By Luke Plansky
Daily Staff Writer
AUBURN HILLS, Mi. – The NCAA Tournament was slipping away from the Iowa State wrestling team.
Three losses in the first round, three straight losses to start the second, and No. 1 seed Trent Paulson was tied in the third period with an unseeded wrestler from Drexel.
Meanwhile, top-ranked Minnesota hadn’t yet lost a match.
Paulson won, and the second-ranked Cyclones caught their feet with three straight wins, but after a “good day” by coach Cael Sanderson’s standards the team finished the first day in third place.
“You always want to win more,” Sanderson said. “We lost a couple close matches, but we won a couple matches, so we’re happy where we’re at. We just have to come back [Friday] ready to roll.”
Trent and brother Travis Paulson (165), fellow senior Kurt Backes (197) and standout freshman Jake Varner (184) also won two matches at the Palace of Auburn Hills Thursday.
Five wrestlers are still alive in the consolation bracket. Senior Grant Turner (174) exited the tournament after two losses.
The Golden Gophers won 17 of 19 matches on the day and have seven wrestlers in the championship bracket.
“They’ve got a great team and were seeing that here. It’s really no surprise,” Sanderson said. “Our focus is on ourselves and getting our best performance as a team. We still got a lot of work to do, you know, these next two days, we gotta pick up speed here.”
Fourth-seeded Travis Paulson looked dominant, picking up a pin and major decision. After a first-round pin, Trent Paulson got an unexpected test from Ryan Hluschak but tossed the Dragon to his back.
Backes scored a takedown nine seconds into overtime against Oklahoma’s Joel Flaggert to advance. He lost two close matches to the two-time All-American this season.
Varner shut out both of his opponents in dominating decisions.
The formula for a successful tournament for Iowa State included success from the three captains – the Paulson brothers and Backes – and contributions from the six freshman starters.
Varner said the contributions of teammates that have lost is as vital as success from the four quarterfinalists.
“The way we see it is you take care of your own business, the team will follow,” Backes said. “I just wanna clean my house, the team will take care of itself.”
Several matches slipped away from the Cyclones, but the team had its share of successes.
After falling behind 5-0, freshman Nick Gallick (133) pinned third-seeded Adam Frey in the first period of his first-round match, but lost to Penn State’s Jake Strayer, 4-2, in the second round.
Mitch Mueller (141) held onto a 4-1 lead in a 4-3 win against Central Michigan’s Eric Kruger, but was pinned by top-seeded Ryan Lang of Northwestern.
Cyler Sanderson (149) tied Harvard’s sixth-seeded J.P. O’Connor, 2-2, during regulation but gave up a takedown in sudden victory in the second round.
Freshmen Nick Fanthorpe (125) and David Zabriskie (HWT) each lost in the first round but won consolation matches.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
First round a mixed success
By Luke Plansky
Daily Staff Writer
Thanks to an upset by Nick Gallick, the second-ranked Iowa State wrestling team made it through the first round with seven still alive in the championship bracket of the NCAA Wrestling Tournament.
Trailing 5-0 in the first period, Gallick (133) pinned Cornell’s third-seeded Adam Frey. Trent (157) and Travis (165) Paulson also each won first-round matches by pin, while Kurt Backes (197) earned a major decision victory. Mitch Mueller (141), Cyler Sanderson (149) and Jake Varner (184) won decisions, and Iowa State was two points behind the tournament lead after the first session.
Freshmen Nick Fanthorpe (125) and David Zabriskie (HWT) as well as senior Grant Turner (174) lost but will wrestle Thursday night in the consolation bracket.
Tournament frontrunner Minnesota went 10-0 in first session matches.
Match Results and Notes
Michael Sees, Bloomsburg dec. Nick Fanthorpe, 8-4.
Sees picks up single but can’t finish… Sees takedown w/~1:08; stall warning sees w/10 seconds…Sees starts down, escapes eight seconds in and preserves riding time; takedown sees, 5-0; Fanthorpe escape; Sees takedown on edge of mat w/11 seconds left in second period; Fanthorpe reaches back, grabs head and tries for defensive fall but time runs out; Fanthorpe intentionally released to start third, 7-2; Fanthorpe takedown, w/~35 seconds, 4-7; Sees wins, 8-4
Next opponent: Luke Smith, Central Michigan, in the first round of consolations. Beat Smith, 4-2, in semifinals of the Midland Open.
