Wrestling

SIUE Wrestling Opens Season at Upper Iowa
         The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville wrestling team is ready to look to the future and improve on last season.
         The Cougars finished their 2005-2006 season with a dual record of 0-12 and their highest tournament finish was 9th of 20 teams in the Midwest Classic.
         "I have been coaching for over 20 years and last year was one of the toughest of my life," said SIUE wrestling Coach Khris Whelan. "There is only one way to go and we have a bunch of great wrestlers and are excited for the season."
         SIUE will begin its season Friday with a dual match at Upper Iowa, which opens the season No. 8 in the national rankings.
         "They are a tough squad," said Whelan.
         Whelan is happy with the way the team has been working to prepare for the season. A major factor is the heightened energy in the practice room comes from Jed Lewis (Norfolk, Neb.), a former high school state champion. "You are only as tough as your practice room, and Lewis has really pushed everybody," said Whelan.
         After the dual match Friday, the Cougars will travel to Dubuque, Iowa, to compete in the Spartan Open. There will be many top teams in the tournament, including wrestlers from top NCAA Division I schools who are on those teams' second and third teams, noted Whelan.
         "This will be a good test for a lot of our wrestlers," said Whelan.
         Whelan believes that the strong competition the team will be involved in will prepare them for the NCAA regionals at the end of the season.
         The top wrestlers from SIUE to begin the season include 125 Tommy Hill (Roxana), 133 Rashad Riley (Hoffman Estates), 141 James Aschenbrenner (Mt. Zion), 149 Jed Lewis (Norfolk), 157 Joe Rujawitz (Belleville), 165 John Ficht (Burbank), 174 Corey Scott (Sterling), 184 Brandon Cleary (Mahomet), 197 Sean Tyus (Springfield) and heavyweight Ian Darr (Cottage Hills).
                  -siue cougars-