THE IGNITOR
Freshman Reiter setting tone for Minnesota
Minnesota’s Mack Reiter wishes every dual still started at 125 pounds. He believes that part of being a lightweight is getting the ball rolling so the heavyweights can put an end to what they started.
“I f
eel 125 and 133 are key weights in every dual no matter who is wrestling,” said Reiter. “We have to set a statement early in every dual.”It was Reiter’s statements and intensity that helped the Gophers land a third-place finish at the NWCA Cliff Keen National Duals, Jan. 22-23, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Reiter’s intensity has many people; including Minnesota head coach J Robinson, already making some pretty big comparisons.
“He brings intensity to his wrestling that helps all the other guys,” said Robinson. “When you bring a guy like him, who’s like (former Gophers Tim) Hartung or (Chad) Kraft, he becomes a spark for everybody.”
“He’s like the Brands at Iowa,” continued Robinson, referring to the former Hawkeye twins Tom and Terry, who combined to win five NCAA titles. “He’s a warrior. He’s out there fighting and wrestling the whole time.”
Reiter, a native of Gilbertville, Iowa, — where he won four state championships for Don Bosco High School — wrestled like a warrior in Cleveland as the redshirt freshman went 5-0 at the National Duals.
This included a 7-4 upset victory over Illinois’ Mark Jayne, who entered the match 18-0 and was the top-ranked 133-pounder in the nation, in the semifinals.
Reiter’s attitude fits well with his style of wrestling. He knows that as he gets deeper and deeper into the match, his opponents get tired.
“I just stayed in the match,” said Reiter, who raised his 2004-05 record to 26-3 after the Duals. “I can out condition anyone so I think if I can just stay in it, I can catch everyone.”
Reiter also had a big win in the quarterfinal round against Michigan’s Mark Moos, who was ranked fifth at 125 pounds but has since moved up to the 133-pound weight class. Reiter pinned Moos halfway into the second period and leads the Gophers in pins this season with nine.
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