Nick Gallick fall Rob Tate, Gardner-Webb, 4:22
Similar height and build… Tate turns a single into the first takedown of the match 2:34 in…Gallick reversal, two-point nearfall; locked hands call at the end of the period, 4-3…Tate starts down in second period…Gallick cradle, three-point tilt, 7-3…Gallick guillotine, switches to half and gets pin, 4:22. First pin of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
First round: Gallick fall Adam Frey, Cornell, 2:41
Frey takedown 33 seconds in; Frey three-point near fall; Gallick reversal and pin with 19 seconds left in first period; Frey riding on side and Gallick puts him down
Next opponent: Jake Strayer, Penn State
Mitch Mueller dec. Eric Kruger, Central Michigan, 4-3.
No scoring in first period. Kruger gets in on one shot, but Mueller fights it… Mueller starts neutral and gets quick takedown; escape Kruger; Mueller low double, finishes, 4-1; escape Kruger, 4-2; Mueller gets poked in eye, takes small time…Third period, Kruger starts down and escapes; Kruger gets single, but Mueller sprawls gets out; Mueller injury time – not elbow; Mueller holds off Kruger in final moments.
Next opponent: #1 Ryan Lang, Northwestern
#11 Cyler Sanderson dec. Michael Roberts, Boston, 3-1
0-0 after first period… Sanderson starts down, escapes 23 seconds in; Roberts get in on single but Sanderson takes it out of bounds…Third period, Roberts down – escapes seven seconds in; Roberts gets in on a single, but Sanderson breaks it; Sanderson counters Roberts shot and gets takedown; Sanderson wins, 3-1
Next opponent: #6 J.P. O’Connor, Harvard
#1 Trent Paulson pin Matt Dragon, Penn, 3:32
Paulson takedown 1:40 in, rides for the rest of first period… Paulson starts down, reversal then a pin at 3:32
Next opponent: Ryan Hluschak, Drexel, who beat Iowa’s Ryan Morningstar, 3-1, in OT
#4 Travis Paulson fall Sean Richmond, Pittsburgh, 2:19
Paulson single-leg takedown 1:20 in, gives up penalty point, 2-1; Paulson gets pin at 2:19 mark.
Next opponent: Roger Smith-Bergsrud, Illinois
#5 Eric Luedke, Iowa dec. Grant Turner, 3-2
Turner stall warning w/10 seconds left, scrambles out of single as period ends… Luedke starts down and escapes quickly in second period – Turner not pushing the action…Turner escapes early in third period; Luedke gets deep single, but Turner fights it off; Luedke gets takedown on the edge of the mat w/23 seconds left; Turner escapes quickly, but Luedke backs off and defends the win.
Next opponent: Kurt Brenner, West Virginia
#6 Jake Varner dec. Lior Zamir, Penn, 5-0
Action but no scoring in first period…Varner gets to his feet, but Zamir doesn’t bring him back down or release – stall warning; Zamir lets him go, and Varner immediately turns around and shoots, gets a driving double-leg takedown, 2-0; Varner puts in half-nelson and tries to turn Zamir; Stalling penalty on Zamir, 3-0…Zamir starts down; Varner earns another stalling point while trying to turn Zamir. Varner earns riding time point.
Next opponent: Ryan Burk, Northern Illinois
#9 Kurt Backes maj. dec. Jacob Bryce, North Dakota State, 16-4
Backes gets offense going early and gets three takedowns and a reversal before working for back points.
Next opponent: #8 Joel Flaggert, Oklahoma, who has beaten Backes twice this season.
David Zabriskie vs. #6 Ed Prendergast, Navy
Prendergast single, picks up leg, takes Zabriskie down straight to his back. Zabriskie is close to edge but can’t escape, is pinned at 1:20.
Next opponent: #11 Spencer Nadolsky, North Carolina
Daily Staff Writer
Thanks to an upset by Nick Gallick, the second-ranked Iowa State wrestling team made it through the first round with seven still alive in the championship bracket of the NCAA Wrestling Tournament.
Trailing 5-0 in the first period, Gallick (133) pinned Cornell’s third-seeded Adam Frey. Trent (157) and Travis (165) Paulson also each won first-round matches by pin, while Kurt Backes (197) earned a major decision victory. Mitch Mueller (141), Cyler Sanderson (149) and Jake Varner (184) won decisions, and Iowa State was two points behind the tournament lead after the first session.
