Nov. 6, 2012
THE WEEK AHEAD
• The Wisconsin wrestling team (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) begins its regular season schedule against No. 25 Hofstra (0-0*, 0-0 Colonial Athletic Association) Sunday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. at the UW Field House.
• The Hofstra wrestling team opens its season with a trip to Minneapolis for a match Friday against No. 1-ranked Minnesota before heading to Madison, Wis., Sunday to take on the Badgers. The Pride boast four ranked wrestlers on their squad: No. 4 Steve Bonanno (125 lbs.), No. 15 Jamie Franco (133 lbs.), No. 14 Luke Vaith (141 lbs.) and No. 8 Justin Accordino (149 lbs.)
Last time out: Red vs. White Intrasquad scrimmage
• Wisconsin opened the 2012-13 season with its annual intrasquad scrimmage Thursday, Nov. 1, in front of 331 fans at the UW Field House. In the scrimmage the white team beat the red team 39-6. Overall, the white team earned five wins by decision, three by fall, and one each by major decision and technical fall. The red team scored two wins, each by decision.
• Three Badger wrestlers, including two freshmen, earned wins by fall during the intrasquad scrimmage. No. 16 Jesse Thielke pinned Matt Cavallaris in 2:34 in their 133 lbs. bout, Isaac Jordan pinned Santonio Cathery in 4:00 at 165 lbs., and Cole Schmitt pinned Lenny Bloom in just 15 seconds in their 149 lbs. match.
Hofstra History Lesson
• This will be the fifth all-time meeting between Wisconsin and Hofstra. The two programs have split the previous four meetings, though Hofstra has won the past two.
• The Badgers and Pride last matched up on Nov. 20, 2011, in Hempstead, N.Y. In that meet, Hofstra came out on top, 25-12. The two programs have only met in Madison once before, back in the 2001-02 season, in a dual the Pride won 20-16.
Welcome Back Graff
• The Badgers will get a boost this season from the return of two-time All-American Tyler Graff. Graff took an Olympic redshirt last season in order to train in an attempt to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics. He returns this season as the No. 3-ranked wrestler at 141 lbs.
• In his first action as a Badger since the 2010-11 season, Graff earned a technical fall victory, 25-9, at 6:51 over Shane McQuade in the 141 lbs. match during Wisconsin's intrasquad scrimmage.
