 | Wrestling |
SIUE Wrestling SIUE Athletics | |
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 Dan Midgett |
February 4, 2008 Wrestling Prepares for Home Dual Meet EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- It's been quite a while since Southern Illinois University Edwardsville wrestling fans have had an opportunity to see their team compete at the Vadalabene Center. When SIUE faces Central Missouri Thursday in a 7 p.m. dual meet, it will have been more than two months since Cougar wrestlers have had a home crowd cheer for them. Coach Pat McNamara and his Cougars come into the match with a 1-7 dual meet record. Central Missouri enters the match with a 4-5 record. "Our peak is starting already. That's our focus right now," said McNamara. "Our focus is for us to get our athletes ready for the national championships." McNamara said he has a good group of wrestlers who can be successful and qualify for the national tournament. Two wrestlers he pointed out immediately were Dan Midgett (Flat Rock) and Eric Pretto (Orland Park). "Midgett really stepped up this past weekend (at the Missouri Valley Tournament)," McNamara said. Midgett, 9-16 overall and a fifth-place finisher at 174 pounds this past weekend, perhaps is wrestling at his best-ever, according to McNamara, and with confidence. "Confidence is the key to having success," McNamara added. Pretto, who holds a 17-12 record at 157 pounds, is battling back from a slight injury. The coaching staff has him back in the practice room preparing for Central Missouri and beyond. After Thursday's dual meet, SIUE completes the regular season with a double-dual meet with Truman State and Northern Illinois on Feb. 17. The NCAA Regional Championships is March 1 and takes place in Indianapolis, Ind. -siue cougars- |