IU snags 5th in Big Tens

The Hoosiers rolled into Iowa City for the Big Ten Championships Saturday after a two-week layoff. They didn't leave disappointed. \nThe team's overall place of fifth matched IU coach Duane Goldman's previous Big Ten high set in 1994, with seven wrestlers qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in St. Louis two weeks from now. There is a chance that an eighth man could be sent as a wild card.\nLeading the way again was senior Pat DeGain. The heavyweight advanced to the championship by virtue of his three victories on Saturday. Seeded third, he opened with a pin of Purdue's Jake O'Brien, a 2-1 decision over Ohio State's Kirk Nail and finished the day with a pin of second-seeded Greg Wagner. In Sunday's final, DeGain was tipped 4-1 by top-seeded Cole Konrad of Minnesota. DeGain was trying to become the first Hoosier Big Ten heavyweight champion since Charley McDaniel did it in 1938, and the first champ at any weight since Roger Chandler bagged the 142-pound title in 1997.\nAt 125 pounds, junior Joe Dubuque rebounded after losing a close 3-2 match to Michigan State's Nick Simmons, who he had previously upset during the regular season. Dubuque notched a pair of victories in the consolation bracket, including a 7-2 decision over Penn State's Adam Smith to finish third place. \nJunior Brady Richardson also rallied for a third-place finish. The 174-pounder lost on the first day to top-seeded Pete Friedl of Illinois but picked up a 5-2 decision and a medical forfeit to end the day and earn the trip to St. Louis.\nAs predicted earlier this week by DeGain and Richardson, the youngsters stepped it up to punch their tickets for the NCAAs. Redshirt freshmen Brandon Becker and Max Dean, taking part in their first Big Tens, each earned a fifth-place finish. Becker finished 2-2 in the tournament, including an 8-0 decision over Purdue's Colton Salazar. Dean finished 4-2 after wrestling a grueling four matches on day one to grapple his way through the consolation bracket.\nAlso going to St. Louis will be senior Mike Simpson, who finished in sixth place after a medical forfeit to Alex Tsirtsis of Iowa. Isaac Knable also finished sixth, including an upset of third-seeded Doug Withstandley of Purdue. The top seven finishers in each weight division automatically advance to the NCAA tournament. \nThe Hoosiers will have next weekend off, but will be back in action March 17 in St. Louis to finish the season.