Decades of dominance
Wrestling program nears 600 wins
Kelsey Van Dyke
Issue date: 10/26/09 Section: Back Page
|
This year the team is hoping to continue the tradition of success by winning its 14th national title. The Cardinals took second place last year. They won their last national title in 2003.
"There's an old saying that success breeds success," said Coach Pat Whitcomb. "That's kind of where we are now. I'm very fortunate that when I took over we already had 10 national titles"
This year's advantage is the number of wrestlers they have for each weight class, having two to five guys in every class. This is unusual for a team. Often if a wrestler gets hurt, is sick or doesn't make weight Whitcomb said they must write off that weight class.
"Hopefully, your No. 1 guy at that weight can win a national title or is going to be an All-American," Whitcomb said. "But the key to win a national title is that your second string guy can do that too."
The team won its first two national titles in '74 and '75 and ever since has continued doing well. They won one more national title in the '70s, five in the '80s, three in the '90s and two in the last decade.
The team has had 49 individuals win national titles and 194 All-Americans. If everything falls into place they will have 200 All-Americans and 50 national champions by the end of this season. Because the team has continued to have success, its reputation has been established as a school to watch out for. NIC has become a place that doesn't just have good wrestlers; it's a place good wrestlers want to attend, continuing the cycle of success, said Whitcomb. And many of the wrestlers said they came to NIC because of the quality and history of the program.
Be the first to comment on this story