Generals complete annual community service project

Last Saturday the Generals wrestling team completed its annual community service project by cleaning up a 2-mile section of US 60 that runs through Lexington. Nice job to the guys for their efforts.

Generals wrap up the season

Apologies for not having an update since the conference, there is a lot going on here. Not a whole lot to say about the conference, most of our team was injured or wrestling out of their weight class, and we simply didn't do very well. If the tournament was in December, I have no doubt we would have been battling for 4th place.

Special mention goes to Keith Jaworski and David Dennis, both who battled through severe injuries and performed valiantly. Dennis gutted out a 4th place finish losing in double overtime and then again by 4 seconds of riding time, but that was still pretty impressive considering he hadn't practiced since early January and still had a major rib injury. Keith Jaworski also hadn't practiced since early January, and basically did not have the use of half of his body thanks to his injury, yet he went out there twice and lost a heartbreaker. If you knew what these two were dealing with, then you would know that their performances were some of the gutsiest things I've ever seen, and they have made me, their teammates, and all of W&L nation out there proud. Stuff of legends for sure.

Over the next month I will be working on my application to be the next head coach here, as well as the final edition of the Franke Files and a highlight reel.

Another special thanks to all of the Alumni out there that attended and contributed to Coach Franke's retirement party/gift. I know Coach was completely shocked that we were sending him on such an awesome trip. He's earned it for sure!

If you're going to be in Philadelphia for the D1 NCAA tourney, look for Coach Franke on the floor running the show, and look for me and a bunch of alumns in the stands.

Watch the Centennial Conference Finals for free

The Centennial Conference Finals will be broadcast online for free to the first 300 viewers. If you would like to watch it, click here.

Jump Mountain

Jump Mountain: 2,451 ft over 2.5 mile climb

Generals Run Jump Mountain

Today is our annual Jump Mountain run as part of our conference training program. Another beautiful day in Lexington, VA, I may have snuk in 9 holes yesterday when it was 75. Jump Mountain goes up to over 2,400 ft, and the path we take is pretty much vertical over a 2.5 mile series of switchbacks. Brutal.

Pictures to follow up next week and video to add to the highlight reel at the end of the season.

Dennis and Jaworski will return for the conference tournament!

Conference update

It looks like both Dennis and Jaworski will return for the Conference tournament, so finally some good news. We won 3 of 5 against Apprentice, and the two we lost both wrestled out of their weight classes. So frustrating to think about what we could have done with our full roster this year, but I guess that is a part of any sport.

Weekend results from our incoming recruits were very promising, and we continue to improve in all areas of the program.

Generals break the streak!

Well some good news to report from this weekend, as we won our first conference dual meet in over 2 seasons, beating Muhlenberg 24-21. It was only the second time this century that we've beaten the Mules, and it was an interesting matchup.

Fortunately for us, Muhlenberg had as many injuries as we did, but there was plenty of gamesmanship going on, as both teams weighed in more bodies than healthy wrestlers, but neither team knowing exactly who is and isn't healthy.

At 125, there was no contest as our injured guy could not make weight (hard to lose lbs when you've just had knee surgery).

At 133, first-year Sam Mason, who hasn't wrestled or practiced in over 2 months was called upon to step on the mat and actually wrestle. Muhlenberg had forfeited 133 for the last month, and in fact did not even have one on the roster, but lo and behold, they had one, and he was healthy. We brought Mason on the trip to take the forfeit, but the way it worked out, if we forfeited that weight, we would lose the match, so Sam went out there and wrestled his heart out. Leading for the first 4:30 of the match, he gassed hard in the third, but losing a major decision only gave the Mules 3 points instead of 6, which would be huge later. Team score 3-0 Mules.

Sam Campbell wrestled huge at 141 and went on the attack. Sam increased his team leading take-down total and finished it off with a huge throw for the pin. Team score 6-3 Generals.

Eric Fessel bumped up to 149 to wrestle Centennial Conference runner-up Kevin Homan. In a wild, scramble fest that was back and forth, Fessel was unable to score an escape late, and lost 7-6 on riding time. Team score 6-6.

HT Kotchinian also bumped up a weight to 157, and while he did not have the performance he was looking for, still kept it close and lost a minor decision, team score 9-6 Mules.

Here's where it got fun - We only had one more healthy guy left, but the Mules didn't know that. We sent out Igel at 165, who knew that the match would be left up to him to decide, and he wasted no time, getting a huge pin in :54. Team score 12-9 Generals.

Muhlenberg had no 174, so Dennis takes the forfeit at 174, Generals lead 18-9. However, the match was sealed when Muhlenberg presented to the mat their 184 before us, as we had weighed-in injured David McKennon, forcing their hand at 184. They presented, we forfeited, Generals up 18-15. The Mules also had no 197 (but they could have bumped up their 84 if we hadn't had McKennon) and Yost gets the win by forfeit. Generals up 24-15. We forfeited 285 to win 24-21.

Pretty exciting win, considering we only really won 2 matches. Campbell and Igel had great days, both also winning against Ursinus. I can't say how awesome Mason's performance was considering everything. We are hopeful he heals up completely and has a great career for us. Last dual meet this Saturday, then we have some decisions to make for our conference line-up.

The injury report hasn't changed except to say that Yost is definitely out, Jaworski is doubtful to out, and Dennis is doubtful. All the others previously injured are out until the next year.