Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us March 2, 2006 So. Oregon grapplers optimistic Raiders head to nationals with high expectations By Alan Panebaker Ashland Daily Tidings Grochowsky As 12 Southern Oregon University wrestlers load the bus to drive from Omaha, Neb., to Sioux City, Iowa, today, their shot at success in the NAIA national tournament seems pretty plausible. “We want to shoot for the top five,” Raider head coach Mike Ritchey said. “We’ve already beat the second-, fourth- and sixth-place teams, which I think is pretty indicative of our ability to wrestle.” Currently in seventh place nationally, Ritchey said the Raiders are stronger than they were last year. After a solid team effort throughout the season, he hopes the team can carry its momentum into the postseason. “It takes a team effort to get into the trophy hunt,” Ritchey said. The Raiders must finish in the top five as a team to earn a trophy. With 12 athletes ranging from 125- to 285-pound weight classes, the SOU team had its last really hard practice at home Tuesday and is now in the mental waiting game of preparing to hit the mat. Leading seniors Jimmy Grochowsky and David O’Brien have been waiting years to make their final and hopefully strongest appearance at nationals. One of only a handful of SOU grapplers to earn more than 100 wins, Grochowsky will be one of four local wrestlers to receive byes in the first round of the tournament. The Estacada native is the only SOU wrestler who is ranked No. 1 in the nation. Freshman Trevor Lofstedt, who will also be resting the first round, came on strong in his freshman year. Lofstedt won the 125-pound regional crown and will be one to beat in Iowa. The freshman is ranked third nationally. Ritchey said he is proud of the depth of wrestlers this year’s team boasts from freshman to seniors. After an 11th-place finish in last year’s national competition, Ritchey said he envisions this year to be more promising. “This team is a couple years in the making,” Ritchey said. “I have high expectations for them. The brackets are out already, and we’re happy with where we are.” Now the SOU wrestlers must wait and see what becomes of this year’s season finale. Wrestling begins at the Tyson Center in Sioux City at 10 a.m. Iowa time Friday and continues through Saturday when all-Americans will be recognized. Alan Panebaker is a correspondent for the Ashland Daily Tidings. To comment on this article, contact Sports Editor Joe Zavala at 482-3456 ext. 3020 or [email protected]. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Generic Viagra Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams