The Wayne State wrestling team will be traveling to Allen, Texas, to compete at the NCWA Nationals Thursday-Saturday, March 14-16. The last tournament WSC wrestling competed in was in Dallas, Texas for the Southwest Conference National Qualifier on Mar. 2.

Wayne State wrestlers are still selling $5 Godfather’s coupons around campus to help out the team with travel and food. They are trying to give students and faculty deals on pizza whole supporting the wrestling program for their upcoming trip to the National tournament since every wrestler on the team qualified for the tournament.

“I believe the team has improved a lot from the intensity with which we push each other in practice, we also support each other when we are competing as well,” Hunter Weiss said.

Weiss competes in the 149-pound weight class and will be looking to get a national title this upcoming weekend. He is currently 16-17 on the season and is looking to get above the winning record and end the season on a winning note.

Weiss has been a leader on the mat this season and has come a long way since the season and developed a lot in the practice room. Another wrestler that has stepped up in the middle of the season has been junior Ethan Fitzler. He has shown he can win on the mat and win over his teammates and become a leader on the team.

“Ethan Fitzler has grown quite a bit since the season has begun, and has stepped up in the leadership department,” Weiss said.

Earlier this season there was a team meeting where the wrestlers questioned the toughness and seriousness in the practice room. Many of the wrestlers didn’t have any intensity in the wresting room and it showed on the mat.

“I know from that meeting that we had, we have changed the atmosphere in the practice room and attitude on our team,” Fitzler said. “Because how we practice is how we usually compete and it shows when we are out on the mat.”

WSC has competed against NCAA, DII, NAIA throughout the whole season and are ready to show they can compete with any division. Morningside, Grandview and Wayne State are looking to show the bigger DI schools they can compete and stand with the other wrestlers.

Personally, for Fitzler he has had a pretty good season so far and has come a long way. His goal is to become an All-American for WSC.

“The goal for next year is to take the momentum from this year and bring it in to next year,” Fitzler said.

WSC wrestling left on Tuesday, Mar. 12 for Allen, Texas to compete in the NCWA Nationals.

Three years ago, WSC sent seven Wildcats to the National Tournament.

The team goal every year for WSC wrestling is to make Nationals and compete every year down in Allen, Texas. Nothing more is better when you are able to send you whole team down and show out against the bigger schools.

“Ultimately, the goal for the team is to take care of business when we are at national’s, and have all of us wrestle hard and to the best of our abilities and become All-Americans,” Fitzler said.

Wayne State will finish up the season with a team banquet on April 14, at noon.