Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics

Varsity - October 31, 2013

Varsity is the free Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics, covering Badgers football, basketball, hockey and more each week.

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BADGERING ISAAC JORDAN Wisconsin redshirt freshman Isaac Jordan went 23-2 wrestling unattached last season and now looks to build on that performance as a starter on this year's team at 157 lbs. The Urbana, Ohio, native is also hoping to continue his family's storied success in the program. You had plenty of success last year wrestling unattached, going 23-2. What's your mindset going into this season? "I expect to, obviously, make nationals and hopefully do well there. They have me ranked seventh and I'm happy for the credit, but I still expect myself to be higher than that. That's not where I want to be at the end of the year. And I'm excited for the team. We're ranked eighth, which is a lot better than the last couple of years, but we still have to prove it." "Just adjusting to the college lifestyle, like handling academics and just being on your own. And wrestling, in general, is just a different level than high school." What did you learn the most in your first season? Expectations are high going into this season. How are you guys handling that and what's the attitude you have as a team as the season approaches? "They have us ranked eighth but I think everyone in the room thinks we should be higher than that. Almost half the team is ranked and at least two or three more guys should be ranked and they just didn't put them in the rankings. So we feel like we should be higher as a team and I feel like we're a better dual meet team, and also a tournament team for individuals. We're all just ready for the season to start." Your father, Jim, was a two-time NCAA champion and a three-time All-American at UW and your uncle, Jeff, was a two-time All-American. Those are some lofty goals to shoot for, aren't they? "The goal is definitely to be national champ and to match him. Just following in their footsteps. My brother (Ben), my dad and my uncle were all AllAmericans here and it would be nice to do the same thing. They've taught me to just not take a backseat to anybody. You may be a freshman, like they told me last year, but if you had a ranked opponent they told me to just not take a backseat and just approach it as a normal match. Just go out there and wrestle your match." You went 154-9 in high school, what surprised you the most at the collegiate level? "I don't know if it surprised me, I kind of knew that top to bottom was a big part of college wrestling and I knew I needed to improve on that. So I feel like the redshirt year really helped out in that aspect. But it's just a lot more physical and every opponent you have is going to be a state champ or a national qualifier. Everyone's good, even in the first round of tournaments, so you have to be ready every match." 24 // VARSITY October 31, 2013 QUICK Q'S WITH ISAAC Dressing up as my grandpa Favorite Halloween costume? Lounge in the wrestling room Favorite hangout spot? I don't have Facebook Twitter or Facebook? NFL Favorite sport to watch? Brett Favre Favorite athlete growing up? Jesse Thielke Biggest prankster on the team?

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