Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Heads to Hoosier Land
2/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Feb. 13, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Who wants it more? Clich?, maybe, but a legitimate question surrounding this Friday's Big Ten dual between Northwestern and Indiana. Both teams had solid nonconference seasons, but Big Ten competition has been another story. With three conference duals left on NU's docket and four left on IU's, each team is still searching for its first conference win.
The Wildcats started the season 5-1, but have not found the same success against the nation's elite. Six of NU's last eight opponents were ranked in the top 25, and the last three were top-10 foes. Each of the 'Cats' first five conference opponents were ranked 18th or higher. Jason Erwinski (Tinley Park, Ill./Mt. Carmel) has been par for the course during that stretch, winning four of eight matches, despite switching weight classes. The senior is 18-11 this season, including a team-best 10-4 in duals.
The Hoosiers have struggled in the Big Ten as well. Their last three opponents-Purdue, Michigan and Ohio State-were ranked 21st, eighth and fourth at the time of the teams' meetings (all IU losses). Still, 141-pounder Coyte Cooper has been a mainstay in the lineup, winning 30 of his first 32 matches. Pat DeGain is also an impressive 27-3 at 197 pounds, including a 9-4 decision against NU's Matt Delguyd (Mayfield, Ohio/Mayfield) at the Northern Iowa Open.
If John Giacche (Flemington, N.J./Blair Academy) and Mike Kimberlin (Bradley, Ill./Bishop McNamara) can keep wrestling well, the 'Cats' chances to notch their first conference win will improve. Kimberlin is a team-best 23-13 and Giacche is 19-12.
IU won last year's meeting, 36-3, and holds a 38-26-4 series advantage. NU last won in 1998 by a 24-16 margin.
