Indiana University
Michigan
Hoosiers Back Home Against No. 8 Michigan
1/4/2018 6:39:00 PM | Wrestling
IU’s Big Ten home opener is their first U-Gym action in a month
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – With this start to their Big Ten dual meet schedule, Indiana's wrestling team is sure to be battle-tested as they ramp towards the postseason in a couple months. The Hoosiers host No. 8 Michigan in their Big Ten home opener, their third straight dual meet against a top-10 foe after visiting the nation's top two teams last month. Enduring a quick turnaround from last weekend's Midlands Championships, Indiana is set to embark on a favorable final stretch with five of their seven remaining dual meets at University Gymnasium.
That starts with the Wolverines on Friday night, and the Hoosiers will look to their pair of Michiganders—No. 17 Cole Weaver (141) and Devin Skatzka (174)—to lead the way. The action will be dual cast via BTN Plus on BTN2Go.com and FloWrestling.com.
Big Ten Wrestling
Indiana (6-3, 0-2) vs. No. 8/6 Michigan (2-1, 0-0)
Friday, January 5 • 7:00 p.m. ET • FloWrestling • BTN Plus • TrackWrestling
University Gymnasium • Bloomington, Indiana
Projected Starters (Rankings provided by FloWrestling):
125: Elijah Oliver (IU) vs. No. 11 Drew Mattin (MICH) /or/ Austin Assad (MICH)
133: Garrett Pepple (IU) vs. No. 8 Stevan Micic (MICH)
141: Cole Weaver (IU) vs. Sal Profaci (MICH)
149: Davey Tunon (IU) vs. Malik Amine (MICH) /or/ Ben Lamantia (MICH)
157: Jake Danishek (IU) /or/ Austin Holmes (IU) vs. No. 5 Alec Pantaleo (MICH)
165: Bryce Martin (IU) vs. Reece Hughes (MICH)
174: Devin Skatzka (IU) vs. No. 5 Myles Amine (MICH)
184: Norman Conley (IU) vs. No. 5 Domenic Abounader (MICH)
197: Jake Kleimola (IU) /or/ Spencer Irick (IU) vs. No. 12 Kevin Beazley (MICH) /or/ Jackson Striggow (MICH)
285: Fletcher Miller (IU) vs. No. 2 Adam Coon (MICH) /or/ Luke Ready (MICH)
Last Time: Medals at Midlands
Indiana closed the book on 2017 competition with last weekend's Midlands Championships, hosted by Northwestern University at Sears Centre Arena. The Hoosiers earned a 15th-place team finish with two podium placers, led by Cole Weaver's (141) runner-up finish in a highly competitive weight bracket. Devin Skatzka (174) joined Weaver on the podium, taking eighth-place.
Weaver's standing became the highest tournament finish of his collegiate career and Indiana's first Midlands finalist since Taylor Walsh (165) won it all in 2014. Skatzka became Indiana's eighth all-time wrestler with two podium finishes at Midlands, adding to his fifth-place finish in 2016.
Weaver Fever
The most captivating storyline of Indiana's 2017-18 season has been junior Cole Weaver (141), who's wrestling better than ever in a career burdened by a pair of injury setbacks. Weaver (19-5) made his debut in the national rankings with a strong third-place showing at the Navy Classic (11/18) and has since broken personal records for single-season wins, pins (6), and tournament podiums.
Weaver had his freshman year shortened by a season-ending injury, followed by a limited sophomore season due to an injury sustained before the start of the year.
Series History: Indiana vs Michigan
The Hoosiers and Wolverines clash for the 87th time since their first meet in 1924. Michigan leads the overall series, 61-23-2, while Indiana seeks their first win over the Wolverines since the 2009-10 season, a favorable 22-13 result in Bloomington.
Indiana could have as many as four returning starters from their most recent meet during the 2015-16 season. Elijah Oliver (125) scored a win in that meet while Cole Weaver (141) and Jake Danishek (157) lost a pair of close decisions. Junior Fletcher Miller (285) faces a dual meet rematch with No. 2 Adam Coon.
This marks the 14th all-time meeting between Duane Goldman and Joe McFarland as head coaches. McFarland served as Indiana's head coach (1989-92); Goldman was McFarland's assistant.
Interstate Encounters
Friday's meet against Michigan will pit a pair of Michiganders against a conference team from their home state for the first time this season: Cole Weaver (141) and Devin Skatzka (174). The duo combined for seven Michigan state championships in their prep careers.
Conversely, Michigan sophomore Stevan Micic (133) hails from Indiana, and he'll make his first dual meet appearance at IU.
Up Next: Spartans on the BTN Stage
The Hoosiers continue their January home stand two weeks later as they host the Michigan State Spartans at the U-Gym. Matches begin at 6:00 p.m. ET and will air live on Big Ten Network.
The meet brings Michigan State head coach Roger Chandler to the U-Gym for the first time since his appointment. Chandler (1994-97) was a three-time All-American for IU, reaching the NCAA title bout in 1997.
Back Points...
• Devin Skatzka's team-leading six pins have occurred in 15:14 aggregate time. The sophomore set a career best with a fall in 0:47 against Northern Illinois (12/2).
• Junior Elijah Oliver (125) remains unbeaten in Big Ten dual meets this season, at 2-0.
• This is the third time this season that Indiana is projected to face at least five top-10 wrestlers in one dual meet.
• After No. 8 Michigan, the Hoosiers will face four more teams currently ranked in the national top 25: No. 16 Wisconsin (1/26), No. 20 Nebraska (1/28), No. 12 Illinois (2/2), and No. 24 Purdue (2/4).
