2008 Woodie Awards
No holds barred
Wrestling Team third at nationals
Jillian Krotki
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: News
After an impressive win in its conference championship, the UCF Wrestling team placed third in its national competition.
The team won the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Southeast Conference Championship by 48 points, and 18 wrestlers qualified in the Southeast Conference Championship to move on to nationals, where the team was separated from first by 13 points.
UCF hosted nationals at the Lakeland Civic Center.
"It was nice to be able to bring the teams to Florida," said assistant coach Jason Balma.
Balma was also awarded Southeast Conference Coach of the Year.
"It was an extreme honor to be selected for this award," Balma said, "especially considering it is voted by the other coaches, most of which are older and have many more years of experience than me. I am really proud of the guys [on the team]. They have really come together as a team this year and really represent everything that makes this sport so great."
In order to boost team camaraderie, all the wrestlers decided to grow mustaches. Head coach Johnny Rouse's goal was "to have the winner's trophy and a group shot showing off those mustaches."
Some members of the crowd also wore stick-on mustaches to show their team spirit.
"There was great UCF representation at nationals," Balma said. "We have a lot of dedicated fans."
UCF took third place out of 75 teams and placed eight All-Americans. Of those, two were freshmen.
Freshman Steve DeAugustino took seventh place, wrestling in the 133 weight class, and freshman Richard Rippy placed fourth, wrestling at 184.
UCF ranked first place one day of the three-day competition, but this year was the closest fight the team has ever encountered. Members said there were four or five teams that could have snatched first place.
DeAugustino was the only freshman in the team's starting lineup. He also earned the title of an NCWA All-American.
Next year holds even higher goals for DeAugustino and the coaches, as well as fellow wrestlers who are anxious to see just how much more they can accomplish.
The team won the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Southeast Conference Championship by 48 points, and 18 wrestlers qualified in the Southeast Conference Championship to move on to nationals, where the team was separated from first by 13 points.
UCF hosted nationals at the Lakeland Civic Center.
"It was nice to be able to bring the teams to Florida," said assistant coach Jason Balma.
Balma was also awarded Southeast Conference Coach of the Year.
"It was an extreme honor to be selected for this award," Balma said, "especially considering it is voted by the other coaches, most of which are older and have many more years of experience than me. I am really proud of the guys [on the team]. They have really come together as a team this year and really represent everything that makes this sport so great."
In order to boost team camaraderie, all the wrestlers decided to grow mustaches. Head coach Johnny Rouse's goal was "to have the winner's trophy and a group shot showing off those mustaches."
Some members of the crowd also wore stick-on mustaches to show their team spirit.
"There was great UCF representation at nationals," Balma said. "We have a lot of dedicated fans."
UCF took third place out of 75 teams and placed eight All-Americans. Of those, two were freshmen.
Freshman Steve DeAugustino took seventh place, wrestling in the 133 weight class, and freshman Richard Rippy placed fourth, wrestling at 184.
UCF ranked first place one day of the three-day competition, but this year was the closest fight the team has ever encountered. Members said there were four or five teams that could have snatched first place.
DeAugustino was the only freshman in the team's starting lineup. He also earned the title of an NCWA All-American.
Next year holds even higher goals for DeAugustino and the coaches, as well as fellow wrestlers who are anxious to see just how much more they can accomplish.