When the Hoosiers travel to the East Coast for matches at Maryland and No. 14 Rutgers this weekend, 149-pound graduate transfer and New York native Chris Perez will have a homecoming of sorts.
Perez will wrestle in front of family and friends for the first time this season when the Hoosiers face the Scarlet Knights Sunday after battling with the Terrapins on Friday. As a wrestler at nearby Princeton for the first four years of his college career, Perez said he is very familiar with Rutgers and their facilites. He will take on No. 14 Ken Theobold, who he has seen several times in the past, Sunday.
“It’ll be interesting,” Perez said. “I have wrestled Theobold from Rutgers a couple times. It will be a little different with the different colors on, but it will be fun. I am excited to get back in the gym.”
IU was able to get its first Big Ten win of the season at Northwestern last weekend, and 184-pound senior No. 6 Nate Jackson said the victory was just the beginning.
“I don’t think anybody was surprised,” Jackson said. “It is definitely good to get it out of the way, and now we just have to keep building. Going in I think everybody was pretty confident in their matchups. For the most part, we took care of business.”
Although the Hoosiers have a matchup set with the ranked Scarlet Knights, no one is overlooking Maryland.
Jackson said Maryland will be a tough Big Ten opponent and presents the team with another opportunity to get a conference win under its belt.
After the match against Maryland, Perez will return home looking to bounce back at Rutgers after a disappointing match Sunday.
“I was definitely frustrated with the loss on Sunday,” Perez said. “I have two big opportunities this week, so you have to just put it out of your mind. Coming to the match with a good attitude, wrestle my style and match, stay in my positions, and I should do OK.”
Perez said he hopes to do well in enemy territory because he will have several fans, including his mom.
Against Maryland and Rutgers, IU will aim to continue to build toward the Big Ten and NCAA championships.
“Everything is a stepping stone here,” Jackson said. “We are just trying not to take any steps back.”
