To follow Friday's dual, log onto UWBadgers.com for a Web stream (fee) and bout-by-bout coverage with the live Wrestling blog.
The match against Old Dominion will be the only home dual for Wisconsin this semester, with the remaining four home duals taking place in January and February against Big Ten rivals.
Shortly after Friday's dual, Wisconsin will wrestle in its first road dual of the season. The Badgers will then travel to Lincoln, Neb. to face No. 7 Nebraska at the NU Coliseum at 1 p.m. Sunday. Nebraska returns a squad including three returning All-Americans and the 2009 NCAA Champion at 157 lbs., Jordan Burroughs.
The UW will face a total of six ranked opponents this weekend, starting with Old Dominion's No. 5 junior James Nicholson and No. 10 senior Jesse Strawn at 197 lbs. Nebraska's roster includes No.1 Burroughs at 157 lbs., No. 6 Stephen Dwyer at 174 lbs., No. 2 Craig Brester at 197 lbs. and No. 9 Tucker Lane at Heavyweight.
Old Dominion began its 2009-10 season last weekend by winning six individual titles at the Hokie Open.
Friday, fans will see five returning starters from the 2008-09 season and four others making their UW debut.
At 125 lbs., senior Drew Hammen will battle No. 5 Nicholson. Hammen was Wisconsin's starter at 125 lbs. last year and went 5-21 overall. He completed the 2008-09 season with an 8th place finish at the Big Ten Championship. Nicholson posted a 5-0 record at 125 lbs. to win the title at the Hokie Open. Nicholson was the CAA Champion last year at 125-pounds and went a perfect 3-0 at the CAA Tournament.
No. 10 redshirt freshman Tyler Graff will wrestle in his first official match as a Badger and face redshirt freshman Joshua Gillis at 133 lbs. Graff went 18-2 in open tournaments during the 2008-09 season with his only two losses to wrestlers ranked in the top five for 133 lbs.
No. 2 senior Kyle Ruschell takes on senior Cam Watkins at 149 lbs. Ruschell finished third at the NCAA Championships last year with a 5-2 record, earning first-time All-American honors. He finished the season with a 32-8 overall record.
The 165 lbs. weight class features another ranked bout with No. 3 sophomore Andrew Howe meeting junior Derek Gallagher. Last season, Howe finished second at the NCAA championships at 165 lbs. and was named the 2009 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Gallagher finished the 2008-09 season with a 7-6 overall including unattached results.
Freshman Jackson Hein will look to prove himself at 197 lbs. in a tough match up against No. 10 Strawn. Hein was the 2009 Division I Wisconsin state champion at 189 lbs., compiling a 54-3 record his senior year. Strawn went 4-0 to win the 197 lbs. at the Hokie Open. Last year, Strawn qualified for the NCAA Tournament at 197-pounds and won three matches.
The meeting between Wisconsin and Old Dominion will be the second between the two teams, with the Badgers leading the all-time series 1-0-0. The Badgers won the last matchup 33-7 in the 1992-93 season.
The UW will also look to extend their all-time series lead (7-3-2) over Nebraska and come out of the weekend a perfect 2-0. The two teams have not met since a 19-19 tie in the 2004-05 season.
The Huskies returns a strong squad for the 2009-10 season. The team placed fourth at the 2009 NCAA Championships and Burroughs went a perfect 35-0 throughout the season. In 2009, Nebraska also won its first conference team title since 1995.
Be sure to check back to UWBadgers.com throughout the weekend for results from the season-opening weekend.
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