Freshmen Nick Fanthorpe (125) and David Zabriskie (HWT) as well as senior Grant Turner (174) lost but will wrestle Thursday night in the consolation bracket.
Tournament frontrunner Minnesota went 10-0 in first session matches.
Match Results and Notes
Michael Sees, Bloomsburg dec. Nick Fanthorpe, 8-4.
Sees picks up single but can’t finish… Sees takedown w/~1:08; stall warning sees w/10 seconds…Sees starts down, escapes eight seconds in and preserves riding time; takedown sees, 5-0; Fanthorpe escape; Sees takedown on edge of mat w/11 seconds left in second period; Fanthorpe reaches back, grabs head and tries for defensive fall but time runs out; Fanthorpe intentionally released to start third, 7-2; Fanthorpe takedown, w/~35 seconds, 4-7; Sees wins, 8-4
Next opponent: Luke Smith, Central Michigan, in the first round of consolations. Beat Smith, 4-2, in semifinals of the Midland Open.
Nick Gallick fall Rob Tate, Gardner-Webb, 4:22
Similar height and build… Tate turns a single into the first takedown of the match 2:34 in…Gallick reversal, two-point nearfall; locked hands call at the end of the period, 4-3…Tate starts down in second period…Gallick cradle, three-point tilt, 7-3…Gallick guillotine, switches to half and gets pin, 4:22. First pin of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
First round: Gallick fall Adam Frey, Cornell, 2:41
Frey takedown 33 seconds in; Frey three-point near fall; Gallick reversal and pin with 19 seconds left in first period; Frey riding on side and Gallick puts him down
Next opponent: Jake Strayer, Penn State
Mitch Mueller dec. Eric Kruger, Central Michigan, 4-3.
No scoring in first period. Kruger gets in on one shot, but Mueller fights it… Mueller starts neutral and gets quick takedown; escape Kruger; Mueller low double, finishes, 4-1; escape Kruger, 4-2; Mueller gets poked in eye, takes small time…Third period, Kruger starts down and escapes; Kruger gets single, but Mueller sprawls gets out; Mueller injury time – not elbow; Mueller holds off Kruger in final moments.
Next opponent: #1 Ryan Lang, Northwestern
#11 Cyler Sanderson dec. Michael Roberts, Boston, 3-1
0-0 after first period… Sanderson starts down, escapes 23 seconds in; Roberts get in on single but Sanderson takes it out of bounds…Third period, Roberts down – escapes seven seconds in; Roberts gets in on a single, but Sanderson breaks it; Sanderson counters Roberts shot and gets takedown; Sanderson wins, 3-1
Next opponent: #6 J.P. O’Connor, Harvard
#1 Trent Paulson pin Matt Dragon, Penn, 3:32
Paulson takedown 1:40 in, rides for the rest of first period… Paulson starts down, reversal then a pin at 3:32
Next opponent: Ryan Hluschak, Drexel, who beat Iowa’s Ryan Morningstar, 3-1, in OT
#4 Travis Paulson fall Sean Richmond, Pittsburgh, 2:19
Paulson single-leg takedown 1:20 in, gives up penalty point, 2-1; Paulson gets pin at 2:19 mark.
Next opponent: Roger Smith-Bergsrud, Illinois
#5 Eric Luedke, Iowa dec. Grant Turner, 3-2
Turner stall warning w/10 seconds left, scrambles out of single as period ends… Luedke starts down and escapes quickly in second period – Turner not pushing the action…Turner escapes early in third period; Luedke gets deep single, but Turner fights it off; Luedke gets takedown on the edge of the mat w/23 seconds left; Turner escapes quickly, but Luedke backs off and defends the win.
Next opponent: Kurt Brenner, West Virginia
#6 Jake Varner dec. Lior Zamir, Penn, 5-0
Action but no scoring in first period…Varner gets to his feet, but Zamir doesn’t bring him back down or release – stall warning; Zamir lets him go, and Varner immediately turns around and shoots, gets a driving double-leg takedown, 2-0; Varner puts in half-nelson and tries to turn Zamir; Stalling penalty on Zamir, 3-0…Zamir starts down; Varner earns another stalling point while trying to turn Zamir. Varner earns riding time point.
