Talented Big Ten to test IU

For a Big Ten wrestler to become a national qualifier, he must place in the top seven in his weight class or earn one of three wild-card spots at this weekend's conference championships.\nSo it\'s easy to qualify, right? In Big Ten wrestling, nothing is easy.\nMore than 60 wrestlers ranked in the top 20 nationally -- spanning 10 weight classes -- will compete at the prestigious conference championships Saturday and Sunday at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.\nIU has four individuals ranked in the top 20 and three returning national qualifiers. Six Hoosiers are pre-seeded in the top seven of their weight class for this weekend's tournament. No Hoosiers are favored to win a conference title, but sophomore Ty Matthews (197 lbs.) said this weekend is a fresh start for each wrestler.\n"You could be 0-10 in the Big Ten, but if you place in the top seven at the championships, you are going to nationals," Matthews said.\nThe road to nationals will not be smooth for any Hoosier, but sophomore Greg Schaefer (125) might have the most difficult road ahead. Schaefer, ranked seventh, will wrestle in a weight class with nine contenders in the top 20. He is pre-seeded third behind Iowa's Jody Strittmatter and Minnesota's Leroy Vega. Schaefer defeated Vega 6-1 earlier this year in conference action and has won nine consecutive matches, finishing the conference season 6-1\nRedshirt freshman Coyte Cooper (141) will test his 4-4 conference record against seven top-20 opponents. Pre-seeded seventh in his first conference championship, he said being mentally prepared and staying relaxed will be vital to a strong performance.\n"I think the one thing I am keeping in mind is that I have one chance to do what I want to do, as far as goal-wise as a freshman," Cooper said. \nCooper said he would most like to match up with Iowa's Doug Schwab this weekend. Schwab is ranked first nationally, but Cooper said anything can happen in a championship atmosphere.\n"If you are not ready to go, you can lose to a lot of the guys in the bracket," Cooper said. "But if you are ready to go, you can beat a lot of the guys in your bracket."\nSenior Gabe Cook (149) will make his final run in the conference showdown while true freshman Alex LaPoint (157) will make his debut. \nReturning national qualifier senior Kevin Stanley (165) will attempt to become a four-time national qualifier. The ninth-ranked Hoosier is 5-3 in the Big Ten, but has five other wrestlers ranked among the top 11 of the weight class, including No. 1 Donny Pritzlaff of Wisconsin. Stanley said this weekend is the first step to becoming an All-American. \n"If I can go back and beat the guys who beat me in the duals, not only could I jump up in the rankings, but it seeds me better in the NCAAs," Stanley said. \nIU's best chance for a Big Ten champion is returning national qualifier Viktor Sveda (184), a junior who is ranked fourth in his weight class, is 29-5 overall and 7-1 in the conference. Pre-seeded second this weekend, Sveda will have to beat fourth-ranked freshman Damion Hahn of Minnesota and top-ranked Nate Patrick of Illinois to win the trophy.\nMatthews is the final returning national qualifier for the Hoosiers. Matthews split time with junior Brett Becks throughout the season, but coach Duane Goldman chose Matthews for this weekend based on his experience and 18-6 record. Matthews said competing under the pressure of the Big Ten championships will be easier the second time. \n"Last year, I was a nervous wreck; I was terrible," Matthews said. "I froze up and didn't wrestle to my potential. I think this year I should be able to loosen up a little bit."\nSenior heavyweight Mike Dixon will need to record several upsets to claim a conference championship. Four of his opponents are ranked in the top five nationally, including Ohio State's Tommy Rowlands (No. 1) and Minnesota's Garrett Lowney (No. 2), who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. \nPre-seeded eighth, Dixon said he is coming off his best week of practice this season and believes he has a chance to win the conference title.\n"I have been working with the coaching staff," Dixon said. "I think I am able to come through with stuff I wasn't able to early in the year"