Indiana University Athletics
IU Balancing Rest With Work Before Big Tens
2/25/2016 12:12:00 PM | Wrestling
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana's two-week break between the end of dual season and the start of the Big Ten Championships has redshirt sophomore Luke Blanton feeling slightly off as he catches his breath during a light week of work.
So much so that he finds himself using oxymora when reflecting on the season as he and his teammates transition into championship season.
"It's long and it's short at the same time," Blanton said of the season. "I was just talking to somebody and we were like, 'Dang, it's been a month since we traveled to Iowa.' But then again, it seems like just yesterday we started the season and now we're here at the end of it. It's slow and it's fast at the same time."
Things are only going to get quicker for the Hoosiers after taking two days off before returning to practice Wednesday afternoon. Indiana is balancing rest with work this week before ramping up training in preparation for next weekend's Big Ten Wrestling Championships in Iowa City.
"Really, all up and down our lineup we don't have one guy that's not going to benefit from a little bit smarter training, a little less banging," head coach Duane Goldman said. "Hopefully, we'll be in the best shape we've been in all year for the Big Ten Tournament. Banging heads every day is probably not the best way to go about it, so we're trying to do different things to stay sharp and stay in shape."
This week serves as the calm before the storm of what could be a pivotal series of tournament matches for a handful of Hoosiers with NCAA Tournament aspirations.
Redshirt junior Nate Jackson (No. 11 at 174 pounds) and freshman Elijah Oliver (No. 19 at 125 pounds) appear to have established themselves as serious threats to earn NCAA Tournament bids, according to the weekly rankings by InterMat Wrestling. Blanton hasn't been far behind, floating around the projected cut line of the 33-man field at 149 pounds throughout the season.
The trio of Hoosiers have been spending more and more time together at practice, Jackson said. A previous NCAA Tournament qualifier, Jackson has been trying to drop any tips and knowledge he can to help his teammates fighting to compete on a national level.
"I talk to them every day. If we have to get off a few pounds here and there, we're doing it together, us three specifically," Jackson said. "Everybody's fighting a different battle. I can only tell them what I can from my limited perspective, and that's just to keep your head up and keep pushing forward."
The tournament portion of the wrestling schedule is naturally different from the dual season. Oliver said there's generally less emphasis on team scoring and more attention on the individuals competing for championships within their weight classes and making final NCAA Tournament pushes.
"I hate to say it, but I've got to be selfish," Oliver said. "I've got to do what's going to better myself…I've got to stay in that winning mentality. Nothing changes for me. I've got to find a way to gut out wins."
But first comes rest and a chance to relax before one final push to end the season.
Because come next weekend, there's no guaranteed tomorrow.
"With some smart training, but at the same time allowing them to rest and start to feel better, they'll look forward to being on the mat again," Goldman said. "I think right now they're all looking forward to having a weekend where they're not banging heads and they can recover, but I think they'll be ready to go once they get that Big Ten weekend."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana's two-week break between the end of dual season and the start of the Big Ten Championships has redshirt sophomore Luke Blanton feeling slightly off as he catches his breath during a light week of work.
So much so that he finds himself using oxymora when reflecting on the season as he and his teammates transition into championship season.
"It's long and it's short at the same time," Blanton said of the season. "I was just talking to somebody and we were like, 'Dang, it's been a month since we traveled to Iowa.' But then again, it seems like just yesterday we started the season and now we're here at the end of it. It's slow and it's fast at the same time."
Things are only going to get quicker for the Hoosiers after taking two days off before returning to practice Wednesday afternoon. Indiana is balancing rest with work this week before ramping up training in preparation for next weekend's Big Ten Wrestling Championships in Iowa City.
"Really, all up and down our lineup we don't have one guy that's not going to benefit from a little bit smarter training, a little less banging," head coach Duane Goldman said. "Hopefully, we'll be in the best shape we've been in all year for the Big Ten Tournament. Banging heads every day is probably not the best way to go about it, so we're trying to do different things to stay sharp and stay in shape."
This week serves as the calm before the storm of what could be a pivotal series of tournament matches for a handful of Hoosiers with NCAA Tournament aspirations.
Redshirt junior Nate Jackson (No. 11 at 174 pounds) and freshman Elijah Oliver (No. 19 at 125 pounds) appear to have established themselves as serious threats to earn NCAA Tournament bids, according to the weekly rankings by InterMat Wrestling. Blanton hasn't been far behind, floating around the projected cut line of the 33-man field at 149 pounds throughout the season.
The trio of Hoosiers have been spending more and more time together at practice, Jackson said. A previous NCAA Tournament qualifier, Jackson has been trying to drop any tips and knowledge he can to help his teammates fighting to compete on a national level.
"I talk to them every day. If we have to get off a few pounds here and there, we're doing it together, us three specifically," Jackson said. "Everybody's fighting a different battle. I can only tell them what I can from my limited perspective, and that's just to keep your head up and keep pushing forward."
The tournament portion of the wrestling schedule is naturally different from the dual season. Oliver said there's generally less emphasis on team scoring and more attention on the individuals competing for championships within their weight classes and making final NCAA Tournament pushes.
"I hate to say it, but I've got to be selfish," Oliver said. "I've got to do what's going to better myself…I've got to stay in that winning mentality. Nothing changes for me. I've got to find a way to gut out wins."
But first comes rest and a chance to relax before one final push to end the season.
Because come next weekend, there's no guaranteed tomorrow.
"With some smart training, but at the same time allowing them to rest and start to feel better, they'll look forward to being on the mat again," Goldman said. "I think right now they're all looking forward to having a weekend where they're not banging heads and they can recover, but I think they'll be ready to go once they get that Big Ten weekend."
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