NU wrestlers get some experience

The Norwich University's men's wrestling team traveled to Providence, R.I., to compete in the 2012 New England Wrestling Association's Futures tournament on Feb. 19.

The Cadets finished the tournament in sixth place and had three wrestlers who placed in the top three in their weight class for the tournament, according to men's wrestling assistant coach Clayton Brittingham.

For the most part the Futures tournament is an opportunity for those wrestlers who aren't listed as part of the varsity squad, as well as what is used to determine who will become the leading varsity wrestler for the upcoming New England Wrestling (NEWA) Championships, according to Brittingham.

All of the wrestlers who placed in the top three for the maroon and gold were freshmen.

The wrestlers who placed in the tournament were 197-pounder Nick Moore, 125-pounder Prashant Thakur, and 184-pounder Jacob Towse, who each took third place awards, according to coach Brittingham.

Nick Moore led the individual efforts at the tournament.

"Going into the tournament I felt I was well prepared. I had a couple of overtime victories and for the first place match, I lost by one point, but I placed second in the tournament," said  Moore, 22, a freshmen electrical computer engineering major from Topeka, Kansas.

The tournament was also a learning and growing experience for the wrestlers, according to Brittingham.

"The Futures tournament was a good way to see where I'm at, the tournament had some good competition, it showed me what I need to work on in the off-season to improve for next year," said Jake Towse, 18, a freshmen history major from West Springfield, Mass.

"I think we were ready going in. We had been practicing hard all year and our conditioning was good. I think everyone was ready to get on the mat with those guys, and in the end I think it showed," Towse said.

New transfer student, Prashant Thakur, 18, a freshmen political science major from Valley Cottage, N.Y., placed third in his weight class and enjoyed the tournament and the competition. 

"I only had a couple of weeks to prepare, it was a good experience overall just to wrestle my first tournament. I did well and took third, I lost my first match but wrestled back," Prashant said.

The tournament also allowed the wrestlers to see what they need to work on.

"I just have to dig deep, my conditioning isn't where it should be but now I will be able to go over what I did wrong with the coaches and get where I need to be," Prashant said.

The tournament was also used to give the varsity wrestlers who may be starting during the NEWA championships a little more match experience before the championship, according to Brittingham.

"After wrestling at Futures I am able to see what I need to work on so I can do even better in New England, I have the opportunity to do even better there so it's good motivation to do well because if I place first in New England I am able to go to Nationals," Moore said.

At the NEWA championships, NU came away with wins from Anthony Joyce and Charles Constantino.