Next opponent: Ryan Burk, Northern Illinois
#9 Kurt Backes maj. dec. Jacob Bryce, North Dakota State, 16-4
Backes gets offense going early and gets three takedowns and a reversal before working for back points.
Next opponent: #8 Joel Flaggert, Oklahoma, who has beaten Backes twice this season.
David Zabriskie vs. #6 Ed Prendergast, Navy
Prendergast single, picks up leg, takes Zabriskie down straight to his back. Zabriskie is close to edge but can’t escape, is pinned at 1:20.
Next opponent: #11 Spencer Nadolsky, North Carolina
Live results
Here is the address to the NCAA live results
http://www.intermatwrestle.com/eventscoverage/NCAA2007Div1.htm
http://www.intermatwrestle.com/eventscoverage/NCAA2007Div1.htm
NCAA Tournament Coverage
I'll post match recaps and session notes, but I can't provide live coverage because of tournament regulations. Here are Iowa State's first round matchups with possible second-round opponents:
Nick Fanthorpe vs. Collin Cudd, Wisconsin
[Faces the winner of #7 Angel Escobedo, Indiana/Luke Smith, Central Michigan]
Nick Gallick vs. Rob Tate, Gardner-Webb
[Faces #3 Adam Frey, Cornell]
Mitch Mueller vs. Eric Kruger, Central Michigan
[Faces the winner of #1 Ryan Lang, Northwestern/Matt Ciasulli, Lehigh]
#11 Cyler Sanderson vs. Michael Roberts, Boston
[Faces the winner of #6 J.P. O’Connor, Harvard/Carter Downing, Wyoming]
#1 Trent Paulson vs. Matt Dragon, Penn
[Faces the winner of Ryan Morningstar, Iowa/Jonny Bonilla-Bowman:Ryan Hluschak, Drexel]
#4 Travis Paulson vs. Sean Richmond, Pittsburgh
[Faces the winner of Bryan Tice, Cal State-Fullerton/Roger Smith-Bergsrud, Illinois]
Grant Turner vs. #5 Eric Luedke, Iowa
[Faces the winner of Kurt Brenner, West Virginia/Kenneth Robertson, Eastern Illinois: #12 Mike Letts, Maryland]
#6 Jake Varner vs. Lior Zamir, Penn
[Faces the winner of #11 John Dergo, Illinois/Ryan Burk, Northern Illinois]
#9 Kurt Backes vs, Jacob Bryce, North Dakota St.
[Faces the winner of #8 Joel Flaggert, Oklahoma/Nathan Moore, Purdue]
David Zabriskie vs. #6 Ed Prendergast, Navy
[Faces the winner of #11 Spencer Nadolsky, North Carolina/Dustin Rogers, West Virginia]
Nick Fanthorpe vs. Collin Cudd, Wisconsin
[Faces the winner of #7 Angel Escobedo, Indiana/Luke Smith, Central Michigan]
Nick Gallick vs. Rob Tate, Gardner-Webb
[Faces #3 Adam Frey, Cornell]
Mitch Mueller vs. Eric Kruger, Central Michigan
[Faces the winner of #1 Ryan Lang, Northwestern/Matt Ciasulli, Lehigh]
#11 Cyler Sanderson vs. Michael Roberts, Boston
[Faces the winner of #6 J.P. O’Connor, Harvard/Carter Downing, Wyoming]
#1 Trent Paulson vs. Matt Dragon, Penn
[Faces the winner of Ryan Morningstar, Iowa/Jonny Bonilla-Bowman:Ryan Hluschak, Drexel]
#4 Travis Paulson vs. Sean Richmond, Pittsburgh
[Faces the winner of Bryan Tice, Cal State-Fullerton/Roger Smith-Bergsrud, Illinois]
Grant Turner vs. #5 Eric Luedke, Iowa
[Faces the winner of Kurt Brenner, West Virginia/Kenneth Robertson, Eastern Illinois: #12 Mike Letts, Maryland]
#6 Jake Varner vs. Lior Zamir, Penn
[Faces the winner of #11 John Dergo, Illinois/Ryan Burk, Northern Illinois]
#9 Kurt Backes vs, Jacob Bryce, North Dakota St.
