Coe tries to take another step at National Duals

They might be small steps, but the Coe College wrestling teams have been climbing its way to the top of NCAA Division III dual teams.

The Kohawks will have a steep battle if they want to continue the trend Saturday and Sunday at the Cliff Keen/National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Competition begins 9 a.m. Saturday and the championship duals are scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. The event features 80 NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, junior college and women college programs.

Coe has placed in the last four events, notching school best finishes the last two seasons. The Kohawks were seventh two straight years before placing fourth and third in 2009 and 2010. One more step would mean a spot in the championship dual.

“We've steadily moved up each year,” Coe Coach John Oostendorp said. “We definitely lost some very good seniors from last year, but we feel like we have some good younger guys who feel it's their opportunity to step up.”

Fifth-seeded Coe faces Elmhurst in the opening round. If the Kohawks win, they could face No. 4 -seed Wisconsin-La Crosse in the quarterfinals. The winner of that quarterfinal will likely get top-seed and defending champion Augsburg - the team that beat them in last year's semifinals - on Sunday for a berth in the finals.

“We have to wrestle well that first day to get to those semis,” Oostendorp said. “If you win first round, your second round match you've got three national champs on that (Wisconsin-La Crosse) team. That's a lot of firepower from the start.”

The Kohawks are 7-3, losing to Division I foes University of Iowa and Air Force and a one-point loss to third-seed St. John's (Minn.). Oostendorp said his team has been consistent in approaching big events so far this season, so Coe should be prepared for the enivronment surrounding competition.

The toughest road to the finals lies ahead of the Kohawks, but it is a national tournament and no contest will be easy.

“Every dual is going to be tough,” Coe's defending 125-pound NCAA Division III champion Clayton Rush said. “Nobody is going to go out and roll over for us. We'll have to force our will on them and make things happen.”

Winning close matches and the ever important "toss-up" matches is key, especially when every point counts against top-notch teams. The Kohawks can do that by battling and competing for the full seven minutes.

“That's what we pride ourselves in,” Oostendorp said. “We need to do that every time we step out on the mat. When you get into big dual meets like this and there are matches coming down to the wire, that's going to make a difference, especially when you're spread out over 10 matches.”

Team chemistry is just about at an all-time high, according to Oostendorp. Camaraderie has helped mesh experience with youth and everyone has bought into the training and philosophies of the program.

“They come into practice and they're eager and hungry,” Oostendorp said. “They're ready to learn.”

They spend time with each other outside of wrestling as well, normally gravitating to each other during their free time. Those relationships outside of practice help ease the grind of the season. They also help spur each other through training as well.

“It never matters how sore or tired we are we're always bringing it,” Rush said. “If you practice like that then you're going to carry it out to competition.

“Everybody gets along real well. It's a good team to be on. Everybody has a great attitude.”

That attitude is met with optimism that they can be in the hunt Sunday. Climbing one more step depends their fight.

“We have to go out and do what our coaches preach,” Rush said. “Battle and compete. Raise our level.

“If we go out battling and competing it will end up good for us."

Other Iowa teams competing are Cornell, Luther, University of Dubuque and Wartburg in Division III, Upper Iowa in Division II and University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State in Division I. Grand View, Morningside and Waldorf are in the NAIA bracket, and Iowa Central will try to defend its NJCAA title in the eight-team bracket that includes Iowa Lakes.