By Kyle Klingman, W.I.N. Staff Writer
Is there anything left for Minnesota heavyweight Cole Konrad to prove heading into his senior year? After a year like last year, what can fans expect for an encore.
Gone are all the usual suspects who pushed Konrad to a perfect 41-0 season and his first NCAA title last March. Gone is long-time rival Steve Mocco, the four-time finalist and two-time NCAA champion who is currently playing football for Oklahoma State. After losing to Mocco in the NCAA finals and on two other occasions in 2005, Konrad turned the tables and beat Mocco all four times they met during the 2006 season.
The most dramatic win in the Mocco series came during the finals of the National Duals at the UNI Dome, Jan. 15, 2006. With Minnesota leading 15-14, heading into heavyweight, Konrad etched his name into Minnesota wrestling lore when he threw Mocco with a trapped arm body lock in the third period. The pin gave Minnesota a 21-14 win. The most satisfying win was certainly his revenge victory over Mocco to capture the 2006 NCAA title.
Also gone are Michigan’s Greg Wagner and Arizona State’s Cain Velasquez. Both wrestlers gave Konrad close matches during the year with Velasquez nearly staging the upset of the 2006 NCAA tournament. Konrad’s 2-2 tiebreaker decision in the semifinals was a match that had everyone in the arena collectively holding their breath.
In a weight class that has been depleted by graduation, only sixth-place finisher Bode Ogunwole of Harvard and eighth-place finisher Kirk Nail of Ohio State return as All-Americans. Entering his final year as a Golden Gopher, Konrad will now have to find new ways to stay motivated for the 2007 season.
“My motivation comes from the freestyle season because I’m not on top there and that is my ultimate goal,” said Konrad. “I’m really focused on that. I know I have to keep working for the college season but I definitely get a lot of motivation from a lot of the people in the freestyle world that have beat me. I need to keep working hard and get better on my feet and all other aspects. I’m definitely looking forward to the 2008 Olympics.”
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