2008 Woodie Awards
MSU Wrestlers With Their Eyes on The Prize
Jose Ortiz
Issue date: 12/9/04 Section: Sports
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For the first time in a very long time, the Red Hawk wrestling team has begun a season without a returning All-American. As a result, the expectations of this year's team are a bit lower than in previous years. However, it's obvious that this view is not a prevalent one inside the wrestling room at Panzer Gym. In fact, assistant coach and former Red Hawk National Champion Rami Ratel says that his expectations are even higher.
"We have a whole new crew, all eager to learn with a very structured practice," said Ratel. "This season we are a lot more balanced than in the past. We don't have any standouts, but to my eyes, all of our guys are secret weapons."
While listening to Jay-Z and Linkin Park remixes, the team trains everyday for two hours. At the end of the session, the intensity that each of the Red Hawk wrestlers bring to the mat can clearly be seen dripping from their faces to the floor.
"We are going to have a strong team, because everyone is so competitive, and eager to do whatever it takes to get better," said Ratel. "Anytime you have guys like that in the room it helps the team. Whenever there is competition, everyone gets better."
Unlike many other teams, both Head Coach Joe Sabol and Ratel not only lead practices by barking orders, but participate in them, showing the players that the coaches are more than willing to hit the mat.
"Sabol and I believe that using a hands-on approach will help everyone else," said Ratel. "We are leading by example.
This translates into what Ratel calls a team with excellent conditioning.
"Our conditioning is a lot better than the wrestlers from other schools," said Ratel. "All of our matches we lost by a difference in skill, which is a good sign, because skill comes in time."
The team captains this year are Jake Beitz, from the 174-lbs weight class, John Vogel, from 184 lbs., and Jonathan Suero from 133 lbs. Some other wrestlers to watch for this year are freshman Mark D'Elia, transfer student Derek Goduto and heavyweight Danny DeJesus.
"We have a whole new crew, all eager to learn with a very structured practice," said Ratel. "This season we are a lot more balanced than in the past. We don't have any standouts, but to my eyes, all of our guys are secret weapons."
While listening to Jay-Z and Linkin Park remixes, the team trains everyday for two hours. At the end of the session, the intensity that each of the Red Hawk wrestlers bring to the mat can clearly be seen dripping from their faces to the floor.
"We are going to have a strong team, because everyone is so competitive, and eager to do whatever it takes to get better," said Ratel. "Anytime you have guys like that in the room it helps the team. Whenever there is competition, everyone gets better."
Unlike many other teams, both Head Coach Joe Sabol and Ratel not only lead practices by barking orders, but participate in them, showing the players that the coaches are more than willing to hit the mat.
"Sabol and I believe that using a hands-on approach will help everyone else," said Ratel. "We are leading by example.
This translates into what Ratel calls a team with excellent conditioning.
"Our conditioning is a lot better than the wrestlers from other schools," said Ratel. "All of our matches we lost by a difference in skill, which is a good sign, because skill comes in time."
The team captains this year are Jake Beitz, from the 174-lbs weight class, John Vogel, from 184 lbs., and Jonathan Suero from 133 lbs. Some other wrestlers to watch for this year are freshman Mark D'Elia, transfer student Derek Goduto and heavyweight Danny DeJesus.