Top-10 showdowns will highlight Iowa wrestling’s first visit to Wisconsin in four years

MADISON – The Huge Ten wrestling season is unforgiving.

Three of the highest 5 groups within the nation, in response to the Intermat rankings, name the league residence, together with top-ranked Penn State. Go down farther and the convention has 5 of the ten greatest groups. Eleven of the convention’s 14 packages are within the prime 22 this week.

The coaches rankings have 12 Huge Ten groups within the prime 25, together with the highest three: Penn State, Iowa and Michigan.

For a crew off to a gradual begin like Wisconsin, that depth signifies that alternative is normally only a twin away.

“Clearly, we’re in a little bit little bit of a rut,” Badgers coach Chris Bono mentioned. “We haven’t gained a twin meet shortly and we’re within the coronary heart of Huge Ten season, so it’s time to determine what’s going mistaken and steer that ship in the suitable course.”

With a 0-3 document in tow, the ship heads again to the UW Area Home for 2 duals in opposition to ranked opponents through the subsequent few days. The Badgers, who’re ranked No. 13 by Intermat, host No. 24 Purdue at 7 p.m. Friday (BTN+) after which welcome second-ranked Iowa at 2 p.m. Sunday (BTN).

These groups will face a UW squad that’s trying to find solutions. Since falling to top-ranked Penn State within the convention opener Jan. 6, the Badgers misplaced, 18-17, to No. 28 Illinois on Jan. 8. Wisconsin was bounced by No. 8 Michigan, 27-6, on Sunday, although that twin included three losses determined by three factors or fewer and an upset of senior Eric Barnett at 125 kilos.

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“Up and down the lineup, it’s one or two issues,” Bono mentioned of the crew’s struggles. “We’re not coming again residence and making an attempt to re-invent something. It’s determining what went mistaken in these matches and correcting our errors.”

The twin with Purdue tasks three matches pitting two ranked opponents: Sixth-ranked Barnett vs. No. 10 Matt Ramos at 125; UW sophomore Joseph Zargo (No. 26) vs. No. 15 Parker Filius; and UW senior Garrett Mannequin (No. 18) vs. No. 3 Kendall Coleman.

Iowa twin will characteristic three matches pitting top-10 rivals

The showdown vs. Iowa may pit two ranked wrestlers in seven of the ten matches, together with three top-10 showdowns: Barnett vs. three-time nationwide champion Spencer Lee; second-ranked Austin Gomez vs. Iowa’s Max Murin (No. 7); and sixth-ranked Dean Hamiti vs. Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy (No. 10).

Regardless of each being seniors this would be the first time Barnett, who’s 13-2, faces Lee, who’s 8-0 and has a 46-match profitable streak.

“Eric Barnett goes to should go on the market and take the battle to him,” Bono mentioned. “Eric gained’t again down. … To be the nationwide champion, you need to beat the nationwide champion.”

Gomez, a senior, comes into the duals with six wins over ranked opponents, together with a 9-3 resolution over No. 1 Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell. Gomez missed the Illinois match as a result of harm however has gained seven straight matches.

“Austin likes the intense lights. Austin likes the hype,” Bono mentioned. “The larger the match the higher for Austin. I don’t suppose he’s competed in opposition to Murin, so in the event that they put him on the market count on an incredible Austin Gomez.”

Hamiti, in the meantime, has three losses to top-10 opponents. Three of his losses have come by two factors or fewer.

“I’m excited as a result of this man, Kennedy, goes to come back in there and he’s going to wrestle D.J.,” Bono mentioned. “And when individuals wrestle D.J., he’s an issue. It’s going to be nice. It’s going to be a wide-open, firework match.”

The Iowa match will mark the Hawkeyes’ first journey to Madison since 2019. All 10 of their wrestlers are ranked.

It might be a good time for the Badgers to interrupt out of their dry spell and set the tone for the ultimate three Huge Ten duals of the season.

“It’s going to be a packed home,” Bono mentioned. (The Area Home) has nice acoustics. 4-thousand, five-thousand individuals in there sound like 15,000, so if we will get in a little bit little bit of a roll, (if) we will do some particular issues and get the gang concerned, it’s going to be superb.”

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