The SFU Men’s Wrestling team took to the mats and faced the Southern Oregon University Raiders last weekend. It was a successful meet for the Clan. In one of the few times the team has been able to compete on the Burnaby campus this semester, they came away with a 23–20 win over a team they had not beaten in three years.
“Well, as a whole it was a success, because we got to wrestle at home in front of a pretty big crowd,” said Justin Abdou, head coach of the men’s wrestling team. “A lot our supporters got to come out and see our better guys compete, and our best wrestlers wrestled very well. Some of our younger guys showed that they still need more matches, more experience, [and that] has given us something to build on.”
“It was the first time we’ve beaten those guys in three years, so that was nice as well.”
One of the stronger performers of the day was Cruz Velasquez. He was able to easily defeat Matt Peterson of SOU, improving his record overall to 25–8.
“He’s one of our leaders,” said Abdou on Velasquez. “I would say he’s more of a silent leader than anything. He leads through his preparation and work ethic. He’s having a very successful season after a disappointing end to last season, where he went academically ineligible second semester and didn’t get to compete. This year he’s taken care of everything from academics right through preparation for every meet.
“I couldn’t be happier with how this season has gone so far. I think he needs to diversify his attacks a little bit more, and he’s going to be a real threat to contend for an All-American honour and a berth at the NCAA tournament.”
The meet was the second of only two wrestling meets the team will host here on the Burnaby campus this season. From now on, the team will be on the road. Despite that, coach Abdou relished the opportunity to play in familiar surroundings.
“I think it’s important because it gives us a bit of an ad- vantage being here,” he said on the importance of wrestling at home as opposed to on the road. “We’re in our own building, we don’t have to travel, everything is comfortable to us, so we have an advantage over our opponents when they come here. And I think it’s also great because they’re is a very rich tradition with Simon Fraser University wrestling. A lot of alumni live in the area and it gives them a chance to feel connected to the program and see our up and coming athletes compete.”
So what does the team need to improve on heading into the final stretch of the season?
“I think that a couple of our guys need to wrestle with more confidence, go out and try to impose their style and their will on their opponents instead of waiting to see what’s going to happen, and letting the other guy control the pace of the match,” elaborated Abdou. “I think in our wrestlers that are doing well, they’re going out and taking control, and some of our wrestlers that are struggling are taking more of the wait and see attitude out there.”
The team’s next meet will be Tuesday, January 27th against North Idaho College. The NCAA Division II Nationals will be March 11 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
