Last season, IU took the mat against Appalachian State in the University Gym and lost, 21-13. The Hoosiers will get another chance to take on the No. 20 Mountaineers in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division One National Dual Series on Sunday.
The NWCA National Dual Series pits eight Big Ten schools against conference champions from around the country. As champions of the Southern Conference, Appalachian State will be host to IU in Boone, North Carolina.
IU Coach Duane Goldman said he hopes the crowd energy during the match will motivate his team to wrestle well.
“It should be a really good atmosphere," Goldman said. "I think they are expecting a really big crowd. They have a good team, so it is a good opportunity to wrestle somebody good out of the conference.”
This match will have no effect on the individual standings for the wrestlers in the Big Ten Championships, but this match can play a factor in their RPIs and whether or not they make it to the NCAA Championships.
Two wrestlers who will look to improve their individual résumés for the Hoosiers are 184-pound freshman Devin Skatzka and 157-pound sophomore Jake Danishek. Skatzka said this week’s matchup gives him and the team another opportunity to win and will also help the Hoosiers sharpen up in preparations for this season’s Big Ten Championships in two weeks at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Danishek has found himself in a rough patch. He has lost three matches in the last two weeks, but he said he isn’t putting his head down. Staying encouraged and focused will be crucial for him as he finishes up the season, Danishek said.
The last couple weeks I have taken three Big Ten losses,” Danishek said. “Rather than getting discouraged, I am trying to learn from it and keep my eyes on the postseason.”
In keeping their eyes on the postseason that begins in a few weeks, the Hoosiers will look to take advantage of opportunities presented to themselves this weekend to help their RPIs and NCAA Championship resumes.
Goldman said the matches against ranked opponents will present chances for some of his wrestlers to pick up confidence as the season winds down.
“I think for some of our guys that are on the bubble who have had some tough outcomes as of late, App State has a lot of guys with numbers by their names that will give us some opportunities to do something good," Goldman said.
