After a long off-season, Indiana wrestling returned to the mat in dominant fashion last weekend, defeating two California teams: California Baptist University and California Polytechnic State University. Head coach Angel Escobedo, coming off a successful season, leads a roster that includes five wrestlers with NCAA championship experience. However, Escobedo also brought several young talents on the trip out west, showcasing promise for the future of Indiana wrestling.
Indiana wrestling delivered a commanding performance against California Baptist in Friday night’s dual meet.
Escobedo’s squad racked up nine consecutive victories, including two pins and a major decision, to clinch the 34-4 victory in the Golden State. The night featured standout performances from new faces in the Hoosier lineup.
Indiana had four grapplers make their dual meet debuts in the cream and crimson. Those included redshirt freshman Anthony Bahl and Bryce Lowery at 149 lbs. and 157 lbs. respectively. Both delivered much needed victories, including Bahl’s crucial fall over Lancer freshman Paul Kelly.
Returning national qualifier and No. 16 redshirt sophomore Tyler Lillard began his season with a nail biter victory at 165 lbs. He defeated his opponent in ultimate tie breakers with a clutch takedown in the closing seconds of the 10-minute match.
In perhaps the performance of the night, former Crown Point High School standout, freshman Sam Goin, dispatched California Baptist’s lone ranked wrestler in his first match as a Hoosier. Goin defeated No. 26 redshirt junior Nathan Haas by a razor-close two-point margin by successfully defending what would’ve been Haas's winning takedown when time marked the end of third period.
No. 25 graduate student Angelo Rini, Indiana’s latest pickup via the transfer portal, kept up with the trend of impressive debuts. Rini arrived from Columbia University, where he was an NCAA qualifier and ranked as high as No. 11 last season before sustaining an injury. He made a triumphant return to the mat Friday night after defeating his Lancer opponent 6-3.
The Hoosiers concluded their California road trip with a second dual meet win against the California Polytechnic State University Mustangs on Sunday in San Luis Obispo. Indiana dismantled the Mustangs with a score of 31-11.
Standouts in this dual included Lowery and redshirt junior Roman Rogotzke; both got their first ranked victories of the year. Rogotzke edged out No. 11 graduate student Adam Kemp with a tight 2-1 decision, securing the win via two escape points and skillfully defending Kemp’s final flurry of attacks.
In his second match as a Hoosier, Lowery defeated graduate student No. 20 Legend Lamer by a dominant 10-3 decision. Lowery would not be denied in the third period as he picked up a takedown in the final minute, icing the match in the process.
Redshirt sophomore Gabriel Sollars also impressed, picking up right where he left off last season as one of the nation’s pin leaders. A savant in the top position, Sollars secured his second pin of the weekend by turning his Mustang opponent in the closing seconds of the third period.
More bonus points came from the hands of Lillard, Goin, No. 33 redshirt sophomore Henry Porter and No. 24 graduate student Jacob Moran. Goin earned his first win by fall in a Hoosier uniform after an aggressive first period effort. Porter bounced back after a disappointing loss against California Baptist and put up a 17-point showing against his opponent on Saturday. Similarly, Moran and Lillard showed off their offensive prowess, both winning victories by major decision, and beating their opponents 14-5 and 15-2 respectively.
Indiana wrestling will hit the road again next weekend to compete in the Michigan State Open on Nov. 9 in East Lansing.
