The wrestling team travelled to Newberry, S.C this weekend looking to bounce back from a disappointing 0-3 showing in the ACC/Big Ten Clash. They squared off with Seton Hill and Division II powerhouse and host Newberry.
Despite a rash of injuries and other circumstances that caused the team to be without four of its starters, the team wrestled well and pulled off a 33-12 victory over Seton Hill.
According to coach Carter Jordan, one of the most impressive efforts of the Seton Hill match was that of sophomore heavyweight Bobby Isola, who wrestled injured but pinned his opponent, Stephen Zubach, at 1:00.
“I don’t know many athletes that would have competed under the same circumstances, and he competed and actually got a win,” Jordan said. “[He showed] a tremendous amount of guts.”
Isola was not the only wrestler who competed despite not being at full strength. Freshman 174-pounder Jacob Burge fought through strep throat and wrestled hard against his opponent, Dan Matthews of Seton Hill, but could not quite come up with the victory, falling in a 10-4 decision.
The team was unable to duplicate its success against a very strong Newberry team that entered the match ranked No. 7 in national Division II polls.
Unlike its match against Seton Hill, State’s injuries proved to be more than it could overcome against host Newberry.
Coach Jordan talked after the match about just how profound the impact of the teams injuries were.
“If we’re healthy, it’s a different situation,” Jordan said. “Missing four starters, it’s hard to beat anybody. You put those four guys in the lineup and it’s a whole different team.”
Despite the tremendous obstacles they faced and the absence of several of its best wrestlers, the team wrestled hard and made Jordan proud.
“I was very pleased with our intensity and the way in which we wrestled,” Jordan said. “I was really proud of them, they were outgunned a little bit, but their effort was terrific.”
According to Jordan, all the starters that missed action during the first two tournaments will be back by the start of next semester.
Come January, senior 197-pounder Ryan Goodman will return to wrestling after completing the football season. Senior Mark Jahad will be down to 184, where Jordan said he thinks he will the most successful. Isola, Burge and senior 141-pounder Joe Caramanica will also all be back to full strength.
With this in mind, Jordan seemed confident in what the team will be able to do over the remainder of the season.
“We’ll be ready to rock here in about another month.”
