Rev Blog Entry 13: Marshall Marquardt, Dana College

There really are numerous ways to describe the feeling of winning a national championship, but the one that keeps coming to mine is "UNBELIEVABLE." This is not because we didn't believe, because we did, all year long. Yet you really never truly know until the trophy is handed to you and it is announced over the loudspeaker that you are the national champions.

This year's national tournament was one that I will never forget. It was unbelievable to see every guy on our team fighting for their life, leaving everything on the mat. All year long we had been training for these two days, and the training paid off. Not only did we win the national title, we also placed all 12 of us in the top seven.

That was the most incredible feeling of all, knowing that we had all contributed to winning the national title. Everyone had contributed by winning, and every member of the team scored bonus points throughout the tournament. We had the second, third, and fourth place finishers for most falls in the least amount of time, which is incredible.

The team race was close virtually the whole tournament. Lindenwood even jumped ahead of us when the second team rankings were shown on Friday, but we didn't throw in the towel and give up. We kept fighting and by Friday night had close to a twenty-point lead.

I lost in the second round, which was a bit disheartening as I realized that my personal national title dreams had been crushed, but I did not want to leave as I did the last two years, with no hardware. I pinned my next opponent, only to find out I would be wrestling the same guy who beat me out for All-American honors two years ago.

Marshall Marquardt

It was absolutely insane leading up to my match. You have to think about this situation for a moment, as I could not get it out of my head. Everyone else on the team was already an All-American, and I was the last guy on the team to wrestle that day. This was for all the marbles. To go home knowing that everyone on the team would be on the podium the next day. I am a fifth-year senior, wrestling at my last national tournament, wrestling a guy who beat me out two years ago, and trying to not be the only guy on our team that goes home without a plaque. All I can say is that I was a little nervous!

It was over almost as soon as it began as I ended the match with a fall, and it was if the world had been lifted off me. I was so relieved and happy that I would be joining my teammates as an All-American, and a void in my life would finally be filled.

Marshall Marquardt

The next day flew by as I pinned my opponent for seventh place, and we put three guys through to the finals. Both Jimmy Rollins and Willie Parks won National Titles for us. These are the first two national titles for any wrestler at Dana College, EVER! After we won the team title, we found out that Dana College is the smallest school to win a National Championship in any sport, ever. This was the first national championship for any team at Dana College since it was founded over one hundred years ago, but hopefully it won't be the last.

Winning the national title really didn't set in until this past Monday, when our boosters teamed up with the college and threw a pep rally for us. We all boarded a stretch Hummer limo and cruised around Blair, eating pizza and blasting the music, laughing and having a good time. This was short-lived however, as we had fans waiting for us back at the gym. We arrived back at campus to a crowd of fans, boosters, administrators, and family, all waiting for us.

We were all announced to the crowd as we are for a dual meet, and our accomplishments were named of as well. It was awesome to run out in the gym for one last time in front of all our supporters. We raised the national championship banner in the gym for all to see when they visit. It really is something to be proud of, not just for me, or the team, but the school as well.

Steve Costanzo

It is amazing to me to think that six years ago Dana College wrestling was almost non-existent, and in that short time we have won a national championship. I don't believe that the Coach of the Year award should necessarily be given to the coach whose team wins the national title, but I truly believe our coach, Steve Costanzo, is a great coach and mentor, and deserved the award very much. All of our coaches work so hard trying to prepare us to be great men, not just great wrestlers. They all deserve an award and at least a "Thank You".

I think it's interesting that Dana College, and I, were chosen to write this inaugural blog for RevWrestling.com. We were not the favorites to win it earlier this season, and even after we won National Duals were we the favorite. Nobody wanted to give the little school from Blair, Nebraska any respect all year long, which made winning both National Championships (the NAIA and NWCA) so much sweeter. I would like to thank everyone out there who has supported me and this team, and thank Revwrestling.com, as well as Andrew Hipps for the opportunity to share my life throughout this season with everyone in the wrestling community. It has been an honor for me to share with all of you the ups and downs of a great season, what it's like to truly wrestle for a great group of coaches, and wrestling not on a great team, but a great family.

Until next time, keep getting better.

Marshall Marquardt

Past Entries:

Entry 12 (3/1/06)
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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Rev Blog Entry 13: Marshall Marquardt, Dana College

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