Post by victor2111 on Dec 24, 2009 13:28:05 GMT -5
From dispatch:
Buckeyes are No. 3, but know they must improve
The Ohio State wrestling team is in the middle of a three-week break from matches, but the third-ranked Buckeyes aren't using the time to rest.
The team believes it can't afford to slow down, even though it is 5-0 after beating No. 19 Edinboro on Dec. 13 and winning the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 5. It sees enough flaws to fix, including getting into better physical condition, before the Big Ten season starts in January.
"Obviously, there are still things we need to work on, but we got the win (in Vegas)," 174-pound senior Dave Rella said. "We could have probably dominated the tournament, so there's a lot of room to improve.
"We definitely have time over the break and the next few months to get better and get everybody on the podium (at the NCAA Tournament)."
For that to happen, coach Tom Ryan wants better commitment, especially at certain weights. He saw progress in some wrestlers against Edinboro.
But if it doesn't continue, there could be changes. Wrestle-offs are expected at 125, 157 and heavyweight, and possibly more, before the team goes to Hofstra on Jan. 3.
"We're not frustrated, but we can be so much better," Ryan said. "If we look at history, the people who aren't buying in are not performing in March the way we need them to and it cost us last year. We just didn't get enough points from the entire group."
Some wrestlers have performed as expected. Reece Humphrey, at 141, is unbeaten. Lance Palmer and Colt Sponseller, at 149 and 165, respectively, are ranked high.
Mike Pucillo, a 184-pound senior, has been Ohio State's most consistent wrestler the past three seasons, but he struggled in Las Vegas. Ryan said Pucillo is at 70 percent after he cut his hand with a box cutter before the NCAA Tournament in March.
"With the surgery he was out for five months," Ryan said. "His grip isn't as good as it was. That injury, we're paying the price for it now more than we did at nationals. For six months he really couldn't do much and it's hurting him."
Ohio State needs Pucillo to do well in the Big Ten season and postseason because he is a proven scorer. Ryan hopes he can depend in the same manner on every wrestler in the lineup because the margin between the top teams is thin.
That's why there's no time to relax.
"It's a good time to push ourselves because we're ready," senior heavyweight Corey Morrison said. "We know we can do this but we need to pick up our conditioning, our strength and our intensity. The coaches know what they are going to put us through, so these three weeks are going to be a hard-training period to get our bodies physically ready for the Big Ten season."
Buckeyes are No. 3, but know they must improve
The Ohio State wrestling team is in the middle of a three-week break from matches, but the third-ranked Buckeyes aren't using the time to rest.
The team believes it can't afford to slow down, even though it is 5-0 after beating No. 19 Edinboro on Dec. 13 and winning the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 5. It sees enough flaws to fix, including getting into better physical condition, before the Big Ten season starts in January.
"Obviously, there are still things we need to work on, but we got the win (in Vegas)," 174-pound senior Dave Rella said. "We could have probably dominated the tournament, so there's a lot of room to improve.
"We definitely have time over the break and the next few months to get better and get everybody on the podium (at the NCAA Tournament)."
For that to happen, coach Tom Ryan wants better commitment, especially at certain weights. He saw progress in some wrestlers against Edinboro.
But if it doesn't continue, there could be changes. Wrestle-offs are expected at 125, 157 and heavyweight, and possibly more, before the team goes to Hofstra on Jan. 3.
"We're not frustrated, but we can be so much better," Ryan said. "If we look at history, the people who aren't buying in are not performing in March the way we need them to and it cost us last year. We just didn't get enough points from the entire group."
Some wrestlers have performed as expected. Reece Humphrey, at 141, is unbeaten. Lance Palmer and Colt Sponseller, at 149 and 165, respectively, are ranked high.
Mike Pucillo, a 184-pound senior, has been Ohio State's most consistent wrestler the past three seasons, but he struggled in Las Vegas. Ryan said Pucillo is at 70 percent after he cut his hand with a box cutter before the NCAA Tournament in March.
"With the surgery he was out for five months," Ryan said. "His grip isn't as good as it was. That injury, we're paying the price for it now more than we did at nationals. For six months he really couldn't do much and it's hurting him."
Ohio State needs Pucillo to do well in the Big Ten season and postseason because he is a proven scorer. Ryan hopes he can depend in the same manner on every wrestler in the lineup because the margin between the top teams is thin.
That's why there's no time to relax.
"It's a good time to push ourselves because we're ready," senior heavyweight Corey Morrison said. "We know we can do this but we need to pick up our conditioning, our strength and our intensity. The coaches know what they are going to put us through, so these three weeks are going to be a hard-training period to get our bodies physically ready for the Big Ten season."