IU hopes to strike late, often

It’s no secret IU’s strength all season long has been in the lighter weight classes.\nLed by No. 3 sophomore Angel Escobedo (24-1) in the 125-pound weight class and No. 12 junior Andre Hernandez (17-8) in the 133-pound weight class, the No. 21 Hoosiers generally get the majority of their points in the early stages of matches.\nBut when they travel to Evanston, Ill. Sunday to face No. 10 Northwestern (8-7, 3-3), IU assistant coach Pat DeGain insists the Hoosiers (12-8, 1-6) must think big.\n“(Our heavyweights) just need to stay focused,” DeGain said. “They’ve got a tough opponent this week and it’s going to take everything they have.”\nThe opponent DeGain is referring to is No. 1 heavyweight Dustin Fox (17-0). The Wildcat finished third last season at the NCAA Championships and has been wire-to-wire the top ranked wrestler in his class.\nThe Hoosiers, on the other hand, have had some problems in the heavyweight class this season. Sophomore Nate Everhart (1-7) dropped a weight on his foot during workouts earlier this season and was forced to have surgery. Everhart came back early from the injury and has wrestled well for IU, considering the circumstances.\n“Nate is strong enough and quick enough and more technical than all these guys at heavyweight,” DeGain said. “He’s just got to get a little bit of a mean streak in him. Once he does that, he’ll finish great this year. But for now, he’s got to improve on being able to turn on that switch while on the mat.”\nIn all likelihood, though, it will be offensive-lineman-turned-heavyweight senior John Sandberg (2-3) who will get the chance versus Fox. Sandberg, the heavier of the two opponents, hasn’t wrestled since Jan. 19 during the Hoosier Quad. In that match, Sandberg electrified the crowd with two first-period pins in his first two matches before being reversed and pinned against his final opponent.\nSandberg said he has to shake off the dust to be successful.\n“I’m really trying to get my technique down and working out the kinks from all the years of not wrestling,” he said.\nThe senior had not wrestled competitively since high school until he joined the team to fill in for the injured Everhart.\n“You always get that nervous feeling when you are coming up to a match, especially against an opponent like this,” Sandberg said. “But the coaches have been doing a good job getting me prepared and I’m really looking forward to getting back out on the mat.”\nIn their 28-7 loss to No. 1 Iowa last Friday, Escobedo picked up his first loss of the season against No. 3 Charlie Falck. The sophomore was ill going into the match but wrestled well under the circumstances, losing 4-2 on the road.\n“I had some kind of viral infection last week,” Escobedo said. “It’s never a good feeling to get a loss, but the atmosphere was fantastic. In the end I wasn’t too happy with the result.”\nNo. 5 Brandon Precin (29-4) waits in the wings for the All-American Hoosier. Escobedo knows he must improve in order to defeat the skilled wrestler.\n“I have to capitalize on the mistakes I made at Iowa and get better,” he said. “Hopefully I can dominate this opponent and end the season on a high note.”\nSunday’s match is the last of the regular season for the Hoosiers. DeGain maintained the Hoosiers need a little extra effort to send them to an upset victory.\n“It’s going to take bonus points for us,” DeGain said. “We know Angel has a tough match, so it’s going to take other guys like seniors Marc Bennett and Brandon Becker to step it up and get those points for us when we need them.”