I was personally looking forward to wrestling a guy who had gotten the best of me not once, but twice, and both by pin. The first match was in a dual two years ago. Everything was going fine and I was up in the match, 10-9, and then I was fighting off my back, but I didn't succeed. It was almost an identical match earlier this year at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. We were going back and forth with each other, with me once again ending up on my back and hearing the ref hit the mat. So, needless to say, I was looking forward to the dual match.
We started off the dual with wins at 125 and 133 pounds, getting bonus points in each match. We dropped the next two matches, with Augustana getting bonus points in one of them. We split the next two matches, and it was my turn.
Marshall MarquardtAnyway, I was trying to stay relaxed, but who was I kidding? My heart was going a thousand miles an hour. I was getting ready to wrestle someone who had beaten me twice, by fall. It started and ended well, as I scored two takedowns and allowed him only one escape, walking away with a 4-1 victory. I was very pleased as you can imagine. Beating someone who has gotten the best of you before seems to be that much more fulfilling.
We finished the meet winning five of the 10 matches, but had more bonus points and won 20-17. It really is amazing how right your coach can be sometimes. He told us all week that this dual meet would be decided on which team scored more majors, technical falls, and pins, as it had been the previous year, and it was. We packed up and headed out to Storm Lake, Iowa for a dual against Division III Buena Vista the next day. We strolled into town about 1:00 am, just in time to check-in to the motel and get to bed, or try to anyway.
The next day we were a bit disappointed to learn that they were only wrestling a few of their varsity guys against us. For whatever reason, it doesn't really matter, we left losing only one match, but we still knew it could have been better.
We got back and started preparing for our last two duals of the season and the conference tournament. Our last duals were against Waldorf College and York College. York cancelled that day which meant we would only be wrestling Waldorf that night. It was a big dual for us because they are in our region. It was also a big night for many of us as it was Senior Night.
It was very special for me, as about half of my extended family showed up. My mom, dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends were all in attendance. Some of them had never even seen me wrestle a match, which meant a lot to me. It was emotional to see all the support I have and how much they all mean to me. I knew it was going to be a good night. I wrestled what I believe to be one of my best matches of my career, scoring numerous points and finishing with a pin. I gave a little "thank you" to the crowd, as many of them have seen me wrestle numerous matches over the last five years. It was a big night for all of us in a way, as we crushed our old dual win record, going 18-1-1 on the season. We lost only to Division I Cal Poly and we tied Division I Oregon State. We were 14-0 against NAIA teams, 2-0 against Division II teams, and 2-0 against Division III teams. It has been a special year for many of us, with high hopes of it being even better in three weeks.
We wrestled at our conference tournament this past weekend and ran away with the team title. We beat the second place finisher by 89 points, having eight individual champions, three second place finishers by default to our own wrestlers, and a third place finish. It was a good weekend for all of us. As we get ready to defend our regional title this coming weekend, we are more focused than ever. I think our team is peaking at the right time, and it should be a very fun weekend.
Until next time, keep getting better.
Marshall Marquardt
Past Entries:
Entry 10 (2/1/06)
Entry 9 (1/19/06)
Entry 8 (1/5/06)
Entry 7 (12/28/05)
Entry 6 (12/7/05)
Entry 5 (11/23/05)
Entry 4 (11/9/05)
Entry 3 (10/26/05)
Entry 2 (10/13/05)
Entry 1 (10/1/05)
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