Friday, March 4, 2011

National Tournament!

I promised a post after we found out who the Tiger men's first-round opponent in the national tournament is. This is going to be short, but it's been a long week, and I have some research to do yet.

DWU plays Grace College from Winona Lake, Ind., at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, March 10. Here's what I know about Grace: they're 20-10, they lost in the semifinals of the Mid-Central Conference tournament and they are apparently a very big team. From what I'm hearing, Brady's going to have to work even harder than he already does to score because Grace's bigs are going to be working on him hard.

That's about all I've got for you. I also know, however, that Grace was one of the teams Shane had figured into his equation of who the Tigers could play, and he's optimistic/pleased with this match up. So time will tell, I suppose. Oh, also (not that I'm counting chickens, it's just an interesting little side note): should DWU win its first-round game, it likely will take on No. 2 Northwood and their legendary coach (whose name escapes me right now) in the second round.

I have three thoughts on that: 1) We have to worry about the first round first. 2) Yikes! 3) We've already beat four top-10 teams -- bring on another!!

In other national tournament action... DWU junior heavyweight Josh Geppert beat -- no, not just beat: pinned!! -- the top-ranked wrestler in the nation in the quarterfinals at the NAIA Wrestling National Championships this afternoon and will wrestle in the semifinals tonight. The Tigers' only national champ -- in any sport -- is wrestler Justin Portenier in 2002. He is also the only wrestler ever to take second at nationals. Let's go, Josh!!!

More thoughts on Grace next week. Hope to see a bunch of familiar faces in Branson Thursday. I will be making the trek down either very late Tuesday night (weather permitting) or Wednesday morning. Oh, also -- there will be a reception at the Grand Plaza Hotel (where the team is staying and fans are encouraged to stay) from 1 to 3 p.m. in one of the conference rooms on Thursday before DWU's first-round game. All Tiger fans in Branson should stop by!

Who ya rootin' for?!

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