Win, lose, and draw
Ryan Tubongbanua / The Collegian
An estudious Shawn Charles watches as Fresno State's Charles Jones gets taken down by Illinois' Alex Tirapelle of Clovis, CA. |
By Darrell Copeland
The Collegian
The Midwest is proving to be the widow-maker of the Fresno State wrestling team.
In each of the last three years, the Bulldogs have brought in Iowa State, Iowa, and Illinois, respectively.
Number four Illinois, the latest wrestling power to down the Bulldogs, may be an exact replica of what Fresno State and its first-year coach, Shawn Charles, is trying to become.
“Illinois is a great university to model your program after,” Charles said.
The Bulldogs, who are 3-2 in dual meets, may not be as far off as the 37-3 loss to the Fighting Illini leads to believe.
“As far as the basics, as far as being in shape, being physically strong; I think we’re there,” Charles said. “I think we can compete with them on that level.”
The lone Bulldog to compete on a higher level than what Illinois offered is Cody Parker.
The junior muscled his way to a 3-2 victory, competing in the heavyweight division.
Injuries have crippled the Bulldogs up to this point in the season, forcing Charles and his coaching staff to have to make decisions on whether or not to send his injured wrestlers out to the mat.
In the early part of this season, the staff has chosen to sit those who are injured, forcing the Bulldogs to forfeit in that weight class.
“My coaching staff and myself, we decided we’re just gonna keep guys out, take our lumps now, so that we can be happy at the end,” Charles said.
Forfeits didn’t hurt the Bulldogs in its first dual of the day against San Francisco State. Despite two forfeits, Fresno State still defeated San Francisco State 26-15, losing only one other match aside from the forfeits.
But as Charles, and the rest of the 4,452 fans in attendance witnessed, costly mistakes early in matches is the main ingredient lacking from a contending recipe.
According to Charles, wrestling in front of such large audiences, Friday’s was the third largest in Fresno State history, is key to having success later in the year.
“I want them to look up in that crowd and know that they have to go out there and perform,” Charles said.
With Charles’ help this year, and a very solid recruiting class coming in next year, success for the Bulldogs looks like it will be sooner rather than later.
Those recruits include highly touted local recruits from the Valley; Illinois has three from the Valley; yet another goal that Bulldogs are trying to achieve.
“I think kids want to be Bulldogs,” Charles said.
If that is the case, than becoming the recruiting and wrestling powerhouse to the point where Illinois stands can be an achievable goal, at least to Charles.
“It’s gonna take time,” Charles said. “But every week we’re gonna be working towards that.”
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