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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 1999)
1 t : ’ By David Diehl Staff writer Returning two All-Americans and six NCAA qualifiers from last year’s squad, which posted a 17-6 dual mark, Wrestling Coach Tim Neumann is eager to see what his team can do when it takes on Lock Haven tonight at die DevaneyCenterat7. _ Neumann said that he feels differ ent with this group of wrestlers going into the first match of the-year than he has in die past Before, Neumann said, he’s always been concerned “about a million different dungs,” but that isn't so this year. tsuunese guys, lean nonesuy say, are a great bunch qf competitors, and they ’re looking forward to die competi tion. When you have an attitude like that, you’re going to be really success ful.” The Cornhuskers, who finished fourth at the Big 12 meet and 15* at NCAAs last year, have strong starters in All-Americans Bryan Snyder at 157 pounds, and 197-pounder Brad Vering. Snyder won the Big 12 champi onship last year as a redshirt freshman, only the fourth wrestler to do so in Nebraska history. The very athletic Vering, who Neumann describes as “any coach’s dream in any sport,” placed fourth at nationals last season at the 184-pound weight class but moves to 197 this year. Both look to be the highlights of a talented starting lineup. Snyder posted a 32-5 overall record last year and an 18-3 mark in duals, forging his way to All-American status at the NCAA meet. “A lot of kids would have said, ‘Well, I’m where I need to be,”’ Neumann said. But that isn’t the case with Snyder. “He Is eight to 10 points better than he was last year,” Neumann said, “which isn’t good news for his oppo nents.” Snyder is more physically and mentally prepared for this season than he was as a freshman last year, and he knows what to expect, Neumann said. His refusal to lose attitude and confi ucikc win uuiy linn iai. “I expect that heb going to continue to have the attitude that he needs to have to try to win a national champi onship,” Neumann said. “There’s no guarantees, if you do everything right or not, you’re going to win a national title. But, to date, he’s doing what he needstodo.” A year ago, Vering, currently ranked third in die country at 197, went 26-9 overall and 15-4 in duals. He is no stranger to winning; he has won multi ple national championships in Greco Roman wrestling. But he didn’t wrestle Greco-Roman this year, instead con centrating on his Freestyle wrestling. Neumann said Vering is the best wrestler in the 197-pound weight class this year. “He may lose one or two matches this year, but when it comes down to the end of the year, he’s going to be one of the hardest guys to beat,” Neumann said. If he continues his wrestling pat tern of the past, Vering is in forvery big things this year; Neumann said. “It takes him a year or so to get used to a new level of wrestling, and then he wins a national championship at what ever level he goes to,” Neumann said. “I realty believe that he’s on track to do that” The rest of the Huskers’ starting lineup is talented Paul Gomez is acad emically ineligible for the first semes ter and will begin wrestling at 125 pounds Dec. 19 in Reno, Nev. Joe Malia will wrestle at 125 tonight vs. Lock Haven. At 133, Neumann expects big things from Todd Beckerman. Beckerman had a tough go last year wrestling 16 matches against wrestlers in die top eight Redshirt freshman Justin Flores replaces All-American Jose DeAnda. Flores is a “huge talent” according to Neumann, but had arthroscopic surgery and will hopefully return for a ~Dec. 12 dual vs. Missouri. Joe Henson, an NCAA qualifier last year, will start at 149 pounds for NU this year. Neumann said that Henson is definitely capable ofbecom ing an All-American. Tony Denke will start at 165 . NO Wrestling Starters I Name Weight t JOMM ^ i 12$ Todd Beckerman 133 s*. ! 141 * Joe Henson 149 • Bryan Snyder ^ . 'MiT Tory Denke 165 AtiPSmflff 174 Charles McTorry 184 fmmm Pat Miron Hwt. pounds tonight, but Neumann said Josh Henson, Joe’s twin brother, will fight for die spot as well. Neumann said that Denke has made as big of a jump as anyone in the past two years, putting in hundreds of hours of work on the mat and in the weight room. At 174 pounds, Ati Conner, a junior college transfer from California, takes over and allows Charles McTorry to move back to his natural weight of 184 pounds. Neumann said that Conner is die most physically gifted athlete that he’s eyer had at Nebraska but his con centration may be a problem. McTorry had a rough year last year, moving down to 174-pounds. The weight change took a lot out of him, Neumann said. He should return to his freshman form, when he placed third in the Big 12, Neumann said. The Huskers start a true freshman at heavyweight this year - Pat Miron, from St Croix, Wis. Neumann said that Miron is the strongest freshman that he has seen here at NU. —-— j'-'k - J r~ When the Huskers win, you wh|! The margin of victory of Saturdays game equals your discount on any one clothing item. For points, , youi t^^bu ... A h r ' . ■ . . . \ - ' ' * V *Sale on Monday 11/15/99 only. (in-stock items only) an ^partner of % follott.com - NEW A USED COLLEGE TEXTBOOK8 I Lower Level, Nebraska Union ■ 472-7300 Lower Level, East Union • 472-1746 I _ I ■ cioiievToCom i Nebraska faces big meet in Regionals By Jason Merrihew Staffwriter It is gut check time for Nebraska, as a do-or-die situation is facing the cross country teams right in the eyes. Head Coach Jay Dirksen will not let his men’s and women’s teams back down, and, in fact, he is anxious for this weekend’s Midwest Regional Championship in Savoy, 111. Mrfcsm NU’S 25‘h" UIIKSen rauke(j women’s cross country team will join fellow top 25 teams Kansas State (seventy, Minnesota (16*) and Missouri (23™). Kansas State, which will attempt to defend its tide, is the heavy favorite this weekend i “I think KSU is the best team,” Dirksen said. “I think we, have a real good chance to place second.” With the presence of K-State and the other top 25 teams, Dirksen knows that one of the two automatic births into the NCAA Championship will be a great challenge. “I think we’re in an enviable situa tion,” Dirksen said with a smile. There are 13 at-large bids to get into the NCAA Championships. He believes running in the very competi tive Big 12 conference can help the Huskers intensely if they fall shy of a top-two finish. i really mink: this conierence (Big 12) will get some at-large bids,” Dirksensaid The success that NU has had during the season against the top teams will also play a factor if it needs an at-laige bid “We had some victories over teams ranked ahead of us,” Dirksen added. TheHuskers will go into this week end’s contest with a very deep roster. NU will be led by seniors Michelle Brooks and Jamie Pauli. The two seniors have been die top two finishers for Nebraska during die regular season. Unfortunately for die Comhuskers, sophomore Jeannette Zimmer will not be able to compete this weekend because of stress fractures. Despite die loss of Zimmer, the atti tude mi the team’s possible chances to make it past die Midwest Regional is very optimistic. “If we run as well as we have been, we should be able to make- it to the NCAA,” Brooks said Unlike the women’s team, the men’s team knows that it doesn’t have a shot foranat-laigebid If the Huskers don’t place in the top two, their season is over. Nebraska is led by junior Marcus Witter. Witter has led the Comhuskers in every race he has participated in this year; however, he was disappointed by his outing at the Big 12 Championships. , “As a team, we are running better than we have been,” Witter said. “But individually, the Big 12 was a disap pointment” The young Huskers have only two runners who have experienced the Midwest Regionals firsthand. Witter and Aaron Carrizales hold that honor. Five freshmen will fill the remain der of the men’s roster. Despite the youth and inexperience, Dirksen is looking for an improvement from last year’s showing of 13th m the regional. “I think we can place somewhere in the top 10,” Diiksen said. “It should be fim.” The men’s race will kick off the day with all :00 a.m. start. The women’s race will follow at noon. I