Hoosiers claim Virginia Duals championship

With a Big Ten conference that features nine top-25 teams and five in the top 10, the IU wrestling team knew it had to make the most of its non-conference schedule in preparation for the Big Ten season. \nConsider the mission accomplished.\nThe No. 15 Hoosiers went 4-0 in this weekend's Virginia Duals, winning the championship and taking a 9-0 dual record into the conference season.\nIU coach Duane Goldman said while this weekend's duals won't do anything to help the team's Big Ten record, he still feels that it will give team members confidence heading into the tough road ahead.\n"It should bolster the whole team feel -- the reliability on each other, the ability to trust each other," Goldman said. "It's important for them to believe in each other that everyone is going to contribute."\nThe Hoosiers started out the 16-team tournament Friday by disposing of Virginia Tech 40-13 and followed with a 42-1 win over Bloomsburg University. The Hoosiers continued their success Saturday with a 29-11 victory over University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in the semifinals, setting up a showdown with No. 25 University of Pennsylvania in the finals.\nThe Hoosiers started out the finals with senior Joe Dubuque beating Penn's Mike Silengo with a 12-10 sudden victory. The win was the fourth of the tournament for No. 1-ranked Dubuque, who kept his undefeated season going, improving to 12-0. The defending national champion also extended his winning streak to 19 straight, dating back to last year's Big Ten Championships.\nAfter Dubuque's win, the Hoosiers struggled, dropping four of their next five matches, falling to a 15-6 deficit. In the 184-pound division, sophomore Justin Curran took a 3-2 decision to narrow Penn's lead to 15-9 with just two matches to go. The 197-pound match featured sophomore Brady Richardson against Jack Sullivan. Going into the match, Richardson said he knew it was a match he needed to dominate in order to give his team a chance. But it was an opportunity he embraced. \n"Most times, heavyweight matches are close," Richardson said. "So if we were going to win, we were only going to get three points. I knew I needed bonus points, and the guys were telling me they needed me and the pressure was on me. I kind of like that though. It usually makes me wrestle better."\nThe No. 6-ranked Richardson came through by posting a fall against the Quakers' Sullivan just a little more than one minute into the match, earning enough bonus points for the Hoosiers to leave the championship down to the heavyweight match. After a 3-2 victory by sophomore Dave Herman against Penn's Paul Velekie, the Hoosiers took the win with a final score of 18-15.\nGoldman said he was pleased with the way Curran, Richardson and Herman all picked up the slack for the Hoosiers.\n"Some of our reliable studs faltered in that match," Goldman said, "and some of our less well-known athletes had to pick up the slack and they really rose to the occasion and did a great job."\nThe Hoosiers kick off the Big Ten season Friday night against Ohio State at home at University Gym.