[Faces the winner of #8 Joel Flaggert, Oklahoma/Nathan Moore, Purdue]
David Zabriskie vs. #6 Ed Prendergast, Navy
[Faces the winner of #11 Spencer Nadolsky, North Carolina/Dustin Rogers, West Virginia]
Friday, February 9, 2007
Blog Extras
Check back for more from interviews with Missouri coach Brian Smith, Tiger 149-pounder Josh Wagner and thoughts from Trent Paulson, Travis Paulson and Kurt Backes about this weekend. Also look for coverage of tonight's Iowa State meet vs. Rider.
For complete lineups and records, check out coverage from Cyclones.com.
Link: http://www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=46632&SPID=4248&DB_OEM_ID=10700&ATCLID=787100
For complete lineups and records, check out coverage from Cyclones.com.
Link: http://www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=46632&SPID=4248&DB_OEM_ID=10700&ATCLID=787100
Interview with coach Brian Smith, Part 1
On averaging more than 3,000 fans and have a combined "Beauty and the Beast" gymnastics wrestling meet on Friday night
It’s the highest we’ve ever had. I just saw a thing that it’s ranked like fifth in the country right now for the season, and we’ll probably end up second or third because I know our crowd (Friday) is going to be about 5,000-7,000 because we’re doing a thing with the gymnastics team, and they’re saying half the town is coming out, so it’s going to be a huge crowd. Everybody I run into in the town says they’re coming, and I have to remind them that we have a pretty big one on Sunday too, and it’s kind of getting overlooked by fns, but it will get out there because its being broadcast all over the radios that Sunday its two and three in the country going at it. Plus, it will be announced during the match on Friday, plus we’re playing Kansas in basketball and they’re going to do something there. So it’ll get out.
On the wrestling community having an unfamiliar favorite to win the Big 12
I’m sure for outside fans hearing that Iowa State and Missouri are the favorites in the Big 12 – Iowa State not as much, but with us, that’s a definite change because our average is five, taking fifth in the Big 12. But five years ago we were second in the Big 12. We’ve been there before, we’ve had some good teams that have finished fourth and just didn’t have good Big 12s and this year, it’s definitely my strongest team since I’ve been here, but every year we get a little bit better and better. The program’s just it’s growing things. This is my ninth season, when I took over it was just bottomed out. IT just takes time, an now it’s a culture where the fans are starting to understand the sport and are coming out for matches. We’re getting better and better recruits so our room is getting deeper, we have a lot of good depth in our room, a lot of good things. Plus, our facilities are the nicest in the Big 12 right now. I know Oklahoma State is expanding their room but facility-wise I know we have the best facility. The biggest room, we have our own weight room just for wrestling, and we have brand new locker rooms. So a lot of changes have been made, besides the kids coming in and wrestling hard, we’ve had some good facility things, budgetary things that have helped the program.
I mean six years ago we were 18-3, the next year we were in the national dual finals, and every year we’ve just kind of put more and more pieces of the puzzle together. Him winning the national title was big because it was just something that’s something never been done in the program, and but it seems like every year we do something that’s never been done in the program, this year we’re hoping to win the Big 12s and have multiply ranked national champions with the Brothers being ranked No. 1 and a couple other guys in the hunt, so there is a lot of things. We thought we could win theNational Duals, it’s the first time we’ve been ranked No. 1 in the country, so every year we just break barriers.
On what senior Ben Askren has done for the program
Ben winning a national title was a huge thing because I know just recruiting wise other coaches were saying why would you go to Missouri they’ve never had a national champ. And in our conference, that’s a big deal. When you look at the other four schools, they’ve all had multiple time national champions. And they’d say if you go there, they’ve never had a national champ. Now, we have the Hodge Award winner and that makes a difference. We tell kids that and they all know who he is. And now, with his brother here and we have other kids like Raymond Jordan, ranked fourth or fifth in the country, and we have Matt Pell. We’ve got a solid program.
On Askren as a leader
He wants to win. He has a great work ethic. He’s an unbelievable team player, or team wrestler if you want to state it that way. He really cares about what the team does. I went to Marable, Pell and Askren before the Minnesota dual and said you know if it happesn to be where the dual is kinda not going our way, I may end up bumping you guys. And these are two seniors that could have this really affect their years, because Pell had only lost to Hendricks at that point, and Tannenbaum from Michigan, and then Askren is undefeated looking to win the Hodge again, you know, which on a personal level is a big deal for him. But none of them flinched, they all said let's do it.
