Coach Ed Vatch and his Huskie wrestling squad (6-13) will take their show on the road this weekend with four matches in four days against tough competition.

The road trip will begin tonight with a 7:30 showdown against Eastern Illinois (5-4), who defeated the Huskies earlier this season at the Illinois State Redbird Duals 23-18.

“Now we have a full lineup, and that will help us a lot,” Vatch said. “Last time we went down to the wire.”

EIU coach Ralph McClausland said that the rematch will be a good one.

“This should be a good match with both of our lineups full,” McClausland said. “In some weight classes, we’ll be evenly matched and some will be lopsided. It should all work out pretty evenly.”

Southern Illinois-Edwardsville will be the site for the next Huskie match on Friday (Feb. 9). Vatch views the teams as complements to each other.

“SIU is tough in the lightweights, up to 150 pounds,” Vatch said. “Then they soften up. We’re just the opposite. We’re softer in the lightweights. I guess it will depend on who’s softer.”

Southwest Missouri State (3-13) will host the third stop on the Huskie tour Saturday (Feb. 10). Vatch feels that if the Huskies are to be favored in any match, it will be this one.

“They’re all pretty good teams and all of them will be favored except for possibly SW Missouri State,” Vatch said. “We’ve lost to two of the teams already this season (EIU, CMSU).”

The last match for the weekend will be at Central Missouri State (13-7) on Sunday (Feb. 11). The Huskies were also beaten by CMSU at the Redbird Duals 23-16.

“We did some stupid things against them (CMSU),” Vatch said. “I don’t forsee that happening again.”

Bill Jepsen (190) is recuperating from several injuries and will not be in the lineup for the trip. Vatch will again bump the wrestlers from 158-pounds up a weight and insert T.C. Dantzler at 158 rather than forfeit a spot.

Vatch said that his team’s excuse of being young has worn out.

“Our being young doesn’t hold water any more,” Vatch said. “There’s no way we should be afraid of anybody now.”