Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Notches National Rankings
10/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Oct. 18, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- With an All-American, a Big Ten champion and five NCAA qualifiers returning to the 2005 Northwestern wrestling team, the Wildcats have garnered several national team and individual rankings entering the 2005-06 season.
As a team, Northwestern enters the season with a top-20 ranking by each of the major wrestling polls. Amateur Wrestling News has the 'Cats preseason No. 12, while The Wrestling Mall and W.I.N. Magazine have Northwestern slated at No. 13. Finally, the National Wrestling Coaches Association pegged Northwestern at No. 18.
Sophomore Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), who finished third nationally in 2005, enters the season ranked No. 2 at 174 lbs. by the The Wrestling Mall. Herbert trails Missouri's Ben Askren in the poll. Amateur Wrestling News and Intermat Wrestling have Herbert pegged at No. 3, trailing Askren and Iowa's Mark Perry. While compiling a 33-3 record in 2005, Herbert was Northwestern's first individual Midlands champion since 1974.
Classmate Dustin Fox (Galion, Ohio/Galion) has earned preseason national acclaim as well. The Wrestling Mall has named Fox No. 5 among heavyweights, while Amateur Wrestling News and Intermat Wrestling have him ranked sixth. Fox went 19-12 last season, including a 4-2 mark during his first trip to the NCAA Championships.
Senior John Velez (Kings Mills, Ohio/Kings) is named preseason No. 7 by The Wrestling Mall and Intermat Wrestling, while Amateur Wrestling News has him at No. 6. Velez went 19-7 during his junior campaign, including a 4-2 record at the NCAA Championships. Velez has qualified for the NCAA Championships the last two years.
After becoming Northwestern's first Big Ten Champion since 2000, Matt Delguyd (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) enters the 2005-06 season ranked No. 8 by Amateur Wrestling News and No. 10 by The Wrestling Mall and Intermat Wrestling. Delguyd went 30-8 last season, while going 2-2 in his second-consecutive NCAA Championships.
After qualifying for his first NCAA Championships in his first collegiate season, Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/Lakewood St. Edward) enters this season with a preseason ranking of No. 10 according to all three wrestling publications. Last season, Lang went 11-2 in dual action, while missing narrowly All-America status by one win.
Sophomore Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) rounds out the Wildcat list with a preseason ranking of No. 11 by Amateur Wrestling News. The Wrestling Mall has Tamillow at No. 13. Tamillow went 22-12 in 2005, becoming one of three Northwestern freshmen to crack the 20-win barrier.
The 'Cats look to repeat their banner 2005 season starting on Nov. 11-12 when they compete at the Michigan State Open.
