Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics

Varsity - February 6, 2014

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

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62 // VARSITY February 6, 2014 INSIDE WRESTLING Big upsets leading UW past big-time opponents Badgers look to continue toppling ranked foes BY ANNA POULTER-HENDRICKSON @BADGERWRESTLING W isconsin's 12 wins are the most since the 2007-08 squad reached 14. Its five Big Ten Conference victories also rep- resent a mark not reached since that year. The Badgers have worked themselves out of a rough 2011-12 season that saw them win five matches all year with hard work and big upsets. Wisconsin started its home schedule with a 19-18 win over No. 7 Illinois on Dec. 6. In that match, freshman Isaac Jor- dan's dominating win against No. 15 Zac Brunson fueled the unranked Badgers' upset win. Wisconsin's 22-15 win against No. 9 Ohio State on Jan. 10 played out in simi- lar fashion. Trailing 4-0, the 23rd-ranked Badgers needed a spark against the Buckeyes and that is what they got from junior Timmy McCall. McCall defeated No. 4 Nick Heflin, 3-1, setting in motion a string of four straight wins that gave the Badgers a 16-4 lead. "That was one of the key matches of the dual right there," UW head coach Barry Davis said of McCall's win. "It was a big win for Timmy. I think it turned the momentum for us. He beat the fourth- ranked guy in the country and that led into (Connor) Medbery's win and then (Ryan) Taylor and (Tyler) Graff. It just kind of snowballed from there. "A win like that can carry you." Another upset win was on the Bad- gers' plate against No. 21 North Dakota State last Sunday when unranked Scott Liegel defeated No. 11 Hayden Zillmer at 174 lbs. The victory marked Liegel's first over a ranked opponent this year and the victory proved crucial as the No. 15 Badgers defeated the Bison by just six points, 23-17. "He (Scott Liegel) has had so many chances to win matches like that," Da- vis said. "He finally did it, which is good. Hopefully he has turned the corner now. He has been working and training. Hope- fully that put him over the hump and he can build for Big Tens." With two weeks off before a pair of home duals against No. 7 Nebraska and No. 3 Iowa on Feb. 21 and 23, Wisconsin will have time to put in the hard work needed to fuel another big upset. SCHEDULE (12-4, 5-1) COMING UP Feb. 21 #7 Nebraska 7 p.m. Feb. 23 #3 Iowa 1 p.m. March 8-9 Big Ten Championships Kohl Center

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