Indiana University’s wrestling team, ranked No. 22 nationally, will travel to Madison for its final Big Ten road dual of the season against Wisconsin on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Hoosiers currently hold a 7-4 overall record and are 2-3 in conference competition. Their opponent, Wisconsin, has posted an 11-3 overall record and is even at 3-3 in the Big Ten.
Last Friday, Indiana faced No. 10 Illinois and suffered a defeat with a score of 27-7. Despite the lopsided result, several matches were closely contested. Illinois won eight out of ten bouts during the dual, but five matches were decided by three points or fewer—Illinois secured all five of those narrow wins. Indiana’s Henry Porter (141 lbs) earned a major decision victory over Kole Brower (13-3), while Gabe Sollars (197 lbs) defeated Dylan Connell by decision (6-0). This marked the first campus meeting between Indiana and Illinois since 2022; their previous encounter was at the inaugural Big Ten Takedown event in Indianapolis in 2024.
Wisconsin has rebounded this season after finishing last year with a losing record. The Badgers’ only losses have come against Iowa, Minnesota, and Ohio State. They have remaining duals against Michigan and Northern Iowa after facing Indiana.
Seven members of Wisconsin’s probable starting lineup are currently ranked nationally. Four are among the top fifteen: Nicolar Rivera (No. 15 at 125 lbs), Zan Fugitt (No. 8 at 133 lbs), Joe Zargo (No.12 at 149 lbs), and Braxton Amos (No.9 at heavyweight). Cody Goebel (No.25 at 165 lbs), Rivera, and Fugitt all competed in last year’s NCAA Championships. Fugitt advanced to the semifinals before losing by decision to Iowa’s Drake Ayala and ultimately placed fourth; Rivera reached the Blood Round but fell to Penn State’s Luke Lilledahl.
For Indiana, lineup consistency has been key this season with seven wrestlers making multiple starts in their respective weight classes since last year. Veterans Jacob Moran (125 lbs) and Derek Gilcher (174 lbs) have been part of the program since the 2020–21 season.
Following Saturday’s match in Madison, Indiana will conclude its regular-season schedule with home matches against Nebraska on February 15th and Purdue on February 20th before competing in the Last Chance Open hosted by George Mason on February 22nd. Postseason events begin with the Big Ten Championships March 7–8 at Penn State followed by the NCAA Championships March 19–21 in Cleveland.