Cornell’s Engle makes third NCAA appearance

Cornell's Trevor Engle has become a regular at the national tournament.

The junior 141-pounder has finished his first three seasons there, but he has yet to cap it with a win or a medal.

Engle is one of three Cornell qualifiers for the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships, beginning 11 a.m. (Iowa time) Friday at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa. Engle (31-8) wrestles John Carroll's top-seeded Dan Mirman (25-1) in the opening round.

Engle has won at least one match in his first two national tournament appearances, but has yet to reach the awards stand.

'Everyone is 0-0 right now and that is how you have to look at things,” Engle said. 'I know what it takes to become an All-American. Everyone is out to get the same place you're trying to get.”

Engle had to win an overtime match for the final berth at the Central regional meet in Dubuque. Some of the pressure was shed by punching his ticket to the biggest event of the year.

'The third time's a charm,” Cornell Coach Mike Duroe said in the school's tournament preview. 'Trevor had to fight for third place (at regionals) and I think he will be more relaxed at the national tournament. He's without question one of the best guys in his weight class. Now he has to go prove it.”

He starts the tournament as an underdog and the only expectations he faces are his own. Engle said the last half of the season has gone well, benefiting from training with teammate and brother, Aaron Engle, focusing his attention to sharpening the basics after a couple early losses.

'I like how I'm performing the last part of the season,” Engle said. 'I think I went on a good streak after winter break. Hopefully, I can keep it up.”

He is joined at the national tournament by 133-pounder Nathan Shank (13-16) and Brent Hamm, who is the sixth seed at 174 with a 26-10 record.

Shank faces Wisconsin-Whitewater's No. 8 seed Trevor Pruett (3-0) in the first round. Hamm begins his second straight national tournament against Rochester's Tory Cain (28-5). Hamm is coming off a regional title.

'Hamm set some really focused goals at the start of the season. He did the extra work to get here,” Duroe said in the preview. 'He's going to be a tough matchup for anybody. He's hard to score on and has a huge gas tank.”

As much as Engle is determined to reach his personal goals, he would like the success to be spread among the Rams in the field.

'Definitely making it to All-American status after being there two years would make me happy, so would seeing the team succeed, too,” Engle said. 'If we have three All-Americans, that would top off this season.”

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