Friday, December 9
Bloomington, IN
7 PM
Indiana University
vs
Wisconsin
Wrestling Begins Big Ten Campaign Against Wisconsin
12/8/2016 8:55:00 PM | Wrestling
Indiana concludes weekend with duals versus Cleveland State, Eastern Michigan
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Hoosiers brace for a massive upcoming weekend, featuring the Hoosiers' home opener, their first Big Ten dual of the season, and another tough tri dual slate at Eastern Michigan. First, Indiana will host the No. 16 Wisconsin Badgers, who boast six grapplers ranked in the top 20 including #3 Isaac Jordan (165) and #2 Connor Medbery (285). Hoosier senior #7 Nate Jackson (184) looks to remain unbeaten after a 10-0 start, while Cole Weaver (141), Devin Skatzka (174), and Jake Hinz (197) look to test their mettle against ranked competition.
Sunday morning's tri dual in Ypsilanti, IU's third of the year, will provide exciting matchups between #18 Elijah Oliver (IU) and #25 Noah Gonser (EMU) at 125 lbs., Weaver and IU transfer #24 Kyle Springer (EMU) at 141 lbs., and a thrilling rematch between IU's Luke Blanton (149) and Eastern Michigan's Nick Barber. Jackson will face another ranked wrestler, #23 Nick Corba, when IU meets Cleveland State.
Hoosier Notes:
Sweep at SIUE
Indiana returns home after a successful tri dual last weekend at SIU-Edwardsville, extending their dual win streak to three meets. The Hoosiers broke a 17-17 tie to edge North Dakota State before taking down the Cougars, 21-16, on the final bout of the meet.
Nate Jackson (10-0) continued his win streak with a major decision and his fifth win by fall, while Cole Weaver (3-3) earned his first dual wins of the year, giving IU the team score lead with both of his decisions.
Numbers on the Boards
Indiana's nationally ranked duo of Nate Jackson (184) and Elijah Oliver (125) are a combined 17-1 after their first three weekends of competition. Jackson is currently ranked 6th (Flo) after an unbeaten start; Oliver climbs to 13th (Flo) after an inactive week, but rose from 14th in place of previous holder Josh Terao (American).
Through 10 matches, Jackson has tallied 45 takedowns while giving up just one. The pair have a combined dual point differential of +44 through five duals.
Into the Fray
Last weekend, two Indiana newcomers made their dual debuts in the Cream & Crimson singlet. Freshman Liam Cronin (125) stepped in for usual starter Elijah Oliver with the toughest slate of the weekend, against #5 Josh Rodriguez (NDSU) and #11 Freddie Rodriguez (SIUE).
Graduate transfer Chris Perez (149) wrestled the final bout for both duals, going 1-1 while lifting the Hoosiers to dual wins. The matches were Perez's first since suffering a season-ending injury on February 7 in Princeton's dual with Brown.
Big Ten Beginnings
Half of the Hoosiers' dual lineup will encounter their first ranked grappler of the season in IU's Big Ten opener: Cole Weaver (141), Chris Perez (149), Bryce Martin (165), Jake Hinz (197), and Fletcher Miller (285). Martin and Miller will arguably face the toughest challenges of the weekend; Martin takes the mat against #3 Isaac Jordan, while Miller meets unbeaten #2 Connor Medbery.
Sunday in Ypsilanti
IU will follow their dual against #11 Wisconsin with another tri dual meet on Sunday, December 11 at Eastern Michigan. The Hoosiers will wrestle Cleveland State (2-0) at 10:30 a.m. ET before taking on the hosting Eagles at noon.
The Hoosiers edged Eastern Michigan last season, while the Vikings won their last meet with Indiana in 2014. Exciting potential matchups include #18 Elijah Oliver (IU) vs. #25 Noah Gonser (EMU), Cole Weaver (IU) vs. #24 Kyle Springer (EMU), Fletcher Miller (IU) vs. #25 Gage Hutchinson (EMU), and #6 Nate Jackson (IU) vs. #23 Nick Corba (CSU).
Up Next: Indiana Duals
Next weekend, Indiana concludes their tri dual slate at home, facing Buffalo and Indiana Tech on Sunday, December 18. The events at University Gymnasium are expected to begin at 1 p.m. ET, and subsequent duals will follow with little break in between.
The Hoosiers hosted a tri dual meet last season and emerged with two wins. They won a 25-9 result against Eastern Michigan, which included Luke Blanton's upset of Nick Barber, before shutting out Manchester with a 56-0 win.
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).
