Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats to Clash With Badgers, Wolverines
2/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 18, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill.--Northwestern's wrestling team (9-7, 0-6 Big Ten) plays out its conference schedule this weekend when it faces No. 13 Wisconsin at 7 p.m. Friday in Madison, Wis., and No. 3 Michigan at 2 p.m. Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
NU, which had a bye-week last week, will say farewell to five seniors--Paul Augle (Tinley Park, Ill./Providence Catholic), Josh Ballard (Carlsbad, N.M./Carlsbad), Andrew Curran (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel), Michael Little (El Reno, Okla./El Reno) and Nolan Walther (Anchorage, Alaska/Anthony J. Dimond)--on Sunday.
"These guys worked very hard throughout their career," said head coach Tim Cysewski. "I am hopeful they can end it on a positive note with wins this weekend."
A couple of underclassmen that have done especially well this year will complement the seniors in the lineup. Sophomore Matt Delguyd (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) is 20-5 at 197 lbs., and freshman Nick Hayes is 11-4 at 165 lbs., including a team-best 5-1 in the Big Ten. Both seek to help the Wildcats pick up its first conference viictory.
NU will have its work cut out for it when taking on these InterMat top-15 teams. The Badgers (16-6, 3-4) have several ranked wrestlers, including No. 4 Tom Clum (23-3,125 lbs.) and No. 18 Ed Gutnik (17-8, 133 lbs.). Wisconsin is coming off three-straight losses, with the most recent at the hands of Michigan last Sunday.
The Wolverines recently became the highest-ranked Big Ten team, and deservedly so. They have won eight of their last nine for a 16-3 overall record (6-1 Big Ten), and eight of their starters are ranked. No. 2 Foley Dowd at 133 lbs. heads his squad with a perfect 14-0 record, while teammate Ryan Bertin follows with a No. 2 ranking of his own and a 20-2 record.
"Ranked teams are what the Big Ten is all about," said Cysewski. "For us, it is a matter of going into these matches with a good attitude in order to leave with a win."
After this weekend, the 'Cats will take a week off before competing in the Big Ten Championships March 6-7 in Columbus, Ohio.
