Northwestern University Athletics
No. 14 Northwestern Set For Home Opener
12/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 13, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's 14th-ranked wrestling team is set to open its home-dual schedule with a triangular dual meet against the University of Chicago and University of Indianapolis at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Live video of the meet will be streamed on NUsports.com via CSTV's All-Access. To subscribe to All-Access, visit NUsports.com and browse to the audio/video page.
The Wildcats return to the friendly confines of Welsh-Ryan Arena for the first time since facing Wisconsin on February 20.
The 'Cats open the meet by facing area-foe University of Chicago at 2 p.m. The Maroons come into the match with a 1-1 record this season after losing their season opener to UW-Whitewater, then taking their home opener from Wabash on Nov. 30.
Northwestern enters the meet after taking plenty of rest. With Northwestern having finals last week, the Wildcats have been idle since their 28-10 win over Northern Illinois on Dec. 1.
Hopefully the time off was well spent, as the 'Cats now face a two week span with a double dual and two major tournaments -- Reno Tournament of Champions and Midlands -- to close out 2005.
The Wildcats, statistically, appear to be the favorites heading into the dual meet with Chicago. The 14th-ranked Wildcats enter the meet with seven wrestlers ranked in the USA Today/NWCA individual poll.
That being said, the Maroons have experienced their fair share of recent success as well.
In 2004, Chicago won its fourth-consecutive University Athletic Association title, was ranked in the NCAA Division III poll throughout the season and had one NCAA qualifier.
Chicago boasts a young team, evident by six freshmen in its lineup versus UW-Whitewater.
The Maroons' most impressive wrestler this season has been junior Mike Bishoff at 165 lbs. Bishoff is off to a 6-1 start this season after going 4-1 at the Concordia (Wis.) Invite and posting a 2-0 record in the Maroons' two dual meets.
Following the competition with the Maroons, Northwestern will have to refocus and face the University of Indianapolis, which finished 15th last season at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships.
After beginning the season in the No. 12 spot according to the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association Poll, the Greyhounds now find themselves at No. 19.
Indianapolis has two wrestlers ranked in the individual poll as well -- No. 2 Shane Perkey at 133 lbs. and No. 2 Mike Jackson at 174 lbs. In addition, junior Jose Navarro has wrestled to a perfect 8-0 record this season at 285 lbs.
The Greyhounds enter the match after wrestling to a 1-2 record last weekend at the Purdue Duals. Indianapolis fell to Purdue and Eastern Michigan, but edged William Penn, 21-20.
Following their action Thursday, the Wildcats pack up and head to Reno, Nev., for the 2005 Reno Tournament of Champions.
Twenty-seven teams, including five ranked in the Top 25 of the latest USA Today/NWCA Division I rankings, will be on hand Sunday at the tournament. Three-time defending national champion and top-ranked Oklahoma State will join No. 10 Central Michigan, No. 12 Penn State, No. 14 Northwestern and No. 17 Arizona State in the field that has a strong mix of all divisions of collegiate wrestling.
This marks the first time Northwestern is competing in the Reno Tournament of Champions.
