ROANOKE, Va. – It’s a program that’s just in its fourth season but Roanoke College wrestling has already made quite the slam on the mats. Led by head coach Nate Yetzer, the Maroons have once again solidified themselves as one of the best in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
This comes as no big surprise considering Roanoke was tabbed to finish first in the ODAC preseason poll. But the team has had to overcome injuries throughout the season that has kept some grapplers out of competition like William Byrd grad Xavier Preston. Through it all, Roanoke has gone unbeaten as a team in conference thus far and have a chance to win their third consecutive ODAC title this weekend.
“They know the endgame that they know we want to accomplish this year,” said Yetzer. “You do that by just kind of building each and every week and getting better and, you know, for the end of the year which in our sport the end of the year is what we’re judged on.”
“Yeah, I think the practices this year have been pretty good,” said Maroons junior Mark Samuel. “Then of course we have our new assistant coach Colin Girardi. He’s also a huge help to this. He’s helped me a ton so I think we’ve definitely leveled up since last year in my opinion.”
“I knew I was somebody who was needed and I just kept improving my accolades from high school and making myself better and just grown and this college room made me better,” said Maroons freshman Jonah Paulino.
Roanoke is at Southern Virginia University Thursday night then back home Saturday evening to wrap up the regular season.