2008 Woodie Awards
Team Trying to Find More Consistency
Gale L. O'Dell: Muleskinner
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Sports
Despite coming away with big wins this season against Truman State with a score of 33-3, Missouri Baptist 35-12 and Edwardsville 33-3, the Mules' wrestling team has had some major losses as well against Fort Hays State 28-9 and the No.1-ranked Minnesota State University 42-0.
"We've been a little erratic this year," said coach Robin Ersland. "We looked very good against Missouri Baptist. I thought we didn't look quite as good against Fort Hays and against Edwardsville we looked strong. We had good attitudes and we were aggressive. Hopefully, we will be up for our match."
Injuries have had its effect on the team, but lately the back-up wrestlers have added the extra strength the team needs.
"The sign of a good team is good back-ups to step in and be competitive," said Ersland. "I feel like our back-ups have stepped in and been competitive and that's what we need. When you take those starters out of our line-up, that puts some pretty big wholes in our line up. We are missing four starters.
With four starters out, out of ten, almost half the team is gone. But I think our backups have stepped in and done a real good job for us."
Some starters have been an example of how well the team has performed. Vince Bertucci is one of those athletes.
This season, he has had tough matches against some of the top wrestlers in the nation and has had to step up his game.
"His last five matches have all been against very quality people," Ersland said. "He had a very nice win last Thursday. He stuck to his game plan. He did things that we thought he needed to do in order to win."
"We are working on things I need to work on," Bertucci said, "Then I'll just go out and wrestle my match and not let him dictate what is going to happen in the match. Hopefully I'll end up on top."
"I think we are preparing well. We have had our losses and a lot of people have been getting hurt, and I think the next dual we got we can go out there and make some noise."
"We are wrestling better," said Cody Beck. "We are getting better every week, and we are getting ready for Regional."
Beck has also had a good season so far, pulling away with some wins of his own including a pin in the win against Edwardsville.
"I wrestled well," Beck said. "I lost some that I shouldn't have, but I have done pretty good so far. I got to keep my weight off, work hard and keep wrestling hard. I got to keep my conditioning up."
Tonight at 7p.m., the team will end its regular season on the road, against Central Oklahoma.
The rival Broncos have won the last 28 duals between the two teams and things will not get any easier this year for the Mules, as the Bronchos are ranked No. 6 in the nation and are the defending national champions. A win at this dual could spark a No. 20-ranked Central Missouri team that has seen a lot of up and downs throughout the season.
"We've been a little erratic this year," said coach Robin Ersland. "We looked very good against Missouri Baptist. I thought we didn't look quite as good against Fort Hays and against Edwardsville we looked strong. We had good attitudes and we were aggressive. Hopefully, we will be up for our match."
Injuries have had its effect on the team, but lately the back-up wrestlers have added the extra strength the team needs.
"The sign of a good team is good back-ups to step in and be competitive," said Ersland. "I feel like our back-ups have stepped in and been competitive and that's what we need. When you take those starters out of our line-up, that puts some pretty big wholes in our line up. We are missing four starters.
With four starters out, out of ten, almost half the team is gone. But I think our backups have stepped in and done a real good job for us."
Some starters have been an example of how well the team has performed. Vince Bertucci is one of those athletes.
This season, he has had tough matches against some of the top wrestlers in the nation and has had to step up his game.
"His last five matches have all been against very quality people," Ersland said. "He had a very nice win last Thursday. He stuck to his game plan. He did things that we thought he needed to do in order to win."
"We are working on things I need to work on," Bertucci said, "Then I'll just go out and wrestle my match and not let him dictate what is going to happen in the match. Hopefully I'll end up on top."
"I think we are preparing well. We have had our losses and a lot of people have been getting hurt, and I think the next dual we got we can go out there and make some noise."
"We are wrestling better," said Cody Beck. "We are getting better every week, and we are getting ready for Regional."
Beck has also had a good season so far, pulling away with some wins of his own including a pin in the win against Edwardsville.
"I wrestled well," Beck said. "I lost some that I shouldn't have, but I have done pretty good so far. I got to keep my weight off, work hard and keep wrestling hard. I got to keep my conditioning up."
Tonight at 7p.m., the team will end its regular season on the road, against Central Oklahoma.
The rival Broncos have won the last 28 duals between the two teams and things will not get any easier this year for the Mules, as the Bronchos are ranked No. 6 in the nation and are the defending national champions. A win at this dual could spark a No. 20-ranked Central Missouri team that has seen a lot of up and downs throughout the season.
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