Mat Reaper

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Friday, January 28, 2011

Tomorrow is a big day for the Reaper Wrestlers. Tomorrow sets the tone for the off season for our JV kids. If we want to continue the success we had today, it is necessary to wrestle in the off season. I have nothing against participating in other sports and in fact I support it. But wrestling a on a weekend once or twice a month will not hurt anyone and will strengthen our program. I spoke to the kids about Wilmington's program today. I've spoken with their coaches and tried to pick their brains as much as I could, and the only difference I see in them is experience. Their coaching staff is good, but I don't think better than ours. They have a smaller school population and their kids don't have super powers, but what they do have is experience. I asked Coach Murphy once how many matches his guys get in the off season. His response floored me. He told me that on average EVERY guy gets about 35-40 matches in during the off season. They still play baseball and run track, and their football team is in the playoffs every year as well. If we want to get to the next level, the level where Wilimington is, we have to wrestle more matches...period.

Tomorrow is big for our varsity guys as well. Tomorrow will determine a lot of seeds for the regional tournament next week, which will have implications for sectionals and consequently the state tournament. We need to wrestle well and beat guys we haven't before and make sure we take care of the guys we already have beaten. We can't regress. Tomorrow shows who worked harder this season, us or them. I'd like to think that I have the hardest working group of kids in the conference. We'll have to see if I'm right tomorrow. Get some rest men, we go to work early in the AM.

Shoe Sale

I know it's the end of the season, but here is a website that is having some outstanding deals on some very good wrestling shoes. You can save then till next year if your foot is done growing.

http://www.takedownshop.com/closeouts

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Kids are Hungry

We've had a few good practices now and are ready for the weekend. This is the first time in a few weeks where we have had any time off. It is good to get some technique things taken care of and a few guys can heal up some bumps and bruises, but it feels strange not to be competing this week. It will be nice to get back on the mats on Saturday. I have high expectations for the weekend. I think that if we have a good showing, it will propel us through the next couple of weeks during the state series. I think we have a good chance of getting multiple guys through to the big dance in Champaign. The need to peek and it wont be easy but they know that and are willing to do what it takes.