2008 Woodie Awards
Team begins with preseason ranking
Jacob Vannucci
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Sports
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The Wrestling Mocs are riding high off their 20th place finish at the NCAA Championships as they come into the new year with a top-20 preseason ranking.
"The Wrestling International Newsmagazine" put the Mocs at 19th, despite losing key seniors from last year like All-American Matt Keller, Jake Yost and Josh and Michael Keefe.
This year's squad will be led by seniors Javier Maldonado, Miami, Fla., Matt Koz, Strongsville, Ohio, and Lloyd Rogers, Palmsville, Fla. who are all ranked in the top-20 of their respective weight classes going into the new season.
"It is nice to start out the season with some national recognition," second-year head coach Chris Bono said. "It shows that people took notice of our hard work. But our goal is to be No. 1 and win a national title, so we still have work to do."
The Mocs have dominated the Southern Conference the past few years, winning their 22nd SoCon title last year. They also went 16-1 in dual matches last year. The year culminated at the NCAA Championships as the Mocs sent 9 wrestlers, the most out of any school in the nation.
The Mocs will begin their season with an intrasquad exhibition, Blue-Gold Wrestling, this Thursday at 6 p.m. in Mclellan Gym. They will kick off the regular season at home as they face off against Ohio State University, Anderson University and Cumberland University on Nov. 10.
"The Wrestling International Newsmagazine" put the Mocs at 19th, despite losing key seniors from last year like All-American Matt Keller, Jake Yost and Josh and Michael Keefe.
This year's squad will be led by seniors Javier Maldonado, Miami, Fla., Matt Koz, Strongsville, Ohio, and Lloyd Rogers, Palmsville, Fla. who are all ranked in the top-20 of their respective weight classes going into the new season.
"It is nice to start out the season with some national recognition," second-year head coach Chris Bono said. "It shows that people took notice of our hard work. But our goal is to be No. 1 and win a national title, so we still have work to do."
The Mocs have dominated the Southern Conference the past few years, winning their 22nd SoCon title last year. They also went 16-1 in dual matches last year. The year culminated at the NCAA Championships as the Mocs sent 9 wrestlers, the most out of any school in the nation.
The Mocs will begin their season with an intrasquad exhibition, Blue-Gold Wrestling, this Thursday at 6 p.m. in Mclellan Gym. They will kick off the regular season at home as they face off against Ohio State University, Anderson University and Cumberland University on Nov. 10.
