Rallying after a start that seemed to forecast a dismal year, the freshman wrestling team has shown startling improvement, finishing the season with a 6 and 2 record.
Recalling the loss of their first three matches, freshman wrestling coach John Lee said, "It looked like a lean year." But he felt that the team had greatly developed during the season, and he agreed with manager Charlie Howland's statement that. "If we had had the team we have now, we wouldn't have lost a match."
Lee, Howland, and Captain Paul Padlack all attributed the team's upsurge to the hard work of the individual members.
It was not until after Christmas that the two heaviest freshman wrestlers, Bill Malugen and Dave Goins, joined the team. Before that time, the heavyweight and 191-pound positions were filled by lighter wrestlers, which forced nearly every team member to compete one and sometimes two classes above his own weight.
"You can't do much in that situation," said Coach Lee. Padlack agreed that the new team members "got us down to where we should be. We were outmuscled in the other two classes."
Lee praised his wrestlers for the time and effort they had spent. "They learned fast and put in the time," he said. He added that their increasing experience throughout the year had also helped to make them "smart wrestlers."
Captain Padlack emphasized the role of Lee in the team's success. "He helped us quite a bit," he said. "He seemed to have the right advice at the right time."
Reinforcements
Lee felt that several of the freshmen would reinforce next year's varsity. He named Padlack in particular, who wrestles at 157 pounds, and Andy Copecki at 123. Padlack amended the point, saying that other freshmen also plan to give next year's juniors and seniors some competition.
Lee is looking forward to one more event this year, the Freshman Eastern Tournament at West Point. He has chosen to take Padlack, Copecki, and Dave Stern, who wrestles at 137.
"They should do very well, and I would take more of the team to Army if they didn't have exams," he predicted.
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