Augustana wrestlers square off in intra-squad duals

Amidst an uncharacteristic silence, Augustana's wrestlers held their first intra-squad dual of the year last Sunday in the Elmen center.

Instead of the usual roar of spectators and anxious coaches that accompany most meets, there was a sustained quietness throughout the gym as the team wrestled against each other, competing for their position on the team.  Nobody wanted to pick favorites, but everyone in attendance waited to see how the matches would shake out to decide who would start at the next meet.

Still, the healthy tension that permeated the gym was a signal of a team hungry for a national title after placing second last year behind University of Nebraska- Omaha (UNO).

"Don't let this appear to be an entirely friendly event," junior 157-pound Kyle Svendsen said. "These guys are all fighting for their spots.  At the end of the day, everybody leaves any bad feelings on the mat, but these guys are out to claim their position on the team."

As the matches began, each of the wrestlers contending for a starting position on the team squared off against teammates with one ultimate goal in mind—Division II National Championships.

"Last year we got that taste in our mouths for the national title," assistant coach Tom Meester said.  "All summer these guys were talking about how they were going to meet goals and improve themselves, but now it's the hard part because it's time to step up and do it.  They're ready though and they're always thinking about it.  They've got it in their heads and everybody wants it."

During the dual, the team members began securing their spots, some of them easily winning matches, and some of them making some surprise upsets, like 141-pound  Jason Jeremiason defeating national champion Jay Sherer.

While the standings may have determined the starting wrestlers for the next meet, the Daktronics Open in Brookings this Saturday, there are many other factors that determine which wrestlers get to start for bigger meets.  Aside from other wrestle-offs that will take place throughout the year, the coaches also decide who wrestles where by each wrestlers accomplishments throughout the year.

Even so, slight bitterness was evident, as some competitors were disappointed with their performances. According to wrestlers and staff though, it's good for the team.

"This sort of competitiveness makes guys better," Svendsen said. "If you want to start, you've got to earn it."

Winning his match for the day, 157-pound junior Marcus Edgington still recognized the importance of vying against his teammates for his spot. 

"It's good to see where you're at and to see what you need to improve on," he said.  "Whether you're at a meet or at practice or wrestle-offs, you've got to earn your spot every day."

Chism Fink, a 149-pound senior, has high hopes for the direction the team is going this year.  "The guys that have been around for a while have made a lot of improvements and we've got a lot of good freshman this year, so if there's any team in the nation that's going to take down UNO, this is the team that's going to do it," he said.

"We feel we're ready," Meester said. "Wrestle-offs might not be the most exciting thing to watch—the guys are tentative and they're wrestling people they wrestle every day in practice—but everybody is looking pretty good.  I think these guys might throw us a couple of surprises this year."