The Observer, February 15, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 17
Wrestling's Drew Gardella named UAA's best
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Just a week after he placed second in the Wheaton Invitational Tournament, Dave Manoogian was hoping he would lock up the UAA championship at the 141- pound weight class. However, after separating his shoulder in practice last Monday, Manoogian laid low for the weekend, giving other teammates a chance at the spotlight.
Not that junior Drew Gardella is someone who hasn't garnered his own share of accolades and victories this season, but going 2-0 over the weekend at NYU in a tri-meet with Chicago has put Gardella right where he wants to be heading during the final weeks of the season. Gardella, a Chanel High School graduate, is 15-3 on the season, even after missing a good portion due to a knee injury early on. He was named the UAA's most outstanding wrestler not only for his performance on Saturday, but for everything he has done to this point in the season.
On the weekend, only two other Spartans notched victories in the meet, with Clay Criss and B.J. Greenman both getting decisions over their opponents from the University of Chicago. While freshman Criss has done some surprisingly good wrestling for this early in his career, Coach Del Rosa has noticed that Greenman has come into his own and is beginning to reach his potential. "Last week he beat the No. 7 ranked kid in the [Wheaton] tournament," said Del Rosa. "That was his best match of the season so far, he just keeps improving."
As for Manoogian and the rest of the squad, he says they still have things to accomplish. "We have a tough team when everyone is healthy. Unfortunately we haven't seen that line-up all year," said Manoogian. "Bob [Gavlak] should be back for regionals, or perhaps this week. He is real sick and just needs to get healthy again so he can wrestle next week for sure."
Getting healthy is the key for the wrestlers at this point. With only one more match before regionals on Feb. 23, it is extremely important that Manoogian and Gavlak are at 100 percent as soon as possible.
Ever since transferring from the University of Findlay, Manoogian has been set on becoming an All-American, and even a national champion.
"My main goal this whole year has been to win a National Championship. I beat the No. 1 ranked kid in my weight class last year so I know I'm just as good as he is," says Manoogian. "I'm ranked fifth right now so I'm right there. It's just a matter of getting healthy and putting it all together at Nationals." With the shoulder injury he suffered last week, Manoogian may be set back just a bit, but he never fails to show optimism and support for his team.
"I think there have been a lot of guys who have stepped up for us this year. B.J. is having a great season, and hopefully for regionals everyone will be ready to go," he said.
"I feel like right now my only losses really should have been wins; especially my first one, which I lost in double overtime, and my last loss being to a ranked kid in DivisionII. So both kids I lost to were tough, but those could have very well been wins. I'm just trying to get healthy to make one final run at a national championship."
The run continues this weekend, as Case welcomes RIT and Muskingum to Cleveland for the last tri-meet of the season before the regional tournament.
