The SVSU wrestling team has been hitting the mats hard since November and expects to continue that momentum through the end of the season in March.
Coach Alex Garcia, a three-time National Collegiate Wrestling Association qualifier himself, is pleased – but not content – with the team’s performances.
“It’s been going very well,” Garcia said. “We’ve had placers at every tournament and a few guys ranked pretty high. Everyone’s coming together and we’re seeing improvements every meet.”
After a hiatus of nearly 20 years, the team was revived in 2009. Since then, the team’s biggest challenge has been its low participation numbers.
“When we have a full roster, we’ve beaten top-ranked teams and have been ranked as high as 11th,” Garcia said. “The last few years we’ve had guys qualify for nationals – even an All-American last year – but I’d like to see us as a constant contender for a team national championship.”
Freshman Nick Strobel has the same goal.
“My expectations for the season are just to make and place at nationals.”
Strobel attributes those high standards to being ranked fifth in the state by Michigan Grappler, a division of the Associated Wrestling Press, during his senior year of high school.
Garcia anticipates similar performances from Strobel at the collegiate level.
He named Strobel as one of the team’s standout wrestlers, weighing 141 pounds and ranking 15th in his weight class.
“Everyone brings something to the table, but Tyler Thomas, Dylan Smith and … Strobel are guys who could qualify for nationals and make a run at being All-Americans.”
Thomas weighs 174 pounds and is ranked fourth in his weight class; Smith is ranked 10th in his weight class, weighing 125 pounds.
Thomas noted that the team expects success despite being inexperienced.
“We have a lot of inexperienced wrestlers, but it is my goal to always help them keep improving in order to improve our team,” he said. “The expectations are high but I believe they are definitely achievable.
“I believe our team can do big things if we set our minds right and set our goals high.”
Rounding out the seven-man roster is Steven Decker at 285 pounds, Ahmad Alolayan at 165 pounds and Carter Mazur and Shane Kerbelis at 133 pounds.
Garcia commended captain and fourth-year wrestler Kerbelis for his leadership.
“(That is) definitely our biggest strength,” he said. “He works very hard to keep this team together and focused.”
All of the regular-season meets lead to the Great Lakes Conference: the qualifier for the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Nationals in Allen, Texas, on March 12.
“It’s important to do well there, because we don’t work to just qualify or place, but we’re here to win championships,” Garcia said.
The sport is about more than tournament titles and trophies, though.
“Saginaw Valley has a strong tradition of wrestling and since the program was dropped, we’ve been trying to rebuild that tradition,” Garcia said. “Wrestling is the oldest sport and also the most pure form of competition. It’s one-on-one, and because both participants weigh the same thing, it comes down to who worked harder.”
