2008 Woodie Awards
Hudson Comes Through, Becomes All-American
Gale L O'Dell: Muleskinner
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Sports
|
The Mules trouble in the first round set the them back and they were not able to recover.
The team finished 29th out of 37 teams. But, the two days were not a total loss.
Senior Jeremy Hudson was one of only two Mules nominated for nationals, along with senior Jesse Sheets.
"I was a lot more nervous last year, and this year I know what it takes to be an All-American," Hudson said.
Hudson opened his tournament with a first round loss Friday, but came back with a pair of wins and earned a spot in the All-American rounds Saturday. He showed that he indeed knew what it took. Hudson went on to place eighth in the tournament with All-American honors.
Hudson has come a long way since his freshman year when he was still learning the techniques of wrestling. During his freshman year, Hudson was 7-22 overall, but he was an athlete that has gotten better every year. This year he finished his season 30-18.
"I think Hudson had a great tournament," caoch Robin Ersland said. "He has worked really hard his whole career. I was very excited for him. That takes a lot of hard work, and he puts in a lot of it. He's come a long way as far as anybody I've ever had."
Hudson also reflected on his career.
"It has been an experience," Hudson said. "It's been four years I've been with the team. It's kind of sad, but all good things must come to an end. You just have to get ready for the next stage in your life."
As Hudson and the other four seniors on the team graduate, the other members will have to carry on. Freshman Cody Beck is one of the four returning national qualifiers already on his way to continue moving the team in the right direction.
Beck was no stranger to matches with big crowds. In high school he won four Missouri state championships and knew the kind of environment nationals would bring.
"It would be good to win my first match being that I am a freshman," Beck said. "Hopefully I will come out on top and win the match."
In his first round, Beck took his match to overtime and lost, but went on to the second round, where he got to the match that would decide which competitor would be an All-American. Although he had beaten the same opponent before, Beck came up just short in a losing effort.
Even though the freshmen couldn't come through this year, Ersland hopes this year's tournament will motivate Beck and his teammates heading into next year.
"Any time a freshman comes that close to winning All-American, I think it just gives him more incentive for next year," Ersland said.
Be the first to comment on this story