• In Sunday's dual in Ypsilanti, Indiana wrestlers Cole Weaver (141) and Devin Skatzka (174) will compete in their home state of Michigan for the first time this season. It's Skatzka's first competition in Michigan as a varsity wrestler.
• Elijah Oliver (125), Jake Danishek (157), and Nate Jackson (184) haven't conceded back points to their opponents this season.
• Sophomore Bryce Martin (165) ranks second on the team with 36 takedowns, and has only allowed 4 takedowns this season.
• Indiana's unattached grapplers have the weekend off this week, but they'll return to action on December 17 at the Cleveland State Open.
Sunday morning's tri dual in Ypsilanti, IU's third of the year, will provide exciting matchups between #18 Elijah Oliver (IU) and #25 Noah Gonser (EMU) at 125 lbs., Weaver and IU transfer #24 Kyle Springer (EMU) at 141 lbs., and a thrilling rematch between IU's Luke Blanton (149) and Eastern Michigan's Nick Barber. Jackson will face another ranked wrestler, #23 Nick Corba, when IU meets Cleveland State.
Hoosier Notes:
Sweep at SIUE
Indiana returns home after a successful tri dual last weekend at SIU-Edwardsville, extending their dual win streak to three meets. The Hoosiers broke a 17-17 tie to edge North Dakota State before taking down the Cougars, 21-16, on the final bout of the meet.
Nate Jackson (10-0) continued his win streak with a major decision and his fifth win by fall, while Cole Weaver (3-3) earned his first dual wins of the year, giving IU the team score lead with both of his decisions.
Numbers on the Boards
Indiana's nationally ranked duo of Nate Jackson (184) and Elijah Oliver (125) are a combined 17-1 after their first three weekends of competition. Jackson is currently ranked 6th (Flo) after an unbeaten start; Oliver climbs to 13th (Flo) after an inactive week, but rose from 14th in place of previous holder Josh Terao (American).
Through 10 matches, Jackson has tallied 45 takedowns while giving up just one. The pair have a combined dual point differential of +44 through five duals.
Into the Fray
Last weekend, two Indiana newcomers made their dual debuts in the Cream & Crimson singlet. Freshman Liam Cronin (125) stepped in for usual starter Elijah Oliver with the toughest slate of the weekend, against #5 Josh Rodriguez (NDSU) and #11 Freddie Rodriguez (SIUE).
Graduate transfer Chris Perez (149) wrestled the final bout for both duals, going 1-1 while lifting the Hoosiers to dual wins. The matches were Perez's first since suffering a season-ending injury on February 7 in Princeton's dual with Brown.
Big Ten Beginnings
Half of the Hoosiers' dual lineup will encounter their first ranked grappler of the season in IU's Big Ten opener: Cole Weaver (141), Chris Perez (149), Bryce Martin (165), Jake Hinz (197), and Fletcher Miller (285). Martin and Miller will arguably face the toughest challenges of the weekend; Martin takes the mat against #3 Isaac Jordan, while Miller meets unbeaten #2 Connor Medbery.
Sunday in Ypsilanti
IU will follow their dual against #11 Wisconsin with another tri dual meet on Sunday, December 11 at Eastern Michigan. The Hoosiers will wrestle Cleveland State (2-0) at 10:30 a.m. ET before taking on the hosting Eagles at noon.
The Hoosiers edged Eastern Michigan last season, while the Vikings won their last meet with Indiana in 2014. Exciting potential matchups include #18 Elijah Oliver (IU) vs. #25 Noah Gonser (EMU), Cole Weaver (IU) vs. #24 Kyle Springer (EMU), Fletcher Miller (IU) vs. #25 Gage Hutchinson (EMU), and #6 Nate Jackson (IU) vs. #23 Nick Corba (CSU).
Up Next: Indiana Duals
Next weekend, Indiana concludes their tri dual slate at home, facing Buffalo and Indiana Tech on Sunday, December 18. The events at University Gymnasium are expected to begin at 1 p.m. ET, and subsequent duals will follow with little break in between.
The Hoosiers hosted a tri dual meet last season and emerged with two wins. They won a 25-9 result against Eastern Michigan, which included Luke Blanton's upset of Nick Barber, before shutting out Manchester with a 56-0 win.
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).
• In Sunday's dual in Ypsilanti, Indiana wrestlers Cole Weaver (141) and Devin Skatzka (174) will compete in their home state of Michigan for the first time this season. It's Skatzka's first competition in Michigan as a varsity wrestler.
• Elijah Oliver (125), Jake Danishek (157), and Nate Jackson (184) haven't conceded back points to their opponents this season.
• Sophomore Bryce Martin (165) ranks second on the team with 36 takedowns, and has only allowed 4 takedowns this season.
• 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
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