The Wisconsin wrestling team opens its season Friday at the Hall of Fame Duals in Green Bay, and with nine returning starters, there are high hopes for the season.
“A lot of good things are happening right now with the team,” head coach Barry Davis said. “We as coaches right now are pretty pleased with what’s going on.”
The Badgers will square off against the University of Dubuque, Tri-State University and UW-Oshkosh. Last year the cardinal and white opened their season against both Dubuque and Oshkosh, bringing home a pair of victories.
After last week’s wrestle-offs at the Field House, the nine returning starters secured their spots. The lone question was who would take over All-American Tyler Turner’s spot in the 149-pound division, and true freshman Kendall Vogel outlasted fellow newcomer Weldon Rogers to earn the spot.
“[Kendall’s] just a freshman,” Davis said. “I got to watch him wrestle last year at the state tournament. He’s shown some steady improvements since he’s been here. We’ll see how he reacts with some competition.”
The Badgers return 19 letter winners from last year, headlined by Craig Henning, the preseason favorite of two polls at 157 pounds. Henning was the national runner-up last season at the same weight class, but knows the poll doesn’t mean much once the season starts.
“We don’t really care too much about the preseason hype,” Henning said. “March is when it really matters, so we’re just preparing for that. We’ve got some real tough matches at the beginning of the year.”
Henning was chosen to be one of three captains this season along with returners Dallas Herbst and Kyle Ruschell. Both were NCAA qualifiers last season. As a sophomore, Ruschell was surprised when he learned he would be one of the team’s captains.
“I did not expect to be a captain, especially this year,” Ruschell said. “Especially having so many guys a year above me, most of them have been in the starting lineup already. They’ve got that experience over me. But this team has so many leaders.”
The captains are named, the lineup is set, and the Badgers are ready to go. After spending the last two months with their team, these grapplers are anxious for their first meet.
“We’ve been beating up each other,” Ruschell said. “It’s about time we get out and see how we’ve improved and what we need to work on.”
“We’re excited. It’s been awhile since we’ve actually competed,” Herbst added. “We’re ready to see where we’re at as a team this year as compared to last year. With nine guys coming back, you kind of hope to do what you did the year before and hopefully better.”
