Wrestling

Wrestling Moves Ahead Despite Losses
         Coach Booker Benford will have his team focus on what it takes to advance to the NCAA Championships this week as it closes out the final month of the regular season.
         “As a team, we have to stay aggressive on the mat all the time,” said Benford. “They know if they stay aggressive, they can win matches.”
         Some of that intensity was missing in SIUE’s 25-16 loss to Truman State on Sunday.
         Benford said he’ll regroup the team before its next match on Feb. 7 at home against Central Missouri State. The opening whistle starts at 7 p.m.
         The Cougars picked up some strong performances this past week.
         Steve Chico picked up his team-leading seventh pin in 4 minutes, 14 seconds, over Steve Cox of Truman State. Chico is currently 11-12 at 133 pounds.
         SIUE’s 149-pound freshman Joe Rujawitz is on the verge of a 30-win season with a 29-12 record. He boosted his win total in dominating Truman State’s Scott Skinner 20-7.
                  -siue cougars-