And that’s the type of kids they are. In the summer, they’re dragging kids around with them. Hey I’ll take you to this camp. Outside our kids, they’re taking kids to other camps and working out with them, and that’s what makes the team better. He told me in the beginning of them year “I want to win the team title. I’m focused on winning the individual again, but I really want to do everything.” And that’s what great. Him and Matt Pell. We have two really good seniors who want to do great things as a team.
It’s the highest we’ve ever had. I just saw a thing that it’s ranked like fifth in the country right now for the season, and we’ll probably end up second or third because I know our crowd (Friday) is going to be about 5,000-7,000 because we’re doing a thing with the gymnastics team, and they’re saying half the town is coming out, so it’s going to be a huge crowd. Everybody I run into in the town says they’re coming, and I have to remind them that we have a pretty big one on Sunday too, and it’s kind of getting overlooked by fns, but it will get out there because its being broadcast all over the radios that Sunday its two and three in the country going at it. Plus, it will be announced during the match on Friday, plus we’re playing Kansas in basketball and they’re going to do something there. So it’ll get out.
On the wrestling community having an unfamiliar favorite to win the Big 12
I’m sure for outside fans hearing that Iowa State and Missouri are the favorites in the Big 12 – Iowa State not as much, but with us, that’s a definite change because our average is five, taking fifth in the Big 12. But five years ago we were second in the Big 12. We’ve been there before, we’ve had some good teams that have finished fourth and just didn’t have good Big 12s and this year, it’s definitely my strongest team since I’ve been here, but every year we get a little bit better and better. The program’s just it’s growing things. This is my ninth season, when I took over it was just bottomed out. IT just takes time, an now it’s a culture where the fans are starting to understand the sport and are coming out for matches. We’re getting better and better recruits so our room is getting deeper, we have a lot of good depth in our room, a lot of good things. Plus, our facilities are the nicest in the Big 12 right now. I know Oklahoma State is expanding their room but facility-wise I know we have the best facility. The biggest room, we have our own weight room just for wrestling, and we have brand new locker rooms. So a lot of changes have been made, besides the kids coming in and wrestling hard, we’ve had some good facility things, budgetary things that have helped the program.
I mean six years ago we were 18-3, the next year we were in the national dual finals, and every year we’ve just kind of put more and more pieces of the puzzle together. Him winning the national title was big because it was just something that’s something never been done in the program, and but it seems like every year we do something that’s never been done in the program, this year we’re hoping to win the Big 12s and have multiply ranked national champions with the Brothers being ranked No. 1 and a couple other guys in the hunt, so there is a lot of things. We thought we could win theNational Duals, it’s the first time we’ve been ranked No. 1 in the country, so every year we just break barriers.
On what senior Ben Askren has done for the program
Ben winning a national title was a huge thing because I know just recruiting wise other coaches were saying why would you go to Missouri they’ve never had a national champ. And in our conference, that’s a big deal. When you look at the other four schools, they’ve all had multiple time national champions. And they’d say if you go there, they’ve never had a national champ. Now, we have the Hodge Award winner and that makes a difference. We tell kids that and they all know who he is. And now, with his brother here and we have other kids like Raymond Jordan, ranked fourth or fifth in the country, and we have Matt Pell. We’ve got a solid program.
On Askren as a leader
He wants to win. He has a great work ethic. He’s an unbelievable team player, or team wrestler if you want to state it that way. He really cares about what the team does. I went to Marable, Pell and Askren before the Minnesota dual and said you know if it happesn to be where the dual is kinda not going our way, I may end up bumping you guys. And these are two seniors that could have this really affect their years, because Pell had only lost to Hendricks at that point, and Tannenbaum from Michigan, and then Askren is undefeated looking to win the Hodge again, you know, which on a personal level is a big deal for him. But none of them flinched, they all said let's do it.
And that’s the type of kids they are. In the summer, they’re dragging kids around with them. Hey I’ll take you to this camp. Outside our kids, they’re taking kids to other camps and working out with them, and that’s what makes the team better. He told me in the beginning of them year “I want to win the team title. I’m focused on winning the individual again, but I really want to do everything.” And that’s what great. Him and Matt Pell. We have two really good seniors who want to do great things as a team.
Interview with Matt Pell
Missouri senior All-American Matt Pell on the team's success
I’ve definitely seen the program takes some leaps and bounds towards excellence, and it's real exciting to see happen. And it couldn’t happen at a better time, you know. This is my senior year, so this is the last year to make it all happen. I really think the team this year has been real focused and is working really hard in practice. It’s just an example of you get out of it what you put into it.
