Wrestling

New Cougar Wrestling Era Set To Begin
         EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville wrestling team will kick off its 2007-2008 season Sunday at the Central Missouri Open in Warrensburg, Mo.
         The Cougars will compete in the first tournament of the year on the campus of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo.
         After practicing and conditioning for almost a month, the Cougars were able to finally compete this past Sunday at the Red and White Scrimmage. The scrimmage also gave the wrestlers a chance to make weight for the first time this year.
         "The scrimmage gave guys a chance to make scratch weight. The more guys get used to making their weight, the easier it will be for them," said SIUE Cach Pat McNamara.
         McNamara, who enters his first season at the helm of the Cougar program, is confident in the progress that he sees his team making.
         "I see guys doing the right things and getting better everyday. We are not were we need to be, but we are working hard to get there."
         Wrestling in the 125-pound weight class for the Cougars will be Edward Andres (Mascoutah). Andres captained the Mascoutah High School wrestling team his senior year.
         With Tommy Hill (Roxana) and Neil Lopez (Naperville, Ill.) competing at the 133-pound weight class, the Cougar coaches expect this to be strong class for the team.
         Last year, Hill competed at 125 pounds, compiling a record of 7-12. Lopez comes to the Cougar program as one of Wrestling USA Magazine's 2007 Nation's Best High School Senior Wrestlers.
         James Aschenbrenner (Mt. Zion), Nicholas Shumate (Overland Park, Kan.), and Tyrez Ash (Centreville) give the Cougars some depth and options at the 141-pound weight class.
         Aschenbrenner wrestled at 141 last year, finishing with a record of 10-12. This will be Shumate's first season at 141; last year he wrestled at 133. He finished the season 7-11. This is Ash's first season of competition for the Cougars.
         Moving up from his high school weight of 145 pounds, TJ Warner (Hoopeston) will compete at 149 pounds for the Cougars. Warner finished fourth at the 2007 Illinois State Wrestling Tournament.
         After sitting out the 2006-2007 season, Matt Mitchell (St. Louis) returns to the mat. Mitchell will wrestle at the 149-pound weight class.
         The Cougars have another three-way battle at 157 pounds. Blake Reed (Granite City), Eric Pretto (Orland Park), and Kyle Cunningham (Robinson) are competing for the starting spot.
         Reed was a two-time state qualifier for Granite City High School and a Fargo National Qualifier. Pretto was a four-time state qualifier for Carl Sandburg High School, a USAW Folkstyle National Champion, and USAW Freestyle All-American. Cunningham competed last year for the Cougars at the 149 class.
         Currently, the Cougars do not have a wrestler for the 165 weight. The coaching staff is evaluating the three wrestlers at 157 and eventually one of them will move up.
         "We have three strong wrestlers at 157. One of them will move up to fill the spot at 165," said McNamara.
         As the only senior on the roster, Daniel Midgett (Flat Rock) has the most collegiate wrestling experience on the team. Last year, Midgett posted a record of 7-17.
         Brian Brooks (Homewood), a three-time regional champion for Homewood-Flossmoor High School, will compete in the heavyweight category for the Cougars. As a member of Team Illinois, Brooks captured a Greco State Championship before joining SIUE.
                  -siue cougars-