2008 Woodie Awards
Wrestling prepares for national tournament to end season
By Travis Pickens
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Sports
The record is four.
The Slippery Rock University wrestling team has never sent more than four wrestlers to the NCAA Division I national tournament. Most recently, SRU had four representations in 2004. Before that, 1980, 1982 and 1996 were the only years the Rock equaled that number.
This year, coming off the East Region Duals championship on Feb. 5, where SRU swept the opponents it will see Saturday at the East Regional Tournament, coach Derek DelPorto is optimistic the team will beat that record.
"It has to be," DelPorto said. "The way these guys have been wrestling, anything is possible."
SRU is coming off home wins against Bloomsburg and Buffalo by a combined five points. The Rock also won seven of its last eight dual meets to finish 14-9.
The win over Buffalo came Feb. 16, which means SRU will have 16 days between competitions when it steps onto the mat at the Lutz-Yelton Convention Center in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Defending 184-pound regional champion Charlie Pienaar said he isn't worried.
"We didn't have any actual competition over that time, but we have plenty of that in the (wrestling) room," Pienaar said of the possibility the team could be rusty. "We just trust the coach's system. It has prepared us more with the time off for people to get healthy and more prepared. Two weeks off was a great advantage."
DelPorto said winning two emotional meets did not hurt.
"At this point in the season we are pretty much rust-proof," DelPorto said. "Winning those duals certainly helps prevent burning out."
It's hard to imagine this team getting tired of wrestling. The Rock, after posting a last-place finish at the conference tournament last year, finished fourth at this year's tournament on Jan. 28. The team had extra motivation after the decision by the school administration to cut eight varsity sports, wrestling included.
After a psychologically-trying month, Pienaar said the team won't have any problems dealing with the pressure of a national qualifying tournament.
The Slippery Rock University wrestling team has never sent more than four wrestlers to the NCAA Division I national tournament. Most recently, SRU had four representations in 2004. Before that, 1980, 1982 and 1996 were the only years the Rock equaled that number.
This year, coming off the East Region Duals championship on Feb. 5, where SRU swept the opponents it will see Saturday at the East Regional Tournament, coach Derek DelPorto is optimistic the team will beat that record.
"It has to be," DelPorto said. "The way these guys have been wrestling, anything is possible."
SRU is coming off home wins against Bloomsburg and Buffalo by a combined five points. The Rock also won seven of its last eight dual meets to finish 14-9.
The win over Buffalo came Feb. 16, which means SRU will have 16 days between competitions when it steps onto the mat at the Lutz-Yelton Convention Center in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Defending 184-pound regional champion Charlie Pienaar said he isn't worried.
"We didn't have any actual competition over that time, but we have plenty of that in the (wrestling) room," Pienaar said of the possibility the team could be rusty. "We just trust the coach's system. It has prepared us more with the time off for people to get healthy and more prepared. Two weeks off was a great advantage."
DelPorto said winning two emotional meets did not hurt.
"At this point in the season we are pretty much rust-proof," DelPorto said. "Winning those duals certainly helps prevent burning out."
It's hard to imagine this team getting tired of wrestling. The Rock, after posting a last-place finish at the conference tournament last year, finished fourth at this year's tournament on Jan. 28. The team had extra motivation after the decision by the school administration to cut eight varsity sports, wrestling included.
After a psychologically-trying month, Pienaar said the team won't have any problems dealing with the pressure of a national qualifying tournament.
