Badgers resume dual competition with road trip

[Da-news-now]

For the first time in over a month, the Wisconsin wrestling team will face competition in a dual meet setting.

The Badgers (1-0) are on the road this weekend for a pair of duals in the state of Pennsylvania. Wisconsin will take on Pittsburgh (3-1) in a non-conference affair Saturday afternoon before traveling to No.1 Penn State (4-0) for the Big Ten opener on Sunday. Both matches begin at noon.

Wisconsin fell to No.20 in FloWrestling’s tournament team rankings and were not included in the initial dual rankings.

Individually, Isaac Jordan (165 pounds) maintained his spot on the No.2 ranking, while Ricky Robertson (174) fell from No.13 to No.16. Ryan Taylor (133) went from No.2 to unranked due to inactivity.

Taylor, who is working his way back from an injury, traveled with the team this weekend and is expected to compete.

Saturday marks just the second time the Badgers and Panthers have met. UW topped Pitt during the 2001-02 season.

The Panthers feature a pair of ranked wrestlers. Mikey Racciato is ranked ninth at 141 by FloWrestling, while Ryan Solomon is No.12 at 285.

Wisconsin and Penn State have met 21 times, with the Nittany Lions holding a 13-8 lead in the series. Penn State has won the last four meetings.

Sunday will undoubtedly be a test for the Badgers. PSU boasts one of the nation’s strongest line-ups from top to bottom. The Nittany Lions are a perennial powerhouse and this year they seem to be as strong as ever.

Penn State has ranked wrestlers in nine of 10 weight classes including Zain Retherford (149) and Morgan McIntosh (197) who are No.1 in the nation at their respective weights.

Other ranked wrestlers for PSU include, No.4 Nico Megaludis (125), No.9 Jordan Conaway (133), No.8 Jimmy Gulibon (141), No.3 Jason Nolf (157), No.19 Shakur Rasheed (165), No.7, Bo Nickal (174) and No. 14 Matt McCutcheon (184).

There will not be a video feed for Saturday’s match, but Sunday’s dual will be available on BTN Plus and BTN2go.

Here is a projected lineup for UW this weekend:

125: Johnny Jimenez (So.), 8-4

133: Ryan Taylor (R-Jr.), 27-4 (2014-15 season)

141: Luke Rowh (R-Fr.), 6-6

149: Rylan Lubeck (R-Jr.), 8-7

157: T.J. Ruschell (R-Jr.), 7-6

165: No. 2 Isaac Jordan (R-Jr.), 11-0

174: No.16 Ricky Robertson (R-So.), 9-4

184: Ryan Christensen (R-Fr.), 9-7

197: Eric Peissig (R-So.), 2-4

285: Brock Horwath (R-Sr.), 8-3

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