Wisconsin Looking to Reach Potential in Postseason
Badgers Need to Win Close Matches to Move to the Next Level, Coach Barry Davis Says
By Dominic Adams “staff writer
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After Wisconsin lost a close Big 10 dual at Iowa Jan. 23 the team got together and decided to run the stairs.
“It was such a close dual and we had some frustration we had to get out,” said junior tri-captain Ryan Flaherty. “It sucks to lose, but we know the most important part of the season is coming in March.”
And that’s what the Badgers are preparing for as they head into the stretch run of the 2004-05 season.
The Badgers are 9-3-2 overall and 2-3-1 in the Big 10. After suffering close conference loses to powerhouses Iowa and Illinois, the Badgers rebounded last weekend with wins over Ohio State and Indiana.
While Illinois and Michigan appear to be the teams to beat heading into the Big Ten tournament in March, head coach Barry Davis knows his team has shown flashes of excellence. That’s why he expects the Badgers to be right in the mix of things as he prepares his team for the Big Ten tournament.
“These guys are here to win and that’s what it’s all about,” Davis said. “One dual meet does not determine our season, and we still can’t lose sight of our team and individual goals.”
The Badgers have seven wrestlers ranked in the top 20 of their respective weight classes. Competition has been fierce in the Badgers wrestling room, says Davis.
“It all started with a good recruiting class,” Davis said. “We have a lot of intensity in the room and we are starting to see some of the results.”
The ranked wrestlers (according to TWM Feb. 1 rankings) include 133 pounder Tom Clum (#12); 141 pounder Tyler Laudon (#11); 149 pounder Craig Henning (#19); 157 pounder Tyler Turner (#10); 174 pounder Kelly Flaherty (#19); 184 pounder Brady Reinke (#8), and 197 pounder Ryan Flaherty (#13). Wisconsin is ranked No. 16 in the nation according to TWM.
The downside to those rankings is that if these Badgers finish according to where ranked, they will have only one All-American (Reinke). The upside is that Davis and many of the Badgers feel this team has yet to reach its potential. Davis says the team had chances to win key matches in those dual meets against Iowa and Illinois, but didn’t get the job done. Winning those swing matches in the Big Ten tournament and at nationals will determine the success or failure of any team, especially a team on the borderline of finishing in the top ten like Wisconsin.
“We have to win the matches we are expected to win,” Davis said. “We had an opportunity to beat Illinois and Iowa. If you are going to be successful you have to win some of those close matches.”
Last year was a perfect example of flashing that potential, but not fulfilling it. Tom Clum went 29-6, including 20-2 in duals and 7-1 in the Big Ten, and defeated Luke Eustice 5-3 to win the 125 pound Big Ten title. But Clum went 1-2 at the NCAA tournament. He opened with a 37 second pin of Cleveland State’s Deangelo Penn, but then lost to Lehigh’s Mario Stuart, 8-2, and Hofstra’s Tom Noto, 15-5. That was the trend for the Badgers last year. Eight wrestlers qualified for nationals, but none of them placed.
“We just have to put all the pieces together at the right time,” said Davis. “All ten guys have to put it all together at the same time ” it’s coming. I’m seeing improvement every week from different guys, guys stepping up. That’s going to be the key right now. The other day Brady Reinke beats the No.2-ranked guy in the country (Iowa’s Paul Bradley) down at Iowa. So some good things are happening, but we need everybody to step up, all ten guys at one time.”
It is the fight and drive of this Badgers squad that has everyone in the room believing Wisconsin is destined for a better finish this season. Davis said his team is just one or two steps away from reaching its potential. But the frustrating part of those close dual losses was again not coming through in key matches.
“Both those duals were real close and could have went either way,” Kelly Flaherty said. “We know that it really matters in March, and it’s easy to see that we’re up there with the top teams.”
Wisconsin now takes a week off as it prepares for its last Big Ten home dual meet of the season when Minnesota comes to Madison on Feb. 18. Then the Badgers travel to Evanston, Ill., where they will take on Northwestern, Sunday Feb. 20, in their last dual meet of the season.
“Everyone is wrestling tough competition to get to nationals,” Ryan Flaherty said. “We know what to expect by the time we get to nationals. We wrestle hard and we are practicing to be national champs. We are a lot more legit than what people think. I don’t think people realize how tough our team can be.”
Winning those close matches will prove just how tough the Badgers can be. Can they do it? Only time will tell. The postseason is just around the corner.
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