MADISON, Wisc. – Wisconsin wrestling opens the new year with Big Ten conference action on the road, traveling to Iowa City to face the No. 4 Hawkeyes on Friday, January 8, at 7 p.m., streaming on B1G+. The Badgers then return to the UW Field House for a Whiteout matchup against Maryland on Sunday, January 9, at 12 p.m. on BTN. Wisconsin enters the weekend looking to extend its 8\u20130 start, the program’s first undefeated opening stretch since the ’06\u2013’07 season.<\/p>\n
1. The Last Time Out\u00a0 2. Scouting the Iowa Hawkeyes\u00a0 At 125 pounds, Nicolar Rivera<\/a> is 2\u20130 all-time against Iowa’s Dean Peterson, with both meetings coming during Peterson’s time at Rutgers. At 133, Zan Fugitt<\/a> looks to reverse the series against Drake Ayala, who holds a 2\u20130 edge after a technical fall in last season’s dual and a semifinal win at the NCAA Championships. At 174, Luke Condon<\/a> faces Patrick Kennedy, who won their lone meeting by technical fall in last year’s dual.<\/p>\n 3. Scouting the Maryland Terrapins\u00a0 4. In the Rankings\u00a0 5. Projected Lineups\u00a0
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6. Up Next\u00a0
\nWisconsin carried its perfect start through the holiday stretch with a sweep of a home doubleheader and a strong finish at the UW Field House. The Badgers earned back-to-back dual victories over Lock Haven and Utah Valley. Cody Goebel<\/a> and Luke Mechler<\/a> provided steady decision wins, Joseph Zargo<\/a> added a tech fall, and Wyatt Ingham<\/a> delivered a shutout, while Braxton Amos<\/a> sealed the opening dual with a key heavyweight decision. Wisconsin closed out the year with a win over Arizona State, highlighted by early pins from Ingham and Zan Fugitt<\/a>, another dominant tech fall from Zargo, and a decision from Luke Condon<\/a> to secure the victory for the Badgers.<\/p>\n
\nWisconsin heads to Iowa City to face a Hawkeye squad that enters the matchup with a 7\u20132 record and a No. 4 ranking in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll. Iowa holds a significant edge in the all-time series, leading 83\u20138\u20133, including a 42\u20134\u20131 record in duals contested in Iowa City, with Wisconsin’s most recent win in the series coming in a 21\u201314 decision on Jan. 27, 2007. The rivalry dates back to 1923, when Iowa earned an 8\u20136 victory in the first meeting.<\/p>\n
\nMaryland enters the matchup with a 4\u20131 record after picking up wins over Gardner-Webb, The Citadel, Morgan State, and American. The Terps earned a 24\u201313 victory over Wisconsin last season in College Park, their first win in the series since 2010. Maryland has also shown depth in tournament competition this year, highlighted by several strong performances at the Southern Scuffle. The Terrapins bring a balanced lineup into the dual as Wisconsin returns to the UW Field House for Big Ten action.<\/p>\n
\nSeven Badgers earned spots in this week’s InterMat national rankings, while Wisconsin sits at No. 18 in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll.
\nNo. 9 – Braxton Amos<\/a>, 285
\nNo. 11 – Nicolar Rivera<\/a>, 125\u00a0
\nNo. 14 – Zan Fugitt<\/a>, 133\u00a0
\nNo. 17 – Joseph Zargo<\/a>, 149
\nNo. 25 – Luke Mechler<\/a>, 157\u00a0
\nNo. 26 – Cody Goebel<\/a>, 165
\nNo. 28 – Wyatt Ingham<\/a>, 197<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tWisconsin\u00a0
\n\t\t\tWeight
\n\t\t\t\u00a0Maryland
\n\t\t
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNo. 11 Nicolar Rivera<\/a>\u00a0
\n\t\t\t125
\n\t\t\t\u00a0Abram Cline or Presden Sanchez \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNo.14 Zan Fugitt<\/a>\u00a0
\n\t\t\t133
\n\t\t\t\u00a0No. 12 Braxton Brown
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tCarson Exferd<\/a>\u00a0
\n\t\t\t141
\n\t\t\t\u00a0No. 33 Dario Lemus or Ryan Kennedy\u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNo. 17 Joseph Zargo<\/a>\u00a0
\n\t\t\t149
\n\t\t\t\u00a0Michael Pizzuto or No. 12 Carter Young
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNo. 25 Luke Mechler<\/a>\u00a0
\n\t\t\t157
\n\t\t\t\u00a0Mekhi Neal or Nathan Perry\u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNo. 26 Cody Goebel<\/a>\u00a0
\n\t\t\t165
\n\t\t\t\u00a0Alex Uryniak or Sammy Gautreau\u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLuke Condon<\/a>\u00a0
\n\t\t\t174
\n\t\t\t\u00a0Dom Solis or Seth Digby\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tCaleb Dennee<\/a> or David Malin<\/a>\u00a0
\n\t\t\t184
\n\t\t\t\u00a0No. 5 Jaxon Smith or Sepanta Ahanj-Elias\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNo. 28 Wyatt Ingham<\/a>\u00a0
\n\t\t\t197
\n\t\t\t\u00a0No. 17 Branson John or Anthony Bradley
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNo. 9 Braxton Amos<\/a>\u00a0
\n\t\t\tHWT
\n\t\t\t\u00a0Oscar Williams or Jackson Schwab\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t
<\/p>\n
\nWisconsin remains home next weekend, hosting Northwestern on January 16 at 7 p.m. on B1G+.
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