Navy Wrestling Aims for Strong Start to Season
Navy wrestling gained valuable insight into its progress during the opening weekend by facing No. 21 Pitt and hosting the annual Navy Classic. Coach Cary Kolat assessed the team's development compared to last season.
Opening Dual Against Pittsburgh
Saturday’s dual meet saw Navy lose 20-12 to a Pittsburgh squad that retained most of its starters and held the 21st spot in the National Wrestling Coaches Association preseason poll. Despite the loss, Kolat was encouraged by Navy's improved competitiveness versus last year's 35-3 defeat against the Panthers.
Navy Classic Performance
On Sunday, the Midshipmen placed third out of 10 teams at the 47th Navy Classic, which featured teams like Pitt and Nebraska, the preseason No. 2 ranked powerhouse. Navy is currently in the "others receiving votes" category of the Top 25 rankings.
Coach Kolat’s Perspective
“It comes down to who is ready to perform when the season starts. We eased in last year and it was a wake-up call. We started to perform better as the season went on.”
Kolat, now in his sixth season, has emphasized the importance of a strong start since preseason practice began.
Team Composition and Challenges
The lineup for the opener combined youth and experience, featuring three juniors, two seniors, three plebes, and two sophomores. A significant challenge lies in replacing All-American Josh Koderhandt at 141 pounds, who ranks 13th in program history with 106 career wins.