The Observer, December 7, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 13
Wrestling starts strong
The wrestling team is off to a good start this season, with leadership coming from upperclassmen loaded with experience. Dave Manoogian leads the way with a 7-1 record, his only blemish coming nearly three weeks ago to UW-Whitewater 141-pounder Austin Bautista by a 4-3 loss on a tiebreaker.
Along with Manoogian are a pair of juniors in Drew Gardella and B.J. Greenman, and senior Nate Klingensmith. While Gardella got off to a great start at 4-1, and coach Bob Del Rosa thinks he has a chance to challenge the school's career wins mark before he graduates, he has been battling a knee injury that has kept him from competing the last few weeks. He hopes to be back on the mat in the upcoming weeks at the 149-pound weight class, while Greenman is off to an 8-3 start, his best since coming to Case in 2005.
Klingensmith went 6-1 and placed third in the Rochester Tournament on Dec. 1. After losing his first match 1-0, he came back to win six straight, placing his season win total at 13.
Clay Criss anchors a promising freshman class, which will only get better with more time on the mat.
The squad will take a few weeks off from competition to get themselves ready for the Citrus Tournament in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. on Dec. 28 and 29.
