dO YOU KNOW VIKING WRESTLING?
Just How Good is the Viking Wrestling Team?
You’ve heard that the Dana wrestling team is
doing well. You know they sent a few wrestlers to nationals last
year. And you think the coach’s name is CostanzA…
Well, it’s time you get all your facts straight
because Dana College Wrestling is something to brag about!
In his 5th year, Coach Steve CostanzO is becoming
widely known and respected for the successful wrestling program
he has built at Dana College. Coach Costanzo along with assistant
coaches: Darold Foster, Ernie Abariotes, Art Castillo, and Ed Schmitt
have turned the Dana College wrestling program into a team that
can compete at any level. Long-time friend and supporter of Dana
wrestling, Sam Martin says "A large part of the recent success
is a result of the hard work of Head Coach, Steve Costanzo. The
Viking wrestlers compete successfully in open tournaments against
wrestlers from schools of all levels each weekend of the season
which prepares them very well for NAIA competition." The 2003-04
schedule may be the toughest ever. The Vikings’ jam-packed
schedule included top tournaments like the prestigious Cliff Keen
Invitational in Las Vegas, NV and the UNO tournament which is the
largest in the country. These tournaments consist primarily of NCAA
Div. I powers like the University of Iowa, Iowa State University,
University of Nebraska, and the University of Minnesota.
Dana’s roster includes 3 returning NAIA All-Americans
and 6 individuals ranked in the top ten in their weight class. Leister
Bowling (Jr Allenspark, CO) is No. 1 in the NAIA at 165 lbs. His
win streak is currently 11 in a row. Beat J.D. Naig #4 NCAA II in
finals of Dana Open. Bowling placed 3rd at 2003 national tournament.
Ranked No. 3 at 141 lbs is Jason Lozier a junior from Omaha, NE.
Lozier’s current match record is 11-3; last year he placed
6th in the national tournament. Wynn Fangmeier is the third returning
All-American; he placed 8th at nationals last year. A senior from
Hebron, NE, Wynn is No. 3 at 197 lbs, but recently defeated the
No. 2 ranked and returning national runner-up, Niko Koliastasis,
from Bacone College. 133 lb
Brain Tsutsumi (Jr Kaneohe, HI) and 174 lb Marshall
Marquardt (So Altoona, IA) are both at No. 6 in the NAIA. Tsutsumi
qualified for nationals last year. Marquardt, injured last year,
has returned to put up an 18-13 match record and came just shy of
placing in Las Vegas.
Ben Hendersen (So Federal Way, WA) holds a match record
of 17-14 and is currently ranked 7th at 149 lbs. Watch for wrestlers
Craig Trampe (125 lb. F-R, Ord, NE), Trent Leichleiter (157 lb.
So. Harvard, NE), Scott Taylor (157 lb. So. Arapahoe, NE), Phil
Dawes (197 lb Sr. Farmington, NM), and Chris Egan (184 lb. So. Omaha,
NE) to wrestle well in the post-season tournament also. Viking wrestling
talent goes deeper than the starting line-up. Newcomers Webster
Farris (174 lb Fr. Nebraska City, NE), Cody Millard (184 lb Fr.
Clay Center, NE), and Ruben Leyba (141 lb. Fr-R Moriarty, NM) are
sure to continue Dana’s competitive tradition in upcoming
seasons.
What should we expect from the Vikes as this season
draws to an end? Assistant coach Ernie Abariotes "Greek"
says, "There is no telling how far we’ll go. This team
is on the verge of being an excellent team."
Sam Martin- "A large part of the recent success is a result
of the hard work of Head Coach, Steve Costanzo. When he took over
in mid-season of 2000, the team had seven wrestlers and did not
score a point at nationals. He now fields a highly ranked team of
50 wrestlers, many of them multiple time high school state champions
and placers"
Halfway through the season the Vikings dual record is 6-4. Dana’s
four losses come from duals with NCAA Div. II powers Augustana College,
UNK & Chadron State and NAIA #2 Montana State University-Northern.
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