NU teammates compete for starting wrestler slots
Dana Ahrens
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
As the Cornhuskers enter the 2007-2008 wrestling season, they will first need to choose 10 starters. This year's team will compete for the varsity spots at wrestle-offs Friday night.
The stiffest competition arises at the 141-pound weight class to replace Dominick Moyer who graduated after qualifying for the NCAA Championship last season. University of Nebraska coach Mark Manning described the ability needed to successfully fill Moyer's spot.
"We have some depth at that weight class, and you need it in our sport," Manning said. "You are never going to be completely healthy from November to March. We have got to have the guy who is going to represent our program healthy come nationals in March."
Manning said he is confident in the quality this weight class has this season.
"We have three guys at 141 pounds right now that we are counting on," Manning said. "Two returning NCAA qualifiers (junior) Patrick Aleksanyan and (junior) Rob Sanders, along with redshirt freshman Curtis Salazar, just makes it a really competitive weight class for us, and we are pretty deep."
Sanders returns this season moving down a weight class. He and sophomore Jordan Burroughs both wrestled at 149 pounds last year. Sanders said he is confident he will win the starting position at 141 pounds this year by wrestling the whole match as hard as he can.
"I expect to be a starter," Sanders said. "I expect to win both matches or however many I have. I will control my weight and wrestle all seven minutes."
Sanders has set high goals for himself, hoping to end the season an All American and contend for a national title.
Two seasons ago, Aleksanyan qualified for the NCAA tournament. He said competing at such a large event helped him improve.
"I think it gives me experience going into the year," Aleksanyan said. "If I get to the national tournament it will definitely help me experience-wise."
Aleksanyan moved up from 133 pounds for this season. He said he feels more comfortable with the change, and it should be an advantage.
"I think I am going to feel better at 141 pounds, cutting a little less weight," Aleksanyan said.
Salazar also moved weight classes. He came down from 149 pounds. Salazar finished his freshman season with a record of 18-9 finishing in the top five in three tournaments. Salazar said it was a better idea to decrease the weight for this season.
As for Friday, Salazar said he hopes to wrestle well enough to advance this season.
"I am just going to go out there and try to wrestle my best and hopefully get a starting position," Salazar said.
NU coach Manning said his wrestler could be any of the three, but whoever wins will be the most deserving of the starting spot for the Huskers.
"They all have talent and work pretty hard," Manning said. "But it is going to be the small things that determine who represents our team."
DANAAHRENS@DAILYNBRASKAN.COM
The stiffest competition arises at the 141-pound weight class to replace Dominick Moyer who graduated after qualifying for the NCAA Championship last season. University of Nebraska coach Mark Manning described the ability needed to successfully fill Moyer's spot.
"We have some depth at that weight class, and you need it in our sport," Manning said. "You are never going to be completely healthy from November to March. We have got to have the guy who is going to represent our program healthy come nationals in March."
Manning said he is confident in the quality this weight class has this season.
"We have three guys at 141 pounds right now that we are counting on," Manning said. "Two returning NCAA qualifiers (junior) Patrick Aleksanyan and (junior) Rob Sanders, along with redshirt freshman Curtis Salazar, just makes it a really competitive weight class for us, and we are pretty deep."
Sanders returns this season moving down a weight class. He and sophomore Jordan Burroughs both wrestled at 149 pounds last year. Sanders said he is confident he will win the starting position at 141 pounds this year by wrestling the whole match as hard as he can.
"I expect to be a starter," Sanders said. "I expect to win both matches or however many I have. I will control my weight and wrestle all seven minutes."
Sanders has set high goals for himself, hoping to end the season an All American and contend for a national title.
Two seasons ago, Aleksanyan qualified for the NCAA tournament. He said competing at such a large event helped him improve.
"I think it gives me experience going into the year," Aleksanyan said. "If I get to the national tournament it will definitely help me experience-wise."
Aleksanyan moved up from 133 pounds for this season. He said he feels more comfortable with the change, and it should be an advantage.
"I think I am going to feel better at 141 pounds, cutting a little less weight," Aleksanyan said.
Salazar also moved weight classes. He came down from 149 pounds. Salazar finished his freshman season with a record of 18-9 finishing in the top five in three tournaments. Salazar said it was a better idea to decrease the weight for this season.
As for Friday, Salazar said he hopes to wrestle well enough to advance this season.
"I am just going to go out there and try to wrestle my best and hopefully get a starting position," Salazar said.
NU coach Manning said his wrestler could be any of the three, but whoever wins will be the most deserving of the starting spot for the Huskers.
"They all have talent and work pretty hard," Manning said. "But it is going to be the small things that determine who represents our team."
DANAAHRENS@DAILYNBRASKAN.COM
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