Page 103 - ThePhoenix1997-98

SPORTS Thursday, February 5, 1998 - Page 11 Second-string wrestlers play an integral team role 8Y K.;VIN CULLEY which forced him to practice dif- and members leaving the team for West Virginia. "This is the first time Totten's near-legendary colle- ___ c"'":::"'",rib","'",i"8,-,W,,-"",",--'__ • fere~~~!~O~~t::;~~:C;i~t~g with various reasons. in college that I push myself and giate career at Delaware Valley be- The wrestlers have still man- others every day. I can see every- gan rather quietly at Rutgers Uni- "Nobody likes being second," the 126 pounders, Julian Tai and aged an impressive 15-8 record in New Jersey. proclaimed WMC Assistant Wres- Josh Kurjan. Though they are ex- through the January 30 match, in- one gelling better. When I'm a se- versity He was admittedly wooed in nior, we are going to be a power- tling Coach Brandon Totten. "But cellent wrestlers, they weren't in cluding an impressive win over na- house," predicted Riley. the recruiting process, and "pretty to us in the coaching ranks, those my weight class so they couldn't re- tional ranked Messiah and Centen- Riley also commented on fresh- much sat at Rutgers. I was the little second and third stringers are as ally push me," noted Pitonzo. nial Conference foe Gettysburg. man Andrey Brener, the two-time fish in the big pond and I didn't like important as our starters are. In a However, '97-8 has been differ- With only 10 weight classes, Ukranian national champion who it." way, they are coaches too." ent for him with two liS-pound each carrying one slot, and 30 suffered a broken ankle at the Tren- After his freshman year, he Evidence is overwhelming that newcomers. "Every day I'm fight- wrestlers, there will always be ton Invitational on November 9. a non-starting wrestler is vastly ing to keep my position; it really people sitting out. However, that is Amazingly, Brener is out of his transferred to Division m wrestling Valley, powerhouse Delaware different from a player who makes me work," he said. a good thing in wrestling. cast and wrestling after two where two years later he was na- doesn't see much action in other "When I recruit, I tel! the kids "The competition in practice is months. "This is just an example of tional champion. sports. they have a chance to start, but they the best it has been since I've been how much drive we all have. When "I feel I can relate to both the This kind of attitude is very im- portant for the 1998 WMC wres- "When I recruit, I tell the kids they have a chance to start, kids who are out of the loop right I've now and our starters, because tlingteam. been both places. I've sat and felt "Wrestling is different," said but they will have to work. " Totten. "If you are third string with sorry for myself but I've also been ~ on top, too." a 0-28 record and you beat the Head Wrestling Coach John Lowe Lowe's collegiate years were starter, then you become the starter. spent at Washington and Lee where That is the great thing about wres- will have to work," said Head Wres- here," said Lowe. Brener was out of commission, he he didn't see time on the mat until tling. No one can argue wins and tling Coach John Lowe. "A great "I'm really being pushed this was working as hard as anyone else his junior year. "I didn't like sitting, losses; the subjectivity is com- example of this was Kurjan, who year in practice," added Pnonzo. to get better," noted Riley. but I accepted it as my role," he pletely taken out of coaching." as a third-stringer wrestled in 17 Sophomore David Riley is on When Brener was on the side- said. "1 felt a whole lot better than The sport of wrestling is differ-. matches last year." the outside looking in at the 150- line, he was schooling the wrestlers man on my ent from other team sports because Lowe nearly doubled the size of pound weight class. on Russian technique. when I was the twelfth team and felt soccer high school there is only one wrestler who his team with an impressive 17-man "Right now I'm considered sec- "It all comes down to coaching; lost in the shuffle. In wrestling I takes the mat in each weight class. recruiting class. ond string," he noted. "I don't like our coaches know how to be hard controlled my own destiny." This sets up a high amount of "We purposely schedule many being second, but when the guy on us in a positive way," said Riley. someone When competition for that elusive spot. dual meets, both to give the recruit- ahead of me wins a match, I feel "All the credit goes to them." a meet, the backups is wrestling at are supporting This competition allows for better ing class a chance to wrestle and 10 good because we've made each Riley noted that Totten and him because they have something practices with everyone pushing [allow them 10] show us what other better, so I've had a part in Lowe are one of the key factors in at stake. "When someone loses it each other to the limit. they've got," added Lowe. his win." the overall improvement in the is like everyone loses because they ll8-pound sophomore Jon Depth 'has been very important Riley is a first-year Green Ter- WMC wrestlers. The main reason other Pitonzo was the only wrestler in this year for a team that has been ror wrestler, having transferred for this is thai both of them can re- feel they didn't push each Lowe. proclaimed enough," his '96-7 weight class, a situation plagued with unexpected injuries from Davis and Elkins College in late to everyone on the roster. ''That's part of their drive now." INSTANT CREDIT Guaranteed Credit Cards with Credit Limits 11th Up To $10,000 Within Days! Year! No CREDIT, No JOB, No PARENT-SIGNER, No SECURITY DEPOSIT! t • bad credit • no ? ''!~P'!,III~ Two Of the Most Widely Used Credit In The World ORDER FORM YES! I want Credit Cards immediately. GACC,.PO BOX 16662, ATLANTA, GA 30321 Name_ _ _ . Address., __.__ _ _ _ . City._.._ __ _ _ __ __ _..State _ __ _ Zlp.•.......................................