Wrestling

Wrestling Prepares for Regionals
         The regular season is history for SIUE’s wrestling team. It will travel to Edmond, Okla., for the Midwest Regional tournament Sunday.
         The top four finishers in each weight class advance to the NCAA II Championships in March.
         “I am counting on five or six guys to possibly qualify,” Coach Booker Benford said. “It will take some upsets to do so, but they have the ability, they just have to show it on the mat.”
         Joe Rujawitz (Belleville), who leads the team with 34 wins, should contend in the 149-pound division. Sean Tyus (Springfield) has posted 25 wins on the season and will contend at 197 pounds.
         Branden Lorek (Bensenville), Steve Chico (Hammond, Ind.) and Matt Oliva (Bartlett) should also contend in their respective weight classes as well.
         “We’re gearing up this week,” Benford said. “We are going to start practicing a little harder to set us up for our regional, which is really strong this year.”
        
                  -siue cougars-