Hitting the mat
The K-State club wrestling team defeated Northwest Missouri State 37-12 in a duel Feb. 11 at Peters Recreation Complex.
Senior Ryan Parsons led the Wildcats with a first-period pin of NWMSU’s Aaron Gudde. K-State’s Joey Martinez also won by fall, defeating C.K. Smith at 197 pounds.
K-State’s Lucas Weller won a 10-2 major decision against Wes Starlin, and Sean Cillessen edged NWMSU’s Chris Schwartz 2-0. Grant Reichert, Steve Kern and Emmett Smith won by forfeit to round out the scoring for K-State.
Parsons said he was pleased with the team’s performance, but said he felt there was still room for improvement.
“I thought we wrestled pretty good,” Parsons said. “I don’t think the hometown fans got to see quite what we’re capable of.”
Parsons said he wished the Wildcats could have wrestled a few more matches. Kansas pulled out of the duel at the last minute, and NWMSU had only six wrestlers competing.
K-State dominated the matches that did take place, winning 4-of-5. K-State’s only loss was in the heavyweight class, where NWMSU’s Ryan White won by fall over Erik Blubaugh.
NWMSU coach Bo Rinehart said he was impressed with the K-State squad.
“I was real impressed with K-State’s technique,” he said. “Beau Tillman has a great program.”
K-State coach Beau Tillman said he was pleased to pick up a victory against one of the top teams in the conference.
“(NWMSU) is probably one of the top four teams in the Southwest Conference,” Tillman said.
K-State and NWMSU will join 17 other club teams in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Southwest Conference tournament Feb. 19. The Wildcats will look to defend their 2005 conference championship.
Tillman said his team needs to improve before the conference tournament, but said he thinks the Wildcats are poised for a postseason run.
“We’re in better shape than anyone in the NCWA (National Collegiate Wrestling Association),” Tillman said. “Our only downfall is mat time. We’ll be going against guys who have wrestled 40 matches, and some of our guys have only wrestled 10.”
Tillman said injuries also were a concern. Cillessen suffered a knee injury in an exhibition match against NWMSU’s Gudde, but Tillman said he expects Cillessen to wrestle at the conference tournament.
“In college, it’s a war,” Tillman said. “Every week you get dings and scratches and poked eyes. It’s just a question of whether you’re mentally tough enough to keep going.”
Austin Meek
Kansas State Collegian
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Senior Ryan Parsons led the Wildcats with a first-period pin of NWMSU’s Aaron Gudde. K-State’s Joey Martinez also won by fall, defeating C.K. Smith at 197 pounds.
K-State’s Lucas Weller won a 10-2 major decision against Wes Starlin, and Sean Cillessen edged NWMSU’s Chris Schwartz 2-0. Grant Reichert, Steve Kern and Emmett Smith won by forfeit to round out the scoring for K-State.
Parsons said he was pleased with the team’s performance, but said he felt there was still room for improvement.
“I thought we wrestled pretty good,” Parsons said. “I don’t think the hometown fans got to see quite what we’re capable of.”
Parsons said he wished the Wildcats could have wrestled a few more matches. Kansas pulled out of the duel at the last minute, and NWMSU had only six wrestlers competing.
K-State dominated the matches that did take place, winning 4-of-5. K-State’s only loss was in the heavyweight class, where NWMSU’s Ryan White won by fall over Erik Blubaugh.
NWMSU coach Bo Rinehart said he was impressed with the K-State squad.
“I was real impressed with K-State’s technique,” he said. “Beau Tillman has a great program.”
K-State coach Beau Tillman said he was pleased to pick up a victory against one of the top teams in the conference.
“(NWMSU) is probably one of the top four teams in the Southwest Conference,” Tillman said.
K-State and NWMSU will join 17 other club teams in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Southwest Conference tournament Feb. 19. The Wildcats will look to defend their 2005 conference championship.
Tillman said his team needs to improve before the conference tournament, but said he thinks the Wildcats are poised for a postseason run.
“We’re in better shape than anyone in the NCWA (National Collegiate Wrestling Association),” Tillman said. “Our only downfall is mat time. We’ll be going against guys who have wrestled 40 matches, and some of our guys have only wrestled 10.”
Tillman said injuries also were a concern. Cillessen suffered a knee injury in an exhibition match against NWMSU’s Gudde, but Tillman said he expects Cillessen to wrestle at the conference tournament.
“In college, it’s a war,” Tillman said. “Every week you get dings and scratches and poked eyes. It’s just a question of whether you’re mentally tough enough to keep going.”
Austin Meek
Kansas State Collegian
More Information...