Finding the Edge – Washington Wrestles To Be the Best

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Never underestimate the power of honey.

DJ Washington certainly doesn't.

Indiana's junior 174-pound wrestler has built an impressive resume fueled by drinking honey before matches.

If that seems extreme, try wrestling seven grueling minutes against powerful opponents, often while facing make-weight challenges.

You seek an edge wherever you can find it.

It's certainly paid off for Washington. He has a 17-3 record, a No. 18 national ranking and a chance to make deep runs in the upcoming Big Ten and NCAA tourneys for the Hoosiers' emerging national power.

"I've been taking honey since I was 7 or 8 years old," Washington says. "I'd be really tired, take a shot of honey and it would make me hyper. Now it doesn't make me hyper so much, but ready."

Given the caliber of Big Ten competition, he can never be ready enough.

"The only time I ever drink straight-up honey is before a match. When I drink honey, I know it's go time."

Case in point -- Washington's recent 14-5, major-decision victory over Rutgers' Jackson Turley. This was a major turnaround from the 2021 NCAA Championships, when Turley dominated him.

"That guy became an All-American," coach Angel Escobedo says. "DJ wanted that one back. He showed how much he's (reversed) that gap. He beat the guy by nine, eight points. That's a big turnaround. That shows a lot of improvement."

Escobedo, a former IU national champion, sees more coming.

"I always tell him, he can be a world champion. I've been around the best in the world. I've seen what they're capable of. He's capable of all those things. He has it all -- length, speed, strength. I'm excited for him. This is just another steppingstone for him to be the best in the world one day."

Washington is coming off a 9-8 loss to No. 15 Bailee O'Reilly of Minnesota, a highly anticipated match that was featured by BTN's weekly wrestling show, B1G Wrestling in 60. Washington built an 8-4 lead before Reilly rallied, a result that figures to motivate moving forward.

"He's never shied away from competition," Escobedo says. "No matter how much he wins or loses, he's in the room every day working. I love that about him.

Washington says his improvement is a combination of mental and physical preparation.

"I'm focused on the end game," he says, "on the NCAA championships. Every match, this is what I need to learn. Every match, I learn something different about myself."

Washington has bounced back from last season's leg injury against Purdue. A 10-0 start with eight pins that saw him rise to No. 6 nationally at 184 pounds ended with just 13 wins (he did make the NCAA Championships) and surgery.

A strong offseason of rehab work paid off.

"After getting injured, I took a lot of losses at the end of the year, and then I had surgery," Washington says. "I was going on this downhill spiral. I was doubting myself. It was depressing."

Talks with Escobedo and others turned doubt into belief.

"Now I feel my mindset is my strongest weapon. No matter the situation, I've been mentally intact and ready to go. No matter what happens, I feel fine."

Adds Escobedo: "Last year left a bad taste in his mouth. He got injured at the end and didn't perform the way he wanted to at the NCAAs. This summer he rehabbed hard. In the preseason, he put in a lot of work. It's starting to show. He's putting together complete matches."

Washington arrived at Indiana from Portage High School without a major-championship-filled resume. He twice placed in the Indiana high school state meet, getting a second and a fifth. He was fourth at the Fargo Cadet Greco Nationals, second at the NHSCAA juniors and seventh at Flo Nationals. He also was a 2018 Junior National runner-up and took third at the Junior Central Regionals, also is 2018.

What Washington lacked in first-place achievements he made up for in heart and determination.

Escobedo noticed.

"I saw a kid who really loved the sport. He competed everywhere. The unique thing was he didn't win at the biggest tournaments, but he kept showing up. That's a guy who loves it. He's not only in it for the results, but for the process.

"I thought to myself, he will be good one day. That's what he's been."

Once Escobedo offered, no other school had a chance.

"I love everything about IU, from the people here to our staff (academic and athletic)," Washington says. "It made it feel like home right away. After Indiana, I didn't make any other visits."

Washington made an impact while redshirting as a freshman, going 22-9 and finishing sixth in the prestigious Midlands tourney. Then in his first varsity season, he won 21 matches, placed sixth in the Big Ten meet and qualified for the NCAA tourney. He also wrested in the junior worlds in Russia.

He followed that with last season's NCAA-qualifying run.

Now, he's a leader for the nation's No. 25 team, an on-the-rise program that already has three ranked victories on its 6-2 dual-meet record resume.

Next up -- Sunday's meet at Purdue.

"I know our team will do what it does best," Washington says, "and that's keep wrestling through every second. That will win us duals."

Given the Big Ten's strength -- 12 conference teams are ranked, led by No. 1 Penn State, No. 2 Iowa and No. 3 Michigan -- winning isn't easy, but more and more, these Hoosiers are built for it.

"We were a good team last year, but we were going against great teams," Washington says. "Now is the time for us not to be good team, but a great team. To not just being in duals, but to winning and dominating them."

Finding the Edge – Washington Wrestles To Be the Best

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