No. 41 IU (14-8) will play at No. 11 Ohio State (18-7) at 6 p.m. on Friday. Wurtzman was a three-time All-Big Ten Selection who finished his 2002-04 college career with a 132-45 singles record and an 86-49 doubles record.
Wurtzman will not let his return distract his team.
“I’m a Hoosier now,” Wurtzman said. “It’s always nice to go back to Ohio State, but I’m hoping we can do our best to play our best against them knowing that they’re a great team and have a great program and tradition, but we are going to put our best effort out there.”
Wurtzman was also the assistant coach at Ohio State from 2008-09. He now faces his old Coach, Ty Tucker. Wurtzman said he cherishes his time at Ohio State.
“They helped mold me as a person,” Wurtzman said. “I was able to achieve a lot of great things in the sport of tennis because of Ohio State and what they gave to me. As a player, as a coach and as a person, it’s a special place ?for me.”
The Buckeyes are 6-1 in the Big Ten this season and 13-1 at home. Ohio State is coming off a 6-1 home win against Wisconsin on Sunday.
“When you play Ohio State you know that you’re going to have to play your best tennis, and you know they’re going to bring their best tennis every time they’re out on the court,” Wurtzman said. “They compete extremely well.”
The rest of the Hoosiers’ weekend does not get easier, as IU travels to No. 50 Penn State (11-13, 2-5). Though Penn State has struggled on the road this season, it is 7-3 at home. The Nittany Lions are coming off a dominating 7-0 win against New Jersey Institute of Technology but also a 4-0 loss to Minnesota.
“We haven’t seen Penn State this year,” Wurtzman said. “So we don’t really know. They started off really hot. They have the potential to be a very tough team, and the results show. We know we’re going to have to go in and give our best effort against them.”
IU will need great performances to sweep this weekend Wurtzman said.
“I hope we go out there and are not afraid to compete,” Wurtzman said. “I hope we go out there with the confidence that we know we have and get the job done and have a successful match.”
