Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Open Big Ten Play at Iowa
1/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 15, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill.--Northwestern's wrestling team (8-1) takes on Iowa (5-2) in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams at 7 p.m. Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa. NU head coach Tim Cysewski (99-133-5 overall) will be seeking his 100th-career victory.
Cysewski, whose team already has more wins this season than they have had since the team went 9-8 overall in 1997-98, wrestled at Iowa from 1973-76. He states he is not as concerned about achieving the milestone as much as he is about his wrestlers' performances.
"I judge my success only on how the team does in the Big Ten and the postseason," said Cysewski. "Winning my 100th dual match at Iowa would be nice, but whenever it happens, it happens."
NU will be looking to John Velez (Kings Mills, Ohio/Kings) and Matt Delguyd (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) to lead them from the top. The former carries a 24-4 record at 125 lbs. and will have a chance to avenge his narrow 7-6 loss to senior Luke Eustice from the 2003 Midlands Wrestling Championships.
Delguyd has the second-best record on the team at 17-4 and has won his last two bouts a combined 38-8. He dropped his match last year 16-5 to then-Iowa junior Ryan Fulsaas.
The Hawkeyes, who lost to Oklahoma State 30-10 on Sunday, have several wrestlers ranked in the top 10 of InterMat's latest poll, including Eustice (No. 2) and senior Cliff Moore (No. 5, 141 lbs.). Both were All-Americans last year.
"Iowa is a formidable team, especially at home," said Cysewski, noting that the Hawkeyes have lost just 10 matches since moving to Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 1983. "Anytime you wrestle in the Big Ten, you have to expect a much higher level of competition. I think my guys are prepared to do that."
The Wildcats fell 44-6 in last year's meeting between the two teams. The Hawkeyes hold a 59-6-1 advantage in the all-time series.
