Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats to Grapple With Penn State, Ohio State
2/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 4, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill.--Northwestern's wrestling team (9-5, 0-4 Big Ten) faces a tough challenge this weekend when it takes on No. 10 Penn State (9-4, 2-2) at 5 p.m. Friday in University Park, Pa., and No. 22 Ohio State (6-6, 1-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.
Last week, NU fell to No. 3 Illinois 32-7. Freshman Nick Hayes (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Lewis Central) and sophomore Matt Delguyd (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) were the only two Wildcats to win their bouts--Hayes upset No. 20 Donny Reynolds to improve to a team-best 4-0 in the conference.
Hayes, Delguyd and company will have their hands full Friday and Sunday in trying to earn their team's first conference victory.
The Nittany Lions feature second-ranked heavyweight wrestler Pat Cummins, who carries an impressive 30-0 record this year. NU will also have to be wary of senior Josh Moore, ranked fifth at 133 lbs. and 32-5 this season.
"It gives credit to how tough the Big Ten is that Penn State is only 2-2," said head coach Tim Cysewski. "We are anxious to wrestle them, because our teams match up pretty well."
Heavyweight will apparently be a tough weight class this weekend for the Wildcats, as they also have to face the Buckeyes' top-ranked Tommy Rowlands (29-1), who, among his many accomplishments, won the Midlands Wrestling Championships in December. Another starter for Ohio State is senior Jeff Ratliff, ranked 12th at 149 lbs. and 25-7 this year.
"Ohio State is also another team I think we match up well against," said Cysewski. "We need to perform at a high level and be strong the whole match."
The Wildcats will have just two Big Ten matches remaining after this weekend: at Wisconsin on Feb. 20 and at home against Michigan on Feb. 22.
