2017-18 Season Preview: "Put our stamp on it"

11/2/2017 5:14:00 PM | Wrestling

NORTHWESTERN WRESTLING: MATCH INFORMATION
DATE	EVENT	TIME	LOCATION	BROADCAST	LIVE STATS
Sunday, Nov. 5	Michigan State Open	All Day	Jenison Field House East Lansing, Mich.	FloWrestling	TrackWrestling
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By Jake May
NUsports.com Correspondent

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern's wrestling team begins their season Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Michigan State Open in East Lansing, Michigan.

After a bounce-back year in 2016-17 that saw four Wildcats qualify for the NCAA Championships, the team is poised to break out. Three of the four NCAA qualifiers are returning for the new season.

"I had a really good season last year and look to build off that to hopefully find my way to the top of the NCAA podium," said Mitch Sliga (184 lbs.), who was joined at last year's tournament by redshirt juniors Conan Jennings (285 lbs.) and Johnny Sebastian (174 lbs.).

Climbing the NCAA podium has been a goal of Sliga's throughout his years at NU, but an emphasis on technique during the offseason has him primed to take the final step. "Spending the summer here, I was able to work out with these guys several times a week and fine-tune any small issues I might have had. … The culmination of fixing all the little things is going to make a huge difference in the long run," he said.

The old-guard will be reinforced by an exciting crop of new wrestlers, spearheaded by redshirt first-years Ryan Deakin (149 lbs.) and Sebastian Rivera (125 lbs.). Deakin spent the summer training in Evanston before traveling to Finland and competing in the United World Wrestling World Junior Championships, where he placed second overall for his weight in a field of the best wrestlers under the age of 20 in the world.

"It was a lot of fun. I got to travel around and wrestle a lot of different guys and a lot of different styles," said Deakin.

Deakin attributed his choice to attend NU to the coaching staff, the opportunity to compete in the Big Ten, and strong belief in the program. The expectations are high going into his first year of collegiate competition, but Deakin seems unfazed. "You're always shooting for the top of the podium any time you step on the mat," he said. "But I'm also trying to have fun and get better each day and improve my positions."

Rivera is coming back from offseason surgery on his meniscus, but returned in time for the full preseason camp and is ready to start competing. His goals for the year are as high as anyone's.

"Getting to the national finals, getting on that big stage and performing there. That's just the best part of this game," said Rivera, who is also looking to qualify for a spot on the Puerto Rican national team down the road.

Rivera expressed confidence in the potential of his teammates as well. "Deakin, Johnny [Sebastian], Mitch — there's a bunch of us that are going to blow the scene up real quick and show what Northwestern's got on the mat."

Head coach Matt Storniolo is back for his second full season in charge, having previously spent six seasons as an assistant and one as interim head coach. After a 2016-17 season that saw his team improve its win total by five and finish with four NCAA qualifiers, Storniolo wants the team to continue their upward trend without getting too far ahead of themselves.

"March is end goal, but everything we do up until that point is going to get us ready to have success at the Big Ten Tournament and the National Championship," he said.

Storniolo hopes to qualify six or seven wrestlers for the NCAA tournament, with six standing as the current school record. He expects his lineup to be "strong enough and deep enough" to accomplish that as well as propel a few wrestlers to All-America status. He said much of the leadership would come from the three returning NCAA qualifiers while also mentioning high expectations for first-years Deakin and Rivera.

"The guys have been working hard this offseason. They've been working smart too," said Storniolo. "Up and down the lineup we're a solid squad."

Though the season begins this Sunday, the first home meet is not until the December 2^nd dual meet against Maryland at Patten Gymnasium.

Other season highlights include the 55th Annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships (December 20^th-30^th) — held this season at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Eastates, Illinois, the Big Ten Championships (March 3^rd-4^th), and the NCAA Championships (March 15^th-17^th).

It's a promising year for the squad, and it has the potential to be a historic one as well. Expectations and spirits are high for both the athletes and coaches.

Storniolo answered bluntly when asked about the state of his program heading into 2017-18.

"Last year we got the train back on the tracks, and this is the year we're looking to have some real success and put our stamp on it," he said.