On what it will take to win the NCAA Tournament
It’s the same every year, what it takes to win Big 12s and win Nationals. It's going to be everyone on the team, all 10 guys need to just go out there and wrestle beyond their expectations in some cases and definitely to their expectations, you know, just go to go out there and perform wrestle seven minutes hard and the rest will work itself out.
On if the Tiger's 20-16 loss to Minnesota in the National Duals reminded the team they had work left to do
No, it really didn’t have that effect. The way I look at it Nationals is a tournament, and we beat Minnesota in a tournament (Southern Scuffle) and we’re on the right path. Right now we just got to keep focus and keep doing what we’re doing. We’re 1-1 with Minnesota the way I look at it. I don’t look at it like they’re No. 1 and we’re No. 2; obviously that is what we’re ranked and that’s what they’re ranked, but in my mind we’re 1-1 and you know we got to make it happen at Nationals.
I definitely think our team has the potential to go out there and win nationals. We beat Minnesota in a team competition before, and ya they can say they didn’t have Reiter, they didn’t have C.P., but we didn’t have – I wasn’t wrestling in that tournament and neither was our other All-American, Tyler McCormick. And also, we dropped out at heavyweight, we couldn’t finish because he got injured. We didn’t finish at 157, so both teams could argue, you know, that they could have performed better had they had more healthy guys, or whatever, but the way I look at it it’s a tight race. We’re a good tournament team; we’ve got a lot of pinners on the team.
Guys are stepping up right now. Wagner just beat the No. 2 ranked guy at the nation at 149. That’s something that was totally unexpected by the rest of the wrestling community besides the other 10 guys on our team. The way I look at it the opportunity is there, we have the potential, we’ve put in the hard work and now its all about just going out and doing it, believing in our self and not listening to people who are going to try to cut us down and call us No. 2 and try to set that expectation. I don’t really like to think of it like that. I don’t expect to get second at Nationals, I expect to win it.
On this weekend's dual with second-ranked Iowa State
They way I see it is Iowa State and Missouri are the two toughest programs in the Big 12 and two of the probably top three programs in the nation. You know, it’s definitely going to be a huge dual. It’s going to be a battle every match. It’s going to be won or lost depending on who shows up to wrestle. I don’t look for anything less than a real, real good dual. It’s going to be real exciting for the fans I’m sure. It’s nice to have it at home, we’ll have the fan support. They’re a great team, and so are we, so these are the kind of duals you look forward too, you know.
On Sunday's match with Trent Paulson
Me and Travis have wrestled a few times in the past. It’s always a good match. You know, it’s gone both ways. Like I said, we’re both going to go out there and expect to win and I expect him to feel the same way. I feel like I’m going out there to win the match, and I expect Travis to be thinking the same thing. It’s who shows up and does. Both talented wrestlers, and like I said its one of those matches I’m looking forward to. I like the competition
On the type of rivarly he has with Paulson
Definitely not heated, I like Travis, he's a good guy. I like both of ‘em, both Trent and Travis. But on the mat, we’re not friends on the mat. It’s both of our senior years. Hopefully, we can train in the future to win the Olympics together or work towards other goals. As far as college wrestling goes, there is always ... You’re wrestling team vs. team so there is always that rivalry. You feel camaraderie towards your teammates and you feel like everyone else is against you. There is always a little bit of that, but nothing personal.
On being a leader on a team expected to contend for the NCAA Title
This year, it’s definitely been different in the sense that I am that fifth-year senior, and I am expected to be a leader on the team, and I think Ben and I am doing a good job right now just trying keep the team focused on what’s important, you know, first things first.
We’re a real proactive team. Everyone wants to win on this team, and they all work for it, you know, they’re not just passive observers. They get out there and try to make it happen. The only thing we need to work on is trying to minimize the outside influence from becoming everyone’s sole focus, you know. We’ve got to focus on what these 10 guys in the room can do, and each guy has to focus on what he can do as an individual. That’s the way great teams pull together, and that’s why we’ve been so successful this year, and we are going to continue to be successful for the rest of the season. As far as my role as a leader, I think it’s just doing my best to minimize the outside influences and keep the team on what’s truly important.
