The Observer, February 29, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 19
Manoogian advances to national tournament
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Dave Manoogian described the atmosphere this past Saturday at the Midwest Regional Wrestling Tournament, at Wabash College, as "pretty relaxed." Normally, a guy who is fighting for a berth to nationals would use words like "electric," or "butterflies," or maybe even "heart stopping." Anything but relaxed. However, Manoogian has been there before; in fact, he earned a spot in the national tournament last year during his junior campaign, so this time around was nothing out of the ordinary for the senior 141-pounder. And, at a certain point in the day, he grappled with the fact that he may not be getting a bid if he did not place first, or at the very worst, second in his bracket.
Similar situations faced senior heavyweight Bob Gavlak, who has missed a significant part of the season due to health issues, and junior Drew Gardella, who was named the UAA's most outstanding wrestler just a week ago. Getting to the top of the podium meant an automatic bid, a shot at All-American status, and ultimately, the goal of a national championship.
"Drew is the 10th-ranked wrestler in the country in his weight class, and I feel that he should have been selected as a wild-card to the national tournament," said coach Bob Del Rosa, after Gardella finished third in what Del Rosa calls "the toughest weight class in the entire tournament." While he did not receive a bid to the tournament, he is selected as a first-alternate, and will practice as though he will wrestle next weekend.
As for Gavlak, because he had only wrestled thirteen matches coming into the regional tournament, winning it all was about the only option he had if he wanted to compete March 7 and 8 at Coe College. And, while it might have seemed like a long shot, Gavlak was seeded second, and rolled right through his bracket, winning with a pin fall, and consecutive 16-0 and 10-0 decisions. Making it to the championship match, Gavlak faced No.1 seeded Kyle Bilquist from Delaware Valley College, and lost a tight 4-1 decision. While his senior campaign did not end the way he may have envisioned it, Gavlak's career has been nothing short of outstanding.
And, though Gavlak may not be wrestling next weekend, he and his teammates will no doubt be rooting for Manoogian, who finished second in his own bracket, earning an at-large bid to nationals for the second straight year, proving that maybe being "relaxed" is the best way to wrestle.
"I knew I had to get to the finals and wrestle a good match," said Manoogian. "It was a little nerve-racking knowing that if I didn't win I probably wasn't going, but I thought I stayed pretty relaxed for the most part."
The last two tournaments Manoogian has wrestled in, he has met expectations by making it to the championship match both times. And even though he has fallen just short in those two matches, he claims that it does nothing to damper his confidence.
"I am not worried about losing in the finals of those tournaments, with one or two things going my way they could have easily been wins," Manoogian said. "I'm just gonna go out and practice like normal to get mentally ready for nationals."
While last year Manoogian finished just shy of becoming a Div. III All-American, he says he was just excited to be there. "This time it is about getting the job done," he said. "To me, anything less than becoming an All-American is a sheer disappointment right now." Since Manoogian has already qualified for the tournament, the hardest part may be out of the way. But don't take that the wrong way, as it will not get any easier over the next eight days.
And, while eight days may seem like an eternity as Manoogian prepares for the biggest tournament of his life, he says he isn't ready for it all to end.
"I think I have as good a shot as anyone to be a national champion, so I have big expectations heading to Iowa. I try to not to think about capping off a career because wrestling is all I've known since I was eight, and it is crazy to think about not doing this anymore." But he won't argue that being an All-American would sure be a nice way to end
it all.
