IU sees highs and lows of Big 10 play

It was an up-and-down weekend for Indiana. The wrestlers upset Michigan State Saturday in convincing style, only to be crushed on the road by Illinois. \nThe Hoosiers took the mat at University Gym against Michigan State wondering whether senior heavyweight Pat DeGain would be able to go against the No. 12 Spartans. DeGain, ranked fifth, missed last weekend's match versus Wisconsin as well as most of practice this week with an injured shoulder. \nTurns out IU didn't need him after all, as they rolled to a 33-4 win by racking up nine victories in the match. \nJunior All-American Joe Dubuque started off with a 6-4 victory over third-ranked and previously unbeaten Nick Simmons. Dubuque jumped out to a 6-2 lead with three takedowns, and then was able to hold on in the final period as Simmons attempted to get him on his back.\nRedshirt freshman Brian Dyer made it 6-0 with his first victory in five matches, and senior Mike Simpson tallied four more with a major decision. \nAfter junior Cameron Sakon lost to No. 14 Darren McKnight, McKnight's 28th victory of the season, the Hoosiers took the final six matches. Junior Brady Richardson picked up a major decision and junior Andy Rios won by medical forfeit after just 13 seconds. After sophomore Josh Buuck scored a thrilling 11-10 last-second victory, heavyweight David Herman polished off the Spartans with his second straight Big Ten victory filling in for DeGain.\nSunday the Hoosiers made the drive up to Champaign, Ill. to take on the No. 2 Fighting Illini and promptly had the tables turned. Dubuque didn't make the trip to Illinois after coming down with the flu the night before, forcing the Hoosiers to forfeit the 125-pound match. Things only got worse from there. \n"I met with the trainer and the coaches and they felt it was best if I sat this one out," Dubuque said. \nNo IU wrestler had a lead until redshirt freshman Brandon Becker, wrestling at 157 pounds against third-ranked Alex Tirapelle, scored a takedown with about a minute left in the second period. Becker managed a tie, but conceded the match due to the riding time bonus point. \nWrestling against higher-ranked competition Rios and Buuck narrowly missed out on upsets, both losing by a point. With Herman's 3-2 loss, Illinois completed the sweep with a final score of 37-0.