Dixie State University’s wrestling club had a busy start to its season by already wrestling in two open tournaments and three team duels with just seven days rest in between.
DSU wrestled in the Colorado State Invitational Nov. 14 at Colorado State University. The team traveled to Cedar City Nov. 18 to take on Southern Utah University in a team duel. Afterward it was off to Arizona to take part in the Embry Riddle Open Nov. 21 at Embry Riddle University.
DSU beat down SUU, winning every single match except the heavyweight battle at 235.
“We took 15th at nationals last year, (and) we’re hoping to get into the top 10,” said 157-pounder David Koller an Integrated Studies major from Enterprise. “We want to send someone [to nationals] from every weight class.”
DSU took on Gateway International Bible Institute and University of Arizona in Tri-dual, beating ASU but fell to GIBI by just a single match.
Pierce Stowman, a junior communication major from Fairbanks, Alaska, said he believes the team will win the majority of conference matches. DSU’s overall record in team duals 2-1.
Stowman wrestled the maximum five individual matches during the two days DSU was in Arizona.
“I’ve never been so exhausted in my life,” Stowman said. “It’s like a seven-minute sprint—there’s no time to take a break. It’s just going as hard as you can trying to beat your opponent and go harder than he can.”
DSU wrestlers drill techniques and wrestle the equivalent of three to four matches during practice, followed by conditioning with a series of sprints, push ups, sit ups and buddy carries. Some DSU wrestlers are doing two extra 30-minute elliptical workouts a day to manage weight.
DSU will travel to Orem Saturday, Jan. 9 to take part in the Utah Valley open where six other schools including Brigham Young University and Utah State University will participate. It will also host its first home duel against SUU tonight at 7 p.m. in the Student Activities Center.