Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Begin Season at Michigan State Open
11/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 17, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern's wrestling team begins its 2004-05 season by traveling to East Lansing, Mich. to compete in the Michigan State Open Saturday, Nov. 20 and Sunday, Nov 21. More than 350 wrestlers will compete in the two-day, double-elimination event.
Last year, sophomore Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) competed unattached from NU in the tournament, taking first place at 174 lbs. Herbert was making his first collegiate appearance and took down Pittsburgh's Francis Iorfido in the championship match. Along the way, he upset No. 4 seed Kevin Carr of Central Michigan 6-4, and topped Columbia's No. 5 seed Matt Palmer 11-7.
Coming off their best record in six years -- 9-9 overall -- and after importing one of the strongest recruiting classes in Head Coach Tim Cysewski's 15-year tenure, Northwestern wrestling has high expectations for the 2004-05 season.
With five returning starters, four of whom competed at the NCAA Championships in 2003-04, and 15 returning letterwinners, Cysewski is rightfully excited about his team.
"With the collection of talent we have on this team right now, I'm expecting us to continue to improve in both Big Ten and some of the national tournaments we compete in," Cysewski said. "The guys we had compete in the NCAA Tournament earned some great experience, which will really boost our confidence this year."
Last year's NCAA qualifiers -- sophomore Nick Hayes, junior Matt Delguyd, redshirt junior John Velez and senior Mike Kimberlin -- will be charged with leading the 'Cats.
Hayes will be given the keys to the starting slot at 165 lbs. after going 9-7 in his freshman campaign. Cysewski expects him to make the leap and become an even better performer this year.
As one of NU's soundest, most reliable wrestlers, Delguyd will compete at 197 lbs. He has recorded two 20-win seasons for the 'Cats, almost cracking the 30-win barrier last year with a stellar 28-10 mark.
Since his 0-4 freshman season, Velez has improved every year to the tune of a 28-13 record last year. He will once again anchor the 125-lb. weight class for the 'Cats.
"John is one of the hardest working guys on the team," Cysewski said. "We're looking for big things from him this year."
The 157-lb. weight class, according to Cysewski, is the most competitive division in the Big Ten. He has again tabbed senior Mike Kimberlin to shoulder the load in that weight class.
"Being a senior this year, I expect him to have his best season yet," Cysewski said. "We need him to step up and be a leader this year even more so than he has been in the past."
Kimberlin currently has the most career wins of anyone on the Wildcats' roster with a 59-50 record. He is coming off a 22-15 mark in 2003-04, going 7-7 in duals action.
The 133-lb. division will be up for grabs between senior Jon Ott and sophomore Jarred Mercado. Ott brings experience to the table for NU, while Mercado has yet to compete at the collegiate level after redshirting his last year.
There will also be competition for the starting spot at 149 lbs. After starting for the 'Cats last year, junior Jimmy Kim will get some competition from freshman Greg Hagel. A native of Linwood, N.J., Hagel captured fourth place at the High School National in 2004, earning all-America honors.
Herbert will be the Wildcats' man at 174 lbs. Herbert was the 2003 Pennsylvania high school state champion his senior year, and posted a solid 9-7 record last year as a freshman.
At 184 lbs., incoming freshman Mike Tamillow will compete with junior Joseph Gulotta for the right to start for the 'Cats. Tamillow comes to the Wildcat program highly touted after gaining national recognition at the 2004 ASICS/Vaughan Junior Freestyle National Championships July 25, 2004 in Fargo, N.D. He placed fifth in the 189-pound division. Gulotta will get a chance to start at 184 lbs., but also could cut weight to 174 lbs., according to Cysewski.
At heavyweight, incoming freshman Dustin Fox also will get a chance to start for NU after turning in a top performance of his own at the 2004 ASICS/Vaughan Junior Freestyle National Championships. Fox, the No. 3-ranked heavyweight in the country in high school, defeated top-ranked and defending national champion Matt Fields, 4-1, to become the new national champion.
"Dustin is one of the best heavyweights in the country, period," Cysewski said.
Fox adds the national championship to an already impressive resume. With national championships in both Greco-Roman and Freestyle, Fox has displayed his versatility and ability to excel at a variety of styles. He was a Junior Greco-Roman All-American in 2004, and a Junior Freestyle All-American in 2003. Fox is also a two-time high school state champion and three-time high school state place-winner.
Senior Scott Johnson will bring some experience to the heavyweight division for the 'Cats after posting a career-best 9-7 record last year.
With a slew of talented freshman and an experienced group of upperclassmen to lead the way, the Wildcats are looking forward to a successful season and postseason.
