Navy Wrestling Aims for Strong Start in New Season
Navy wrestling gathered valuable insights during its opening weekend by competing against No. 21 Pittsburgh and hosting the annual Navy Classic. Coach Cary Kolat assessed the team's development compared to last season.
Opening Weekend Results
On Saturday, Navy narrowly lost 20-12 to a Pittsburgh team that returned most of its starters and was ranked 21st in the National Wrestling Coaches Association preseason poll. Although disappointed by the loss, Kolat noted significant improvement from last year’s 35-3 defeat against the Panthers.
Navy Classic Performance
Sunday saw the Midshipmen finish third out of 10 teams at the 47th Navy Classic, which included strong competitors like Pitt and Nebraska, ranked second in the preseason poll. Navy currently receives votes in the Top 25 rankings.
Coach'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, emphasized the importance of a strong start, a message he has consistently shared with the team since preseason.
Team Composition and Challenges
- The team is a blend of youth and experience, featuring three juniors, two seniors, three plebes, and two sophomores in the opener lineup.
- A key challenge is filling the gap at 141 pounds after losing All-American Josh Koderhandt, who holds 106 career wins, ranking 13th in program history.
Summary: Navy wrestling shows promising progress this season under Coach Kolat, focusing on readiness and building on improved competitiveness to start strong.