Indiana University Athletics
Wrestling Thankful to Open Season
1/8/2021 11:08:00 AM | Wrestling
By Jared Rigdon
IUHoosiers.Com
It's been nearly 11 months since Indiana wrestled in a competitive match at Wilkinson Hall. That will change this Sunday afternoon as Illinois comes to Bloomington for the wrestling season opener in a campaign unlike any other.
The Big Ten's return to play guidelines mean that most Olympic sports will play a conference only schedule during the spring. With IU wrestling only conference foes, third-year head coach Angel Escobedo has a unique challenge on his plate this season.
There will be no open duels at the beginning of the year and no non-conference matches to ease the way in. Week in and week out will provide some of the toughest competition that the country has to offer. And Escobedo and his squad are excited for the opportunity that presents.
"The Big Ten has created a protocol for us to be able to compete against the best guys in the country," Escobedo said. "We are blessed that we're in conference and wrestling the best guys we can."
Indiana has won just two conference matches in his first two years at the helm. Both of those came against Maryland. It's been a steady climb to rebuild an IU program that hasn't had much team success in recent years.
But this year provides an extra opportunity. It's a chance for IU to go out and shock the conference. That begins one match at a time.
"It's about going out there and competing against Illinois," Escobedo said. "We haven't beaten them in over 13 years so why not this be the year. Crazy things have happened in 2020 and we want to make great things happen in 2021.
Senior Brock Hudkins is one wrestler that Escobedo will be looking to help energize the program. After sitting out a year following his transfer from Northern Illinois, Hudkins missed most of last season with an injury. But now he's back and healthy.
Coming into the weekend, he's the eighth-ranked wrestler in the 125-lb weight class and has rejuvenated optimism around IU's ability to compete against top-tier programs in the conference.
"To have the routine and have a season upon us starting this Sunday, it's amazing and I'm ready to go," Hudkins said. "It's a little different but I think we're ready."
Seven of IU's 10 projected starters this weekend are ranked in the initial preseason polls. It's the first time that Escobedo remembers that being the case in recent memory. It's a testament to the results that underclassmen achieved at open tournaments and the resumes of returning upperclassmen.
It will be put to the test this weekend against a solid Illinois squad that defeated IU last year. With a free year of eligibility for every athlete, Escobedo has the flexibility to play with his lineup this season. More wrestlers will find their way into the rotation and each match will provide an opportunity for IU to put out the most competitive lineup.
"It's more excitement," Escobedo said. "There's a different energy with the guys. It's like a release that it's finally here. Their mood has changed. They're happier just coming to practice knowing that each day they're getting closer to finally competing. It's cool to see because they've been faced with so much adversity and now they get rewarded for all the hard work they've put in"
IUHoosiers.Com
It's been nearly 11 months since Indiana wrestled in a competitive match at Wilkinson Hall. That will change this Sunday afternoon as Illinois comes to Bloomington for the wrestling season opener in a campaign unlike any other.
The Big Ten's return to play guidelines mean that most Olympic sports will play a conference only schedule during the spring. With IU wrestling only conference foes, third-year head coach Angel Escobedo has a unique challenge on his plate this season.
There will be no open duels at the beginning of the year and no non-conference matches to ease the way in. Week in and week out will provide some of the toughest competition that the country has to offer. And Escobedo and his squad are excited for the opportunity that presents.
"The Big Ten has created a protocol for us to be able to compete against the best guys in the country," Escobedo said. "We are blessed that we're in conference and wrestling the best guys we can."
Indiana has won just two conference matches in his first two years at the helm. Both of those came against Maryland. It's been a steady climb to rebuild an IU program that hasn't had much team success in recent years.
But this year provides an extra opportunity. It's a chance for IU to go out and shock the conference. That begins one match at a time.
"It's about going out there and competing against Illinois," Escobedo said. "We haven't beaten them in over 13 years so why not this be the year. Crazy things have happened in 2020 and we want to make great things happen in 2021.
Senior Brock Hudkins is one wrestler that Escobedo will be looking to help energize the program. After sitting out a year following his transfer from Northern Illinois, Hudkins missed most of last season with an injury. But now he's back and healthy.
Coming into the weekend, he's the eighth-ranked wrestler in the 125-lb weight class and has rejuvenated optimism around IU's ability to compete against top-tier programs in the conference.
"To have the routine and have a season upon us starting this Sunday, it's amazing and I'm ready to go," Hudkins said. "It's a little different but I think we're ready."
Seven of IU's 10 projected starters this weekend are ranked in the initial preseason polls. It's the first time that Escobedo remembers that being the case in recent memory. It's a testament to the results that underclassmen achieved at open tournaments and the resumes of returning upperclassmen.
It will be put to the test this weekend against a solid Illinois squad that defeated IU last year. With a free year of eligibility for every athlete, Escobedo has the flexibility to play with his lineup this season. More wrestlers will find their way into the rotation and each match will provide an opportunity for IU to put out the most competitive lineup.
"It's more excitement," Escobedo said. "There's a different energy with the guys. It's like a release that it's finally here. Their mood has changed. They're happier just coming to practice knowing that each day they're getting closer to finally competing. It's cool to see because they've been faced with so much adversity and now they get rewarded for all the hard work they've put in"
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