LAST DANCE FOR WRESTLING'S MANOOGIAN...
CLEVELAND, OH (March 6, 2008) - This weekend marks the last go-around for senior wrestler Dave Manoogian (Green, OH), as the 141-pounder will head to Cedar Rapids, Iowa Mar. 7-8 to compete in the 2008 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships for the second time in his four-year career.
Manoogian finished just four points shy of earning All-American status at last year's NCAA Championships, but as an at-large bid and the No. 5 seed in this year's tournament, Head Coach Bob Del Rosa feels confident that Manoogian can earn All-American honors this time with last year's experience under his belt.
“He's had a very good season and his losses were to significant opponents when he did lose, which wasn't often,” Del Rosa said. “He's in a very good spot to come away as an All-American this year.”
Manoogian has a 19-3 record this season and will face Derrick Smith from Oswego State University in the opening round this weekend. Smith has a 29-7 record this season and finished third at the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference Championships on Feb. 23 in Oneonta, New York.
Del Rosa has taken a wrestler to the NCAA Championships 25 out of the last 30 years, with 1994 being his fondest memory in 43 years of heading the Case Institute of Technology and Case Western Reserve wrestling programs.
“That year [1994] really sticks out to me because we had two All-Americans,” Del Rosa said. “We had one national champion and one wrestler finish fourth. Both could have easily been national champions.”
Del Rosa believes Manoogian can have that same success in this year's NCAA Championships, where he will take the mat for the final time.
“I think this is very important to him because he knows this is it and he'll never get another chance at it,” Del Rosa said. “It's something he's strived for the past four years and I think he's in a good position this year.”
Wrestling will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Mar. 7 at the U.S. Cellular Center. Matches will start at 10:00 a.m. on Mar 8.
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