We held our Central Regional in Sioux City two weeks ago, and all did not go as planned, but then when does everything ever go exactly as planned. We performed well as a team, winning the tournament by 85 points, but I know that our best wrestling is still yet to come, hopefully this weekend. We were without our top-ranked 184-pound wrestler Willie Parks due to a staff infection, but still won championships at five weights and had seven in the finals.
Everything that has happened throughout the season has lead us to where we are now, ranked first in the nation, and peaking at the right time. It is amazing to think that we can wrestle better as a team, but it is true. Every tournament I see different glimpses of what we can really do, and if we put it all together, it could be very scary.
I entered the regional tournament as the top seed at 174 pounds, but suffered my first NAIA loss in the semifinals against Abel Trujillo from William Penn. The funny thing about it was that I wasn't that mad because I knew exactly what the problem was. I didn't prepare right. All morning I was not myself. I was uptight, worried, and not the happy, joking, mess-around guy that I normally am. I even snapped at one of my assistant coaches before the tournament started, which is definitely not my style.
So after I lost, I cleared my head and turned things around, coming back for a third place finish. I have to give a lot of credit to my coaches and teammates, because they really helped me get back to my old self and dominate the rest of the day.
I am getting very excited for this weekend and all the possibilities it can bring. I know that I am coming to the culmination of my career as a college wrestler, but I am trying not to look at it that way. As a matter of fact, I am trying not to think of this as my last tournament at all. The only thing I am focusing on is dominating my opponents and leaving everything on the mat.
Every week we have a "Word of the Week" in our practice room. This week's word is EXHAUSTION. To me, this word is really the epitome of wrestling a complete match. Leaving everything on the mat and being totally exhausted when I leave it. I know if I do this, only good things will happen. We have had two weeks of very good practice and I know that we will see results this weekend that we have been waiting for our whole lives.
We have our lineup back intact and are ready for the big show. Every day it draws nearer, you can see the team getting more and more excited, and our team morale is high as ever. We haven't really talked about winning a national title all year, but we all know it is within our reach if we wrestle to our capabilities, and beyond them.
Until next time, keep getting better.
Marshall Marquardt
Past Entries:
Entry 11 (2/16/06)
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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