The Wesleyan Wrestling team got back on track Wednesday night in a packed Bacon Field House, edging out Coast Guard by a single point that came in the final heavyweight match of the night.
Warren Clanton ’06 gained an advantage over his opponent, ensuring the victory for the Cardinals. Also contributing to the team’s success was Dave Bartlett ’06 who won by pin and improved his dual meet record to 8-1. Co-captain Adam Jonas ’04 continued his winning ways, earning a pin in the 157-pound weight class. Jonas’ 21-1 (8-0 dual meet) record shows why he is currently ranked sixth in the nation in his weight class.
The dual meet victory Wednesday was the pick up the Cardinals needed to keep their focus going into the New England Championships. Since returning from break, many of the top veteran wrestlers have been plagued by injuries, forcing them to miss some tournaments. Standout wrestlers like Dan de Lalla ’07 and Kevin Egolf ’05 were both forced out of early January tournaments due to injury. However, in their absence many of the younger team members have stepped up to fill the void.
The Cardinals began the New Year by defeating Bridgewater State but losing to Rhode Island College. On Jan. 8 at the North-South Duals at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania, the team once again split its victories, going 2-2 against teams at the meet. Camilo Rincon-Camacho ’05 stepped up for the injured Kevin Egolf, winning three out of four of his matches at the meet. Dan Case ’05 also earned victories in three of his four matches while Bartlett and Jonas were able to sweep all four of their matches, ensuring Wesleyan triumphs over Muhlenberg and Johns Hopkins.
The following week, the team returned to Ursinus College for an invitational and placed fourth in a strong field at the meet, with Josh Wildes ’08, Rincon-Camacho, Jonas, and Bartlett placing for the Cardinals.
“Someone who hasn’t received that much attention is Dave Bartlett,” said Jonas. “Dave has wrestled in every match. It is a long season and just showing up every day is an accomplishment. I really hope Dave puts it together at the end of the year because he has done what is asked of him including frequently wrestling up a weight class. We have really depended on him to consistently win.”
The roller coaster season continued for the Cardinals four days later as they suffered a dual meet defeat at Roger Williams in Rhode Island, but following the win on Wednesday. The team is optimistic that the roller coaster will derail and the Cardinals will build on their successes.
“Unlike years past, we are a better tournament team than dual meet team. While we have had better dual meet seasons in the past, I am looking forward to seeing how our team steps-up at New Englands,” Jonas said. “Our team has thinned out because of injuries which is disappointing, but with some starters out, it has been refreshing to see some other guys who have stepped in and done a good job.”
The team hopes to start a winning streak this weekend, wrestling Johnson and Wales and the University of Southern Maine. More dual matches remain, but the true test for the “Red and Black Attack” will come at the New England Championships in late February.
“The injured guys are starting to find their way onto the mat,” Jonas said. “From experience I know that it isn’t easy to start wrestling well out of the gate after a lay-off. The remainder of our season will depend on how our guys bounce back from injury.”
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