Northwestern University Athletics
Wrestling Hosts Penn State Friday Night
1/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 31, 2002
Evanston, Ill. - Still looking for that elusive Big Ten victory, the Northwestern wrestling team (7-8, 0-3) hosts Penn State (4-6, 1-0) Friday in Welsh-Ryan Arena at 7 p.m.
The Nittany Lions won their Big Ten opener last weekend with a 26-9 decision over Indiana. In the dual, PSU was led by two sets of twin brothers. Josh and Scott Moore and Jason and James Woodall posted four straight wins and 16 total points late in the dual to put the match out of the Hoosiers' reach.
PSU returns eight starters and six NCAA qualifiers from last year's squad, which placed 25th at NCAAs. Last season in University Park, the Nittany Lions defeated the 'Cats, 22-10. PSU leads the all-time series 5-1.
For NU, junior 141-pounder John Giacche (Flemington, N.J./Blair Academy) returned to the Intermat Wrestling rankings this week at No. 17. He has won eight straight matches, including last week's win over then-No. 11 Marc Juergens of Iowa.
Ryan Kane (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) also has been wrestling well for the 'Cats at 165 pounds. The sophomore is 23-9 overall and 12-3 in dual competition.
As for the lineup, Head Coach Tim Cyseswski has made a change the past few duals, inserting sophomore Josh Ballard (Carlsbad, N.M./Carlsbad) into the 149 pound position for Ryan Cumbee (Frankfort, Ill./Providence).
