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Purdue Atwood, who made it to nationals last year, is used to competing at a high level in big meets. He won 25 matches last season and has back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Championship. Purdue Coach Scott Hinkel hopes that Atwood can lead his team to even greater heights in 2013-14. Hinkel stands at 68-49-2 after six years as the head man at Purdue. against two of Purdue's most decorated wrestlers, A.J. Kissel and Logan Brown. "That really helped to build my toughness," Atwood said of battling Kissel and Logan. "When you come in as a freshman, you go from being the best at your high school to fighting for every takedown in practice. I took my beatings that year, but it made me a better all-around wrestler." In the time since that redshirt year, Atwood has continued to develop, growing into one of Purdue's most talented wrestlers. "He has really matured over the past two years, both physically and mentally," Hinkel said. "He has a unique body style and he's a mentally tough kid." After taking his lumps in that first year, when he wrestling at 184-pounds, Atwood won 25 matches and made a return appearance to the NCAA Championship last season, when he moved up to the 197-weight class. f Now, he has become one of Purdue's headliners entering the 2013-14 season. Atwood is poised for another standout season this winter and has high expectations for what the season can hold. "My goal is to win every match," Atwood said. "I want 2013-2014 Wrestling Schedule DateOpponent Nov. 9 Michigan State Open Nov. 16 DUKE Nov. 22 at Minnesota Nov. 24 at Southern Illinois Dec. 6-7 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Dec. 15 vs. Chattanooga^ Dec. 29-30 Midlands Championships! Jan. 3 IOWA* Jan. 10 at Michigan Jan. 12 at Penn State Jan. 19 at Ashland& Jan. 19 NORTHERN ILLINOIS& Jan. 26 NEBRASKA Jan. 31 at Indiana Feb. 3 OHIO STATE Feb. 7 ILLINOIS Feb. 16 at Northern Iowa% March 8-9 Big Ten Championships** March 21-23 NCAA Championships^^ All times ET ^ Lawrenceville, Ga. ! Evanston, Ill. * Bradley, Ill. (Bradley Bourbonnais HS) & Wendy's Duals, Ashland, Ohio % Cedar Falls, Iowa ** Madison, Wis. Time All Day 2 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 2 p.m. All Day 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 3 p.m. ^^ Oklahoma City, Okla. IllustrateD volume 24, issue 2 115