The Fighting Illini wrestling team will look to defend its newly acquired No. 9-national rank when it hosts No. 13 Wisconsin at 7 p.m. on Friday at Huff Hall, after which the team will travel to Bloomington, Ind., for a Sunday grapple with No. 17 Indiana at 1 p.m.

Illinois (9-2, 1-1) jumped six spots and into the nation’s top 10 after last weekend’s competitive duals against Michigan and Penn State in which the Illini went 1-1. The stacked Big Ten will continue to throw consistently ranked opponents at Illinois.

“It’s like that every Big Ten match,” head coach Mark Johnson said. “I don’t read too much into it. I just take one match at a time.”

Wisconsin (11-3-1, 2-2 Big Ten) is coming off a split-decision weekend, defeating Michigan State 26-12 and losing a close 22-20 dual against No. 1 Iowa. Indiana (12-5, 1-3) also defeated Michigan State last weekend 23-9 but fell to Ohio State 20-13.

Mike Poeta (157 pounds) retained his No. 1 national rank despite losing his undefeated record last Friday. After beating the No. 2 wrestler in the country last Sunday, Poeta doesn’t get a break this weekend as he’ll match up with No. 3 Craig Henning of Wisconsin and No. 8 Brandon Becker of Indiana. Poeta has already defeated Henning twice this year. Jimmy Kennedy (133 pounds) believes it’s important to not get caught up in opponents’ rankings, though.

“I’m not even looking at the matches right now,” he said. “I don’t care what the other guy does. I’m going to go out and wrestle my match.”

That ideology seems to be working for Kennedy this year. So far, the sophomore is 19-4 on the season.

“Jimmy Kennedy is always a stud – always works hard,” Johnson said.

Both Kennedy and senior Gabe Flores (125) are each ranked No. 9 in their respective weight classes. The start of a dual normally begins at the 125-pound match and moves to the 133-pound dual, making Flores and Kennedy the wrestlers who start things off for the Illini – usually with two wins.

“It’s been great to have those two guys to get us out of the box,” Johnson said.

However, it isn’t always the lighter weight classes that start a dual. Last Sunday, No. 17 John Wise (HWT) grappled in the first match of the day, as opposed to the last, as the heavyweight class usually does.

“You definitely got to change your mind-set because you definitely got to get yourself going right off the bat,” Wise said.

Wise said his preparation for wrestling at the end of a dual consists of watching his teammates until about the 157-pound match. He then heads to the back to prepare for his match because “sitting through and watching all the guys go through their matches – the anxiety builds up.”

Friday, Wise gets a chance for a rematch against the Badgers’ Kyle Massey, who beat the Illinois heavyweight earlier this year.

“He’s a good wrestler and it’s going to be a good match,” Wise said.

Under Mark Johnson, Illinois is 8-0-1 versus Wisconsin and 12-2 against Indiana- – but the Illini coach is focused on the present.

“We’re talking about this year and that’s all we really care about,” Johnson said.