Wisconsin's Andrew Howe is one of three Badger wrestlers planning to take an Olympic redshirt. Larry Slater photo.

MADISON, Wis. – With their eyes on the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, three Wisconsin wrestlers will take an Olympic redshirt for the 2011-12 season, head coach Barry Davis announced on Friday.

Seniors Andrew Howe and Travis Rutt and redshirt junior Tyler Graff are all looking to make the U.S. National team and represent their country in London.

“I think it’s going to be great for them; all three need the experience.” Davis said. “They’ll be taking next year off with Andrew and Tyler focusing on freestyle and Travis on Greco-Roman. I think they’ll make a lot of great strides.”

Davis went through a similar experience when he wrestled at Iowa, so he knows what the three are about to embark upon.

“I did the same thing in 1984,” Davis explained. “Just like Andrew, I spent my first three years in college and then redshirted. With that year off, I made a lot of great strides.

“They’re going to be able to go overseas, participate in some of their own tournaments while focusing solely on freestyle and Greco-Roman. I think right now that’s what those guys need. That experience is going to go a long way for them. It will make a big difference going into the trials.”

Davis is working with each of the three to set a proper training and travel schedule.

“It’s important that we know ahead of time what these guys are going to do to make sure that they get the right times and workout partners,” Davis said. “I’m sure those three guys will be in different places to travel and train. We need to make sure all four of us are on the same page.”

Howe is confirmed to be taking part in the world training camp, while Davis is working to get Graff and Rutt there as well. Davis said it’s important for them to learn by going up against the top wrestlers in the country.

The 2011 World Wrestling Championships are taking place Sept. 12-18 in Istanbul, Turkey and Davis thinks that is opportunity of which Howe should take advantage.

“He should go and watch and gain that experience from being in that atmosphere since he’ll be there in 2012,” Davis said. “While he’s over there, if I were him, I would seek certain guys out in his style and try to learn as much as he can. You need that experience and I think he’ll benefit from it greatly.”

While all three have competed in their respective disciplines before, it will still be an adjustment, Davis said.

“The rules are a little bit different in freestyle and Greco than collegiate style,” he said. “There are different periods, different scoring and different strategy, as well. I think it’ll take time to adjust and by taking the year off and just focusing on training and making the team in 2012, they’ll speed up their process.

“There is a subtle change to it so any time they can be at a tournament overseas and see different things in all weight classes, they should pay attention and take notes. It’s a subtle change, but it’s making those adjustments that enable you to compete at the next level.”

The 2012 Summer Olympics begin with women’s soccer matches on July 25, while the opening ceremonies are set for July 27. The wrestling competitions run from Aug. 5-12.