Badgers' two wins set season's midpoint

BY KELLI GRASHEL
UW Athletic Communications

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin wrestling team couldn't have ended the first half of the season on a better note. The Badgers defeated their first Big Ten opponent with a 20-19 win against Indiana and then trumped top-ranked, non-conference opponent Northern Iowa, 23-12, in the first home dual of the season just two days later.

With a 3-0 dual record under their belts, the Badgers get to enjoy a nice break before traveling to their last tournament of the year at the Midlands Championships Dec. 29-30 and the grind of January's conference season.

"Our guys bounced back from Friday, a good Big Ten win there, but didn't look like we really, really wrestled," head coach Barry Davis said. "We came out a lot better today and a lot more aggressive, so it was good."

The Badgers were looking to make a statement at home Sunday against Northern Iowa and they did just that as three grapplers picked up bonus-point wins and two knocked off ranked opponents.

"Getting a win against a top-ranked team like UNI early in the season is good," added junior Ricky Robertson. "I think it proves that we're doing the right things in the practice room and hopefully that'll carry on into the rest of the season."

The home dual victory against the 21st-ranked Panthers proved that no one on this Badger squad should be overlooked. Freshman Eli Stickley started collecting wins for the Badgers with a bang, upsetting 16th-ranked Josh Alber with a sudden-victory win. A fired-up bench and crowd at the UW Field House were as loud as they could get to help momentum stay on Wisconsin's side.

UW redshirt freshman Cole Martin continues to impress. He notched a major decision to help give the Badgers a much-needed lead in the dual against the Panthers. Overall this weekend, Martin finished 2-0 with an 8-3 decision at Indiana as well.

Despite dropping his match against UNI, Andrew Crone delivered one of the most exciting matches of the season last Sunday. The junior — dubbed "Comeback Crone" — exploded for three quick takedowns in less than one minute to tie up the score at the end of the match, but ultimately fell just short as No. 16 Max Thomsen had earned the riding time point. Looking ahead, Crone is set to have an impressive season after continuing to test some of the top wrestlers in his weight class.

Not competing prior to this weekend due to injury, TJ Ruschell had a nice welcome home after earning a 4-0 blanking of UNI's Paden Moore. UW teammate Isaac Jordan also fought through some injuries of his own in his Northern Iowa match. After getting smashed in the face by No. 14 Bryce Steirert and subsequently taken down, Jordan battled through to clinch the 7-5 decision.

And then it all came down to the big guys. With the weight of the dual on their shoulders, Ricky Robertson and Connor Medbery did more than just deliver, they dominated. The two both recorded technical falls to secure Wisconsin's victory.

"Obviously, I know it's a tight dual, but I have faith in myself and I obviously have faith in Connor [Medbery] with the success he's had in his career," Robertson said. "Both of us just have to trust the things that we do and that we're doing them right. Just go out and get the win no matter what the pressure might be or what the score might be. We're still looking to get a win no matter what."

After reaching the halfway point of the season with a lot of big exciting wins, it's clear Wisconsin has much more to look forward on the mats from this talent-packed Badgers' wrestling team in the upcoming weeks.

University of Wisconsin Athletics

Badgers' two wins set season's midpoint

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Players Mentioned

Andrew Crone

Isaac Jordan

Cole Martin

Connor Medbery

Ricky Robertson

TJ Ruschell

Eli Stickley

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