Northwestern University Athletics
2001-2002 Wrestling Season in Review
5/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
May 14, 2002
They participate in a sport that requires all-out endurance for seven minutes. They compete in a conference that boasts eight of the top 25 teams in the nation, including two-time defending national champion Minnesota. Nobody ever said it was easy to be a Northwestern wrestler. There is no off weekend or easy match. Every weekend for four months, the Wildcat grapplers stepped onto the mat and battled the very best in the nation night after night.
NU came away from the 2001-02 season with a 7-5 nonconference record, but the 'Cats were unable to snag a Big Ten victory as they went 0-8 against league opponents. Even without a Big Ten dual win, the Wildcats qualified two wrestlers for the NCAA Championships in Albany, N.Y. As a true testament to the strength of the Big Ten, the top seven in each weight class received berths to nationals, by far the most of any conference.
John Giacche (Flemington, N.J./Blair Academy) led the 'Cats all season, finishing with a team-high 29 wins, including a 6-2 mark in the Big Ten at 141 pounds. Giacche placed sixth at the conference tourney to qualify for his first-ever trip to nationals. He won his opening match in Albany with a 11-4 decision over Rob Becker of George Mason. Giacche also placed first at the Michigan State Open and third at the Northern Open earlier in the year. Giacche spent much of the season ranked in the top 25 of his weight class. At the team's awards banquet, Giacche all but swept the team awards, winning for the most falls and was named the team's Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Ryan Kane (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) kept Giacche from making a clean sweep of the postseason awards by being named the team's Most Improved Wrestler. Kane joined Giacche at NCAA's after a seventh-place finish at Big Tens. Kane won 28 matches during the year, going 5-1 in the Big Ten at 165 pounds. His biggest win of the season was a 13-7 decision over 12th-ranked John Hardy of Minnesota. Kane also took fourth at the Northern Open and fifth at the MSU Open.
Two true freshmen made immediate impacts in the lineup. Mike Kimberlin (Bradley, Ill./Bishop McNamara) won 15 matches on the year, while classmate Tommy Vargas (Highland, Calif./Pacific) picked up two Big Ten dual wins.
After suffering a knee injury prior to the season, junior Jason Erwinski (Tinley Park, Ill./Mt. Carmel) had to sit out the beginning of the year. He did not see any action until January. Erwinski also had to adjust to his new weight class. He was 7-1 at 157 pounds last season, but moved up to 174 this year-a more natural weight for the Illinois native. Erwinski finished the year with a 7-10 record, including a 46-second pin in the Wendy Duals.
Only one NU starter will graduate this year, Rob Potashnick (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway Central), giving head coach Tim Cysewski a solid group of veterans with which to attack the Big Ten next season.
