3/20/2002 - Wrestling
Conley and Kovach Set For NCAA Wrestling Championship
Links associated with this release:
0
0
0
ALBANY, N.Y.-Navy senior Mark Conley (141 pounds) and junior Steve Kovach (heavyweight) will participate in the NCAA Wrestling Championship, Thursday-Saturday at Pepsi Arena in Albany, N.Y. Conley, who has won a school record 40 matches this year against two losses, comes in to the tournament seeded first in his weight class and is trying to become just the third wrestler in school history to win an NCAA Championship.
"My attitude going into the tournament is to win it," said Conley. "It is very simple. I want to win the championship. I know I can win five matches in a row. I don't care if I win every match 1-0, as long as I win. The only match I am focused on right now is the first one. I am going to take it one step at a time."
Conley's first match will be against Tennessee-Chattanooga's Jared Sullivan, the 141-pound champion of the Southern Conference.
Kovach received an at-large entry into the tournament by virtue of his third place finish in the EIWA's. Kovach will wrestle 12th-seeded John Testa from Clarion in the first round. Testa won the EIWA Championship to automatically qualify for the NCAA's.
"Coach (Burnett) has Mark and I so prepared and I think I am definitely peaking at the right time. Mark has told me a little bit about what to expect and he knows what it takes. I am excited."
"It is always exciting to be around the NCAA Tournament where you get to associate with the best of the best in the sport-from the fans in the stands, to the referees, to the coaches, to the wrestlers," said Navy head wrestling coach Bruce Burnett. "I wish we could have all 10 guys there, but we had a good year. We are concentrating on Mark and Steve and trying to help those guys win back-to-back matches. Their conditioning is good and every time you step on the mat, you have to be at your best. Mark and Steve are ready to compete and will give their best effort."
You can follow the NCAA Wrestling Championship at http://www.ncaachampionships.com/0,5920,0_727_0,00.html and there will be updates provided at http://www.navysports.com (.)
