Team kicks off Big Ten play on road

The long awaited anticipation for Big Ten play starts this weekend for the IU wrestling team as it prepares for its first two conference matches of the year. The Hoosiers travel to the University of Wisconsin Field House to take on the Badgers at 7 p.m. Friday, and then travel a few hours south to compete Saturday against Northwestern. \nIU coach Duane Goldman knows Friday's match against Wisconsin will be the true test for his team.\n"It's a tough match-up for us," Goldman said. "We've always enjoyed going up and we expect to have some good individual showings. They are a good team this year, and we got our work cut out for us."\nThe 15-3 Hoosiers are coming off an impressive 6-0 weekend last Saturday and Sunday. Included in those wins, was Goldman breaking the all-time win mark for IU wrestling coaches. \nWith the record and six straight wins under its belt, Josh Buuck feels the team is adequately prepared for the tough competition awaiting them.\n"We got to keep on building every week," Buuck said. "Hopefully, once we get into these Big Ten matches, we pull out a couple wins and finish off the season in a good aspect."\nThe top-20 Badgers are 13-2 this season and already have two wins over Big Ten foe, Purdue. They are coming off a solid 4-1 showing in the Virginia Duals, giving the program 600 all-time wins. \nThree Wisconsin wrestlers are ranked nationally in their respective weight classes. Wisconsin coach Barry Davis is just two wins shy of 100 for his career at Wisconsin.\nHoosier wrestlers hope to put a momentary halt to the century mark. \n"I think the guys are pretty excited for the weekend," said sophomore Chad Watson. "All the hard work we've put into the season, I think the guys are ready to get the Big Ten season going."\nAfter Friday night's battle, the team will stay in the area to wrestle Northwestern at 2 p.m. Saturday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wildcats are 8-2 on the year and 0-1 in Big Ten play after Iowa handed them a 39-4 beat-down last weekend. \nIU will also grapple with Missouri Baptist of the American Midwest Conference. The Spartans finished 14th at the NAIA National Tournament with one of their wrestlers being a returning All-American. Despite this, Goldman knows the importance of every Big Ten meet. \n"With the Big Ten season, all matches affect seeding, come Big Ten Tournament time," Goldman said. "These matches are important, not only as a team and dual meet wins, but individually for seeding."\nThe busy weekend on the road and the prospect of kicking off Big Ten action is an exciting prospect for IU wrestlers. The non-conference schedule was faced with many top-20 teams but the challenges of the Big Ten will be a test.\n"We got a little momentum going on from last weekend," said sophomore Nick Spatola. "We definitely want to keep the roll on this weekend and make it eight in a row."\nGoldman could not agree more.\n"Last weekend gave some guys a pretty good opportunity to get into some competition and get healthy," Goldman said. "Hopefully everyone is healthy coming into a tough four weeks obviously with all of our Big Ten matches coming up."\n-- Contact staff writer Colin Burns at coaburns@indiana.edu.