I’ve definitely seen the program takes some leaps and bounds towards excellence, and it's real exciting to see happen. And it couldn’t happen at a better time, you know. This is my senior year, so this is the last year to make it all happen. I really think the team this year has been real focused and is working really hard in practice. It’s just an example of you get out of it what you put into it.
On what it will take to win the NCAA Tournament
It’s the same every year, what it takes to win Big 12s and win Nationals. It's going to be everyone on the team, all 10 guys need to just go out there and wrestle beyond their expectations in some cases and definitely to their expectations, you know, just go to go out there and perform wrestle seven minutes hard and the rest will work itself out.
On if the Tiger's 20-16 loss to Minnesota in the National Duals reminded the team they had work left to do
No, it really didn’t have that effect. The way I look at it Nationals is a tournament, and we beat Minnesota in a tournament (Southern Scuffle) and we’re on the right path. Right now we just got to keep focus and keep doing what we’re doing. We’re 1-1 with Minnesota the way I look at it. I don’t look at it like they’re No. 1 and we’re No. 2; obviously that is what we’re ranked and that’s what they’re ranked, but in my mind we’re 1-1 and you know we got to make it happen at Nationals.
I definitely think our team has the potential to go out there and win nationals. We beat Minnesota in a team competition before, and ya they can say they didn’t have Reiter, they didn’t have C.P., but we didn’t have – I wasn’t wrestling in that tournament and neither was our other All-American, Tyler McCormick. And also, we dropped out at heavyweight, we couldn’t finish because he got injured. We didn’t finish at 157, so both teams could argue, you know, that they could have performed better had they had more healthy guys, or whatever, but the way I look at it it’s a tight race. We’re a good tournament team; we’ve got a lot of pinners on the team.
Guys are stepping up right now. Wagner just beat the No. 2 ranked guy at the nation at 149. That’s something that was totally unexpected by the rest of the wrestling community besides the other 10 guys on our team. The way I look at it the opportunity is there, we have the potential, we’ve put in the hard work and now its all about just going out and doing it, believing in our self and not listening to people who are going to try to cut us down and call us No. 2 and try to set that expectation. I don’t really like to think of it like that. I don’t expect to get second at Nationals, I expect to win it.
On this weekend's dual with second-ranked Iowa State
They way I see it is Iowa State and Missouri are the two toughest programs in the Big 12 and two of the probably top three programs in the nation. You know, it’s definitely going to be a huge dual. It’s going to be a battle every match. It’s going to be won or lost depending on who shows up to wrestle. I don’t look for anything less than a real, real good dual. It’s going to be real exciting for the fans I’m sure. It’s nice to have it at home, we’ll have the fan support. They’re a great team, and so are we, so these are the kind of duals you look forward too, you know.
On Sunday's match with Trent Paulson
Me and Travis have wrestled a few times in the past. It’s always a good match. You know, it’s gone both ways. Like I said, we’re both going to go out there and expect to win and I expect him to feel the same way. I feel like I’m going out there to win the match, and I expect Travis to be thinking the same thing. It’s who shows up and does. Both talented wrestlers, and like I said its one of those matches I’m looking forward to. I like the competition
On the type of rivarly he has with Paulson
Definitely not heated, I like Travis, he's a good guy. I like both of ‘em, both Trent and Travis. But on the mat, we’re not friends on the mat. It’s both of our senior years. Hopefully, we can train in the future to win the Olympics together or work towards other goals. As far as college wrestling goes, there is always ... You’re wrestling team vs. team so there is always that rivalry. You feel camaraderie towards your teammates and you feel like everyone else is against you. There is always a little bit of that, but nothing personal.
On being a leader on a team expected to contend for the NCAA Title
This year, it’s definitely been different in the sense that I am that fifth-year senior, and I am expected to be a leader on the team, and I think Ben and I am doing a good job right now just trying keep the team focused on what’s important, you know, first things first.
We’re a real proactive team. Everyone wants to win on this team, and they all work for it, you know, they’re not just passive observers. They get out there and try to make it happen. The only thing we need to work on is trying to minimize the outside influence from becoming everyone’s sole focus, you know. We’ve got to focus on what these 10 guys in the room can do, and each guy has to focus on what he can do as an individual. That’s the way great teams pull together, and that’s why we’ve been so successful this year, and we are going to continue to be successful for the rest of the season. As far as my role as a leader, I think it’s just doing my best to minimize the outside influences and keep the team on what’s truly important.
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