Indiana University Athletics
Work Ethic Leads Trio of Hoosier Wrestlers to NCAA Championships
3/17/2021 7:29:00 AM | Wrestling
By Jared Rigdon
This time last year, IU sophomore Graham Rooks had just wrapped up a spot in the NCAA Wrestling Championships. He was set to go to Minneapolis, Minn., along with former teammate Liam Cronin, as the 23rd-ranked seed in the 149 lb. class.
Then everything stopped and the NCAA Championships were canceled. His season was done. His chance at a coveted National Championship was over.
One year later, he has qualified once again. After finishing sixth in the Big Ten Championships, he, his brother Cayden Rooks and D.J. Washington, who also finished sixth in his weight class at the Big Ten Championships, will represent IU in St. Louis this weekend with the ultimate prize on the line.
The National Championship.
You grew up and you see the National Championships on ESPN," IU head coach Angel Escobedo said. "And it's just kind of a highlight that you always dream of getting your hand raised. So I was able to do that. I'm just thankful to have to coach guys that have the opportunity to do the same. I believe these three guys are capable of winning national titles."
For Graham and Cayden Rooks, this is a moment that has been years in the making. The two have been wrestling partners for as long as they can remember.
They've wrestled together since their days in the youth ranks. Graham qualified through his success at the Big Ten Championships while Cayden did enough to earn himself an at-large bid in the bracket.
Now the pair have a chance to make a new set of memories.
"It's something our parents have been talking about, since we were really young," Cayden said. "It's not about high school. It's not about grade school wrestling. It's about preparing for this moment. So it's awesome that we get to be here together."
All three of IU's wrestlers going to the NCAA Championships hold a big chip on their shoulders. They all had successful high school careers in the state of Indiana, but nothing that warranted heavy rankings from media outlets.
They all came to IU and put in the work. They worked their roles. Even through a redshirt year, through injuries and through a global pandemic. They remained the course.
"I never won a state," Washington said. "I never won any of the big tournaments. We just worked hard. You know, I came in not really a high recruit probably. I wasn't ranked in the country, not ranked for anything but we just worked hard and Angel told me "take these steps with me and like trust the process, we'll get there."
All three have had successful Big Ten campaigns, an impressive feat in the nation's most difficult wrestling conference.
Washington enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 9 seed, Graham the No. 21 seed and Cayden as the No. 32 seed.
"I think we all kind of expected this. We train as hard as we can every single day," Graham said. "It's something we expected and something we strive for. So to be here now, yes, we're grateful for the opportunity. But we're also ready to go.
These three guys represent the model that Escobedo is trying to build. All hail from Indiana. Cayden and Graham from Columbus East High School and Washington from Portage High School.
Up and down the bracket at the NCAA Championships will be guys that wrestled in the preps ranks of Indiana.
The next step in IU's rebuild: make sure those guys are wearing Indiana across their chest.
"Shows the guys that Angel wants to keep good talent in the state," Cayden said. "We're always working. If you work hard everyday here, you can get here."
They've put in the work this season. They sacrificed a social life to honor COVID protocols from the Big Ten. They've wrestled the best.
Now it's time to roll the dice and see what happens.
"We're just having fun now," Washington said. "We're here now. It's just about having fun and getting ready to go.
This time last year, IU sophomore Graham Rooks had just wrapped up a spot in the NCAA Wrestling Championships. He was set to go to Minneapolis, Minn., along with former teammate Liam Cronin, as the 23rd-ranked seed in the 149 lb. class.
Then everything stopped and the NCAA Championships were canceled. His season was done. His chance at a coveted National Championship was over.
One year later, he has qualified once again. After finishing sixth in the Big Ten Championships, he, his brother Cayden Rooks and D.J. Washington, who also finished sixth in his weight class at the Big Ten Championships, will represent IU in St. Louis this weekend with the ultimate prize on the line.
The National Championship.
You grew up and you see the National Championships on ESPN," IU head coach Angel Escobedo said. "And it's just kind of a highlight that you always dream of getting your hand raised. So I was able to do that. I'm just thankful to have to coach guys that have the opportunity to do the same. I believe these three guys are capable of winning national titles."
For Graham and Cayden Rooks, this is a moment that has been years in the making. The two have been wrestling partners for as long as they can remember.
They've wrestled together since their days in the youth ranks. Graham qualified through his success at the Big Ten Championships while Cayden did enough to earn himself an at-large bid in the bracket.
Now the pair have a chance to make a new set of memories.
"It's something our parents have been talking about, since we were really young," Cayden said. "It's not about high school. It's not about grade school wrestling. It's about preparing for this moment. So it's awesome that we get to be here together."
All three of IU's wrestlers going to the NCAA Championships hold a big chip on their shoulders. They all had successful high school careers in the state of Indiana, but nothing that warranted heavy rankings from media outlets.
They all came to IU and put in the work. They worked their roles. Even through a redshirt year, through injuries and through a global pandemic. They remained the course.
"I never won a state," Washington said. "I never won any of the big tournaments. We just worked hard. You know, I came in not really a high recruit probably. I wasn't ranked in the country, not ranked for anything but we just worked hard and Angel told me "take these steps with me and like trust the process, we'll get there."
All three have had successful Big Ten campaigns, an impressive feat in the nation's most difficult wrestling conference.
Washington enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 9 seed, Graham the No. 21 seed and Cayden as the No. 32 seed.
"I think we all kind of expected this. We train as hard as we can every single day," Graham said. "It's something we expected and something we strive for. So to be here now, yes, we're grateful for the opportunity. But we're also ready to go.
These three guys represent the model that Escobedo is trying to build. All hail from Indiana. Cayden and Graham from Columbus East High School and Washington from Portage High School.
Up and down the bracket at the NCAA Championships will be guys that wrestled in the preps ranks of Indiana.
The next step in IU's rebuild: make sure those guys are wearing Indiana across their chest.
"Shows the guys that Angel wants to keep good talent in the state," Cayden said. "We're always working. If you work hard everyday here, you can get here."
They've put in the work this season. They sacrificed a social life to honor COVID protocols from the Big Ten. They've wrestled the best.
Now it's time to roll the dice and see what happens.
"We're just having fun now," Washington said. "We're here now. It's just about having fun and getting ready to go.
Players Mentioned
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Thursday, April 16