Hoosiers retool, earn No. 10 preseason rank

After a successful season, many teams use the offseason to rebuild and repeat the success they had the previous season. \nThe IU wrestling team, which finished ninth in last season's NCAA tournament is different. Rather than rebuilding, it has renovated its team in an attempt to finish stronger and has earned a No. 10 preseason ranking.\n"We have good talent back and some good young talent coming in," IU coach Duane Goldman said.\nThe Hoosiers open their season Sunday in the Missouri Open, where they will face some of the elite teams in the nation including Illinois, the University of Missouri and the University of Oklahoma. IU had strong showings at both the Eastern Michigan Open Nov. 5 and the Michigan State Open this weekend, but both matches were unattached and won't go on the official record.\nOne of the key returners for the Hoosier grapplers is senior Joe Dubuque, back to defend his national title in the 125-pound division. Dubuque is also looking to become the fourth Hoosier to earn three-time All-American honors. The senior realizes those he wrestles against will be looking to take him down, but this is a position he enjoys being in.\n"I've had an 'X' on my back my whole wrestling career," Dubuque said. "I love that guys are working hard just to beat me, and that makes me work harder, just knowing that guys are thinking about me."\nIn addition to Dubuque, the Hoosiers have three other seniors on their roster, including 197-pound Brady Richardson, a two-time national qualifier, 149-pound Isaac Knable, another national qualifier last season and Nick Spatola who will compete for a starting spot in the 141-pound division.\nThe seniors will lead a young Hoosier squad that makes up a top 10 recruiting class.\nGoldman said he thinks that the seniors, specifically captains Richardson and Dubuque, will be able to lead the freshmen and show them the ropes of wrestling at the collegiate level. \n"They're both hard workers with great attitudes," he said. "And I think they should be ready to lead the team."\nMost of the freshmen will be redshirted because of the Hoosiers' depth, but Goldman is confident some of last season's redshirt freshmen will be able to compete as Hoosiers for the first time.\n"They have talent. They'll be in the lineup this year," he said. "We'll wait to see how they mature and how they contribute to the team."\nThese young Hoosiers will have somebody that had success in their position to look up to. Sophomore Brandon Becker will return to the 157-pound division after finishing fifth in NCAA tournament and becoming an All-American as a freshman.\n"They're not necessarily looking up to me but what I did as a freshman," Becker said. "Maybe they can do it their freshman year too; they don't have to wait to get older to get All-American, just get it out of their way freshman year and look for a national title."\nBecker feels the leadership of the captains will also be something for the freshmen to look up to.\n"Dubuque is a national champion; that's huge," Becker said. "He did it his junior year, so anyone can do it if they put in the hard work. Brady Richardson has an amazing work ethic; the guy never stops. Everybody has their own little niche, and he's a really good leader."\nThe Hoosiers had a total of five national qualifiers last year, but Goldman said he hopes even more of his grapplers will be there this year.\n"If they're wearing an IU singlet, they need to be at that level," Goldman said.