2008 Woodie Awards
Wrestlers keep eyes on the prize at NCAAs
By Jeremy Acree
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Sports
After winning the Southern Conference title, the UTC wrestling team has high hopes for the upcoming NCAA tournament.
After five wrestlers earned automatic bids by winning their weight class at the conference championships, three more were given wild card invitations.
"We'd like to bring home eight All-American or national champs; that's what the goal is," said Coach Chris Bono. "Each individual is shooting to be an All-American or national champion."
Experience will be one of UTC's greatest advantages heading into the weekend.
Seniors Javier Maldonado, Kissimmee, Fla., Lloyd Rogers, Palm City, Fla., and Josh Edmondson, Medical Lake, Wash., will all be making their second trip to nationals, while senior Matt Koz, Strongsville, Ohio, will make his third trip.
"They know how to handle themselves," said Bono. "It's their last time out and they'll be ready to go."
For the last tournament of the season, preparation has changed. Bono said the priority is now to simply get guys healthy and rested. For the seniors, there is added pressure going in.
"You will always remember your last match. It's been five years of hard work," said the coach.
Seniors Steve Hromada, Wheatley Heights., N.Y., and Seth Garvin, Hoover, Ala., will also be wrestling the last matches of their careers, making six of the eight qualifiers seniors.
But the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Southern Conference Tournament was sophomore Cody Cleveland, Tullahoma, Tenn., who won the title at 141 pounds.
The five individual titles helped the Mocs pull away from Appalachian State, winning the team title with 104.5 points to ASU's 86.5.
Sophomore Joey Knox, Dublin, Ga., earned another wild card bid for UTC by finishing second in the 149 weight class.
Maldonado won the 125-pound title to finish his career with a remarkable 22-0 record against Southern Conference opponents.
Garvin at 157 and Rogers at 174 were first-time champions, while Edmondson took home his second straight title at 184.
It was the 23rd Southern Conference title for the Mocs since 1978. The NCAA tournament begins Thursday, Mar. 20 in St. Louis, Mo.
After five wrestlers earned automatic bids by winning their weight class at the conference championships, three more were given wild card invitations.
"We'd like to bring home eight All-American or national champs; that's what the goal is," said Coach Chris Bono. "Each individual is shooting to be an All-American or national champion."
Experience will be one of UTC's greatest advantages heading into the weekend.
Seniors Javier Maldonado, Kissimmee, Fla., Lloyd Rogers, Palm City, Fla., and Josh Edmondson, Medical Lake, Wash., will all be making their second trip to nationals, while senior Matt Koz, Strongsville, Ohio, will make his third trip.
"They know how to handle themselves," said Bono. "It's their last time out and they'll be ready to go."
For the last tournament of the season, preparation has changed. Bono said the priority is now to simply get guys healthy and rested. For the seniors, there is added pressure going in.
"You will always remember your last match. It's been five years of hard work," said the coach.
Seniors Steve Hromada, Wheatley Heights., N.Y., and Seth Garvin, Hoover, Ala., will also be wrestling the last matches of their careers, making six of the eight qualifiers seniors.
But the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Southern Conference Tournament was sophomore Cody Cleveland, Tullahoma, Tenn., who won the title at 141 pounds.
The five individual titles helped the Mocs pull away from Appalachian State, winning the team title with 104.5 points to ASU's 86.5.
Sophomore Joey Knox, Dublin, Ga., earned another wild card bid for UTC by finishing second in the 149 weight class.
Maldonado won the 125-pound title to finish his career with a remarkable 22-0 record against Southern Conference opponents.
Garvin at 157 and Rogers at 174 were first-time champions, while Edmondson took home his second straight title at 184.
It was the 23rd Southern Conference title for the Mocs since 1978. The NCAA tournament begins Thursday, Mar. 20 in St. Louis, Mo.
