Muskingum wrestlers prepare for season

 This coming season for the Muskingum wrestling team is predicted to be a good one. With the team's tough schedule, they are ready to tackle the challenge.

  "I'm looking forward to this year," said Head Coach Joe Montgomery. "We have a great challenge in front of us coming off of a year in which we graduated six seniors who were all starters.  We will have a balance of youth and experience heading into the season that should be exciting."

  The loss of six senior starters will not be the only challenge the team will be facing this coming winter.

 "We wrestle an extremely tough schedule," said Montgomery. "The OAC is one of the best conferences in Division III and we look for the toughest tournaments we can find.  We are constantly testing ourselves and our goal is simply to get better every day."

 Members of the team are showing their leadership skills.

 "I expect Mike Frasure, a senior, and Kenny Poland, a junior, to be the leaders of our team this year," said Montgomery. "Mike has been a four year starter and Kenny has been a three year starter. They both know what it takes to be successful at this level and both are team-oriented individuals."

Kenny and Mike are expected to lead the team by example as well as mentoring the first-year wrestlers.

 During the off-season, the wrestlers show commitment to themselves, each other, and the team as a whole.

 "I'm impressed at our team's commitment level throughout the off-season," said Montgomery. "They are coming together and doing things on their own which is a tremendous sign."

  With an off-season workout in motion, the team is at an advantage. They are forming positive team chemistry as well as achieving team and personal goals.

 "We run Monday through Thursday, wrestle on the mats Mondays and Wednesdays, and we lift Tuesdays and Thursdays," said junior Dylan Moeglin. "So far everyone is working well together. There haven't been any arguments or anything."

 The team aims to further their preparation for the season ahead.

"Pre-season workouts help prepare for the regular season," said first-year Patrick Mckernan. "It gets us ready for the regular-season conditioning."

 With off-season workouts and training a priority for the wrestlers, it compels them to achieve more success. Keeping focus for an entire year is an objective for this coming season.

 "Every year each team develops a new identity," said Montgomery. "I feel the attitude of this team will be much improved and I am really looking forward to this season."