hoosiers for the 11th consectuive season, are led by #12 Freddie Rodriguez (125). Sunday's meets are the second-to-last for Indiana on the road and out-of-conference, for they head to Ypsilanti, Michigan for another tri dual with hosting Eastern Michigan and Cleveland State.
Hoosier Notes:
Momentum Building
The Hoosiers were riding high after their team championship at the Navy Classic, but they're not resting on their laurels. Head coach Duane Goldman has been hard at work in the room the last two weeks, getting the Hoosiers ready for a tough month of dual action before the upcoming Midlands Championships at the end of December.
This weekend, Indiana faces their second of four tri dual meets, their second of three on the road. The biggest challenge of the weekend will be the opener against North Dakota State, who boasts a trio of ranked wrestlers.
Numbers on the Boards
Indiana's nationally ranked duo of Nate Jackson (184) and Elijah Oliver (125) are a combined 15-1 after their first two weekends of competition. Jackson is currently ranked 6th (Flo) after an unbeaten start; Oliver slipped to 18th in most polls after suffering his first loss of the year at the Navy Classic.
Jackson and Oliver share the top spot on Indiana's pins leaderboard, each recording four wins by fall. Both grapplers have won with bonus points in each of their victories.
On the Up-and-Up
Aside from Oliver and Jackson two young Indiana wrestlers enter the weekend with just one loss on their records: Bryce Martin (165) and Devin Skatzka (174). Martin won his second varsity tournament championship at the Navy Classic to improve to 6-1; Skatzka lost his first match of the season at the Navy Classic.
Martin has an opportunity to pick up his first ranked win against the Bison when he takes the mat against #12 Andrew Fogarty (6-1).
Battle Tested
Sophomore Jake Danishek, after encountering seven ranked grapplers last season, will meet his first ranked opponent this weekend in North Dakota State's #12 Clay Ream (6-0). Danishek will battle for his first ranked win when he takes the mat against Ream.
Danishek is off to a 7-3 start after posting a 15-11 record in the 2015-16 season, with four of his wins coming by two major decisions and two pins.
Redshirt Rising
While the varsity Hoosiers were hoisting the Navy Classic trophy, newcomer Blake Rypel (197) completed a stellar second-place showing at the Michigan State Open. He recorded pins in 0:22 and 5:45 in the opening rounds before earning a 16-4 major decision in the semifinal over Shawn Scott. He fell in the final bout, an 8-4 decision, but earned his second podium finish as an unattached grappler.
Rypel arrived in Bloomington as Indiana's highest-ranked 2016 recruit, winning IHSAA state titles at 195 lbs. (2015) and 182 lbs. (2016).
Up Next: Indiana vs. Wisconsin
Next weekend, Indiana will open their 2016-17 home schedule with their first Big Ten dual of the season, hosting the Wisconsin Badgers (1-0). The Hoosiers posted a 3-6 record in Big Ten duals. The Badgers, who also tallied a 3-6 conference record last season, will provide a tough opening challenge for Indiana.
The Hoosiers and Badgers have clashed 56 times dating back to their first meeting on January 7, 1950, and Wisconsin leads the overall series 32-24. The Badgers won the last meeting in Bloomington, 23-12, in the 2013-14 season.
Back Points...
• Sophomore lightweight Elijah Oliver raised the bar for Indiana's fastest win by fall this season, earning a 17-second pin at the Navy Classic.
• Nate Jackson picked up his 80th career win in the Navy Classic championship bout, a 12-4 major decision over #16 Steven Schneider (Binghamton).
• After hosting one tri dual last season, against Eastern Michigan and Manchester, Indiana is competing in four tri dual meets this year. They will host the University at Buffalo and Indiana Tech on Sunday, December 18.
• Garrett Pepple (133) and Jake Hinz (197) are looking to build on strong starts to their freshman seasons. Pepple is off to a 6-2 start with two bonus point wins, while Hinz is 5-3 with a pin and two major decisions.
• Indiana's unattached grapplers have the weekend off this week, but they'll return to action on December 17 at the Cleveland State Open.
Players Mentioned
