Robinson, wrestlers take part in Gopher Media Day
By Jeff Beshey
October 1, 2008
Minneapolis, MN -- University of Minnesota Coach J Robinson, along with
several wrestlers, took part in the team's annual Media Day event today.
Coach Robinson started out by touching on last season, how things have
gone in the off-season, and what to expect for the upcoming season.
The Gophers entered last season as a heavy favorite to win a team
national championship, but finished in a dissapointing tenth place.
"Any time you don't win, you go back, you reassess, and you look at
what you did and compare it with what you think you need to do," said
Robinson. "You make some corrections and adaptions and I think we've
done that."
Robinson talked about changes to the way they train in the Spring and
how they've gotten their younger guys to more tournaments this summer.
He talked about the departure of Marty Morgan, who has been with
Robinson, as an assistant or an athlete for 21 out of his 23 years as
head coach.
And he talked about how up-in-the-air the lineup will be until after
the open tournament part of their schedule begins in November.
"In a lot of ways I think it is going to be an exciting and different
year," said Robinson. "We're looking forward to the challenges that we
have with a young team. I think we can be very, very competitive."
Dustin Schlatter, now a senior, shared his thoughts on the upcoming
season. "I'm really excited. We've still got kind of a bitter taste
from last year. I know guys like me and Jayson [Ness], and Tyler
[Safratowich] were really disapointed last year and we really want to
get some vengence this year."
Schlatter acknowledged as possibilities what some people have
speculated – that he might move from 149 pounds up to 157 pounds and
that he might redshirt this season. "It's a possibility," said
Schlatter. "I have gotten bigger. In the past I didn't want to be a
bully and kick my brother out of the lineup. but now that he's gone...
The main concern is for me to be healthy and I've struggled with that
the last couple of years. We'll see how the next few weeks and the
opens go, and then we'll see where I'm at."
Jayson Ness, now a junior, gave an update on his transition from 125
pounds to 133 pounds. "It's going pretty good. I've put on weight and
I've been lifting alot," said Ness.
There are critics who question whether he can compete as well (or get
as many pins) at 133, but Ness doesn't seem too concerned. "I'm not
going to change anything," said Ness. "When I first came here people
said I was too big for 125, now I'm too small for 133. I don't listen
to what they say. I know what I need to do. I'm a competitor and I'm
going to go out there and do everything I can to pin the guy."
The Gopher's first competition this season will be the Bison Open in
Fargo, ND and Saturday, November 15th. They will be in Rochester, MN
for the Northern Quad on Saturday, November 22nd.
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