The Observer, January 27, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 14
Wrestlers hope to win conference at home tomorrow
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After an average performance during winter break, the Case wrestling team has enhanced its level of play. Several wrestlers believe that it is easier to compete when classes are in session.
"It's always a challenge to stay focused while you are nominally 'on holiday'," said Thomas Sanders. "However, given that we only had about five days between the end of exams and preparation for the Citrus Tournament (in Florida), I guess things could have been worse."
The team went on a trip to Florida and competed in two tournaments, the Citrus Tournament and the Citrus Duals. In the tournament the team finished seventh out of fifteen teams. Mike Sanchez led the team, finishing second overall at the 165 weight class.
In the Citrus Duals, the team wrestled three ranked teams, Norwich University, Cornell College, and St. Johns of Minnesota. Against Norwich, ranked 15th, Case lost 26-12. Against Cornell, ranked 23rd, Case lost 21-16. The team did beat St. Johns, 25th in the country, 26-14, finishing 1-2 in the Duals.
Nathan Klingensmith said that the team had some problems in Florida but had more success after returning.
"We went through a period of hard times in Florida because the majority of the team caught a stomach virus and was sick during the time we were wrestling," Klingensmith said. "Once we returned from Florida, we had a very good showing at the Lycoming duals where we defeated some good teams and everyone wrestled well. At Lycoming, we began our move to the top because everyone was on the page."
The team went 1-2 at the Lycoming Duals, but BJ Greenman had an impressive showing, going 3-0 at the 141 weight class. Case lost to then top-ranked College of New Jersey, 31-9, but defeated ninth-ranked Ithaca, 22-21. In the third match, the Spartans lost by one, 20-19, to Wabash. On the second day of the duals, the team endured another close loss to Rhode Island, 22-20.
The team was victorious during its next week of competition. In the Manchester Tournament, the Spartans were victorious, defeating all 24 teams, including 24th-ranked Manchester College. Bob Gavlak and Sanders both won their respective weight classes. Drew Gardella, Sanchez, and Russ Tischer all advanced to their weight class finals but lost.
This weekend the team competes at home in Horsburgh Gymnasium at the UAA Championships. Klingensmith and Sanders both feel that the team has a good chance of winning.
"This weekend, we first must go out and defeat NYU and do so in a fashion that shows that we mean business," Klingensmith said. "Afterward we will wrestle University of Chicago, which will be a more difficult match, but if each wrestler does his job, we can secure the victory."
