2003 Year in Review

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Much is Expected of Wrestling Team

Dan Drosopoulos has been a wrestling coach at Morrison for 27 years, and the head coach since 1979. Over the years, Coach Drosopoulos has seen a lot of changes in wrestling, including smaller squads and more rule changes, ultimately made to make the U.S. more competitive in the Olympics. He has also seen a lot of wrestling in his life, and says that the Midwest is one of the most competitive areas for wrestling, and is often backed up by turnout in the Olympics.

When talking about his team, Coach Drosopoulos highlighted many aspects. He noted that there was a lot of talent in the Junior and Senior classes, and a lot of young talent in the underclassmen. With that combination, Mr. Drosopoulos is confident that the team can reach many goals that were discussed at the beginning of the season. These goals included things such as developing a championship program, having fun, improving yourself, and sending wrestlers to state competitions.

The wrestlers are in the TRAC 8 conference, which is very competitive and any team could step out on top. Morrison has always done very well, placing in the top three continuously. With such stiff competition, finding an edge is key to winning, which is why Coach Drosopoulos and Assistant Coach Gregg Dolan both believe in a strong mental and physical training program. The coaches also do not support cutting weight, which is different from some teams in the area. A new rule from IHSA has come out just this year, which checks a wrestler’s body fat, then gives them a set weight that they cannot go below. Coach Drosopoulos thinks that the new rule was a good idea, but that there are problems with it, such as the fact that the wrestlers are measured only at the beginning of the season, and the rule does not account for the regular weight loss that occurs through the course of practice. Because of that loophole, there are some wrestlers that are already under their required weight, making them wrestle in heavier weight classes.

Coach Drosopoulos said that though he was not in favor of the new pay-to-play rules, he saw its necessity and feels bad that it has affected what some students participate in. The wrestlers have 15 regular season meets, with 6 being at home, and one of them being a the annual Morrison Invite, which attracts a multitude of teams and is a very competitive and prestigious tournament.

by larryg
2003-11-25 18:48:33