By Tim Robertson
Every team looks to their seniors to guide them. Coaches say senior leadership is the key to success of any program, and under the experienced wing of those seniors, the younger teammates will step it up.
Friday night against West Virginia, 2005 All-American Jon Masa and fourth ranked Mike Patrovich accumulated 10 of the teams total 28 points scored against the Mountaineers. West Virginia posted just two wins on the mat and a forfeit at 125 pounds as the Pride’s Dave Tomasette was out with an injured leg.
Masa, currently ranked third by USA Today, notched his second dual meet win of the season at 149 pounds against freshman David Jauregi (12-5). In a very physical opening, Masa stayed close to the ground so he would be less vulnerable and quicker on the attack. Jauregi was able to surprise Masa with an early takedown, but that momentum did not last for long as the freshman was sent back to the bench at 1:18 as Masa pinned him on a seemingly signature hard takedown.
“Young kid I had to get the win for the team, it was important to score points from a team position,” said Masa. “I’m a senior and that is my responsibility.”
The onslaught concluded with Patrovich scoring six takedowns against 11th ranked Kurt Brenner (11-4). Brenner started strong as he lifted Patrovich in the air for a few seconds before bringing him to the mat in a surprisingly dominating fashion. However, having defeated Brenner in the semifinals of the Las Vegas Invitational, Patrovich knew had just had to “weather the storm” and he did.
Patrovich wanted Brenner to work hard and to get tired so that he could capitalize in the final two minutes. Patrovich never tried to score near fall points as he bullied Brenner in the final period for several takedowns. At one point, Patrovich pulled Brenner back into the circle by his legs, only to score another takedown.
“I knew I had him broke, I could feel the momentum swing in my direction,” said Patrovich. “You can’t let him off the hook. You can’t let him get back in the match.”
Although Masa’s pin seemed to be the catalytic match and Patrovich’s win proved to be the exclamation point for the Pride’s first win of 2006, the first three matches set the tone and proved to be pivotal.
Opening for the Pride was sophomore Joe Rovelli upped his record to 15-4 as he shutout freshman Chance Litton (4-5) 14-0. Rovelli allowed the inexperienced Litton to make the first move then Rovelli countered that move. Litton had difficulty the entire match trying to get out of Rovelli’s holds, as Litton spent more than half of the match time on the mat giving the Pride an early 4-0 advantage.
Junior Chris Weidman increased that lead to 8-0 with a 16-4 major decision victory at 197 pounds against Jared Villers. Weidman overcame early struggles and a 4-0 deficit with numerous near falls that left Villers slow to get up after the second period. The win preserved Weidman’s near perfect record moving it to 7-1.
The Pride then moved into the heavyweight division, where it had previously earned just one dual win that came in the form of a forfeit at the hands of Columbia. Jon Andriac looked to change that pattern, and he did. Andriac benefited from a size advantage and showed his strength as he defeated Matt Holsopple in a well-deserved 10-5 win. After the tiring match, Andriac fell on the floor out of breath and relaxed, but after his first win on the mat at home, he earned it.
The Pride earned it. After going without a win in a dual match in their first two, it has won three of its last four duals entering the National Duals in Iowa on Jan. 14.
Also, it is now 3-0-1 in dual competitions when scoring at least the first two of three matches. In its two losses, the Pride lost the first three of four in its early season loss to Oregon State and lost three straight at the beginning of the Michigan contest that resulted in a Jan. 2 loss at home.