2008 Woodie Awards
Eight Headed to Nationals, Ersland Honored
Team Takes Third at Regionals and has the Most Qualifiers Reach the National Event Since 2001
Gale L O'Dell: Muleskinner
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Sports
|
As a team, UCM finished the Regional in third place with 97.5 points out of the nine team field.
The No. 6-ranked University of Central Oklahoma won the tournament with 116 points and was followed by Ashland University with 101 points.
The Mules entered the tournament ranked No. 20 in the country with a 6-6 dual record. In all, eight Mule athletes made the NCAA National Championships, the most qualifiers to nationals that Central Missouri has had since 2001.
The top four place winners in each weight class earned a trip to the national tournament. UCM had six third place finishers, one fourth place finisher and one fifth place finisher.
Sophomore Caleb Hulse was the first Mule to earn third place at the 125 weight class. Sophomore Cory Bloodgood finished fourth.
The Mules also had five other third place winners including seniors Vince Bertucci at the 157 weight class, and Jeremy Hudson at 184, as well as junior Kevin Domian at 197, and freshman, Cody Beck at 285.
Senior Jesse Sheets also got fourth place at 165.
Another important addition to the day was that coach Robin Ersland was recognized as the NCAA-II Regional Coach of the Year.
Now, in his 13th season at Central Missouri, Ersland has had 67 national qualifiers. Saturday was not the first time Ersland has won the Midwest Region Coach of the Year. He has also won the award in 1996, 1998 and 2000.
His career dual match record at Central Missouri is 120-110-2, and his overall dual match record is 187-229-7 in 23 seasons as a head coach.
With this year's team heading into nationals, Ersland hopes to make this group of Mules his 10th squad that can finishes in the top 20 in the last 13 years at the NCAA-II Championships.
His best coaching year came in 2001, when he led the Mules to a 14-5-1 record and to UCM's best-ever national finish in 11th place with 45 points. This year, the team has a chance to beat that record.
There was no practice for the team Monday and Ersland, along with the eight qualifying athletes, were unavailable for comment.
For the eight qualifiers and Ersland, they will continue to practice through spring break as the team prepares for the tournament that is scheduled for March 14 and 15 at the Upper Iowa University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
D. Sharp
posted 3/06/08 @ 10:29 AM CST
why is there only 7 wrestlers listed in your article? Left out was indicted felon Travis Barbarick.
Nate Taylor
posted 3/06/08 @ 10:54 PM CST
Thank you for the error D. Sharp. As the sports editor, it is always in the best interest of our readers to get accurate information. We will make the change to the story online. (Continued…)
D.Sharp
posted 3/07/08 @ 6:49 PM CST
Please contact the Johnson County Procecutor's Office for details. It is of public record that two current wrestlers have been charged, arrested and indicted by a grand jury for second degree felony assault. (Continued…)
Post a Comment