Poised for Success
November 14, 2008 01:43 PM | General
November 14, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University wrestler Kurt Brenner is ready to lead a talented and experienced Mountaineer squad as it begins the 2008-09 season this Saturday in the WVU Open at the Shell Building in Morgantown, W.Va.
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| Senior Kurt Brenner is ready to step back to his more natural weight of 174 this season.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
The fifth-year senior, who wrestled last season at 184 pounds, is ready to step back down to his natural weight class at 174 pounds. Although the additional 10 pounds last year may have felt odd to the Freedom, Pa., resident, Brenner experienced another tremendous season as he finished with a 20-5 record, including an undefeated mark against Eastern Wrestling League competition.
And while many wrestlers begin to wear down as the season progresses, Brenner thrived. He won his second EWL title by defeating nationally-ranked Chris Honeycutt of Edinboro for the second time in an 11-7 decision, and led WVU with a 3-2 record in the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo.
“I went down a weight class because when I was at the NCAA Tournament last year, the guys were a lot bigger than me,” Brenner said. “They had a lot more size, were stronger. One of the reasons I went up to 184 (last year) was getting used to not having to cut weight and seeing how I can compete. Once I got that feeling, I got to go back down to 174 – my natural weight class – and dieted throughout the summer, worked hard and went back to my actual weight class.”
It appears that the two-time EWL champion is prepared to save his best season for last. After starting off last year’s NCAA Championships on the wrong end of a hard-fought 4-0 decision to All-American Tyrel Todd of Michigan, Brenner reeled off three consecutive victories by way of a major decision, a decision and a pin fall in 6:53.
The physical education major then bowed out of the tournament to another All-American in Iowa’s Philip Keddy, leaving Brenner one win shy of getting his first taste as an All-American.
But as a new season begins, Brenner has one thought in mind regarding a rather attainable goal.
“My goal is to win a national championship,” Brenner admitted. “I have one last shot at it, and I feel like I’m going to do everything in my power to work toward that goal.”
Quick, active and elusive around the mat, Brenner won several times last season by relying more on speed than brute strength. He carried a 10-match winning streak that lasted from Jan. 24 to March 8, and was always reliable in winning the close bouts, shown by his 15 decisions in which he won by seven points or less.
Now Brenner has a solid chance to gain an edge over his opponents by moving back down to 174 pounds, the same weight class he was recruited for and where he wrestled for three years. He looks to dominate several of his opponents on the mat because he is in tip-top shape, thanks to a lofty offseason regimen.
“This summer I stayed in Morgantown, worked out with the strength staff and wrestled a couple times a week,” Brenner said. “I stayed in shape during the season and made sure my weight was under control.”
The Mountaineers, tied at No. 23 in the latest USA Today/InterMat/NWCA Division I poll, return this season with a lineup built for success but a schedule that poses a great challenge. WVU has a tough Big 10 slate with No. 7 Penn State and No. 9 Illinois scheduled for dual meets on Dec. 14 and Jan. 9, respectively.
Also awaiting WVU are No. 15 Edinboro, No. 23 Lehigh, Michigan State and EWL rival Pitt. Add in some of the country’s toughest tournaments in the Cliff Keen Invitational, the Navy Classic and the Midlands Classic, and the Mountaineers are well aware that there is plenty of ground to gain this season.
“With the new qualifying system in the NCAA, it’s very important for us to wrestle other conferences and get quality wins from other conferences so you can see where you match up,” Brenner says. “The NCAA can use that as a qualifying system for all the conferences. The schedule has more wrestling and more tournaments.”
Starting in the EWL, Brenner believes that the depth of this year’s squad should put it over the top and lead to the school’s seventh EWL Dual Meet Title.
“I kind of look past the EWL when I search for team goals,” Brenner commented. “I don’t think there’s a reason why we shouldn’t be No. 1 in the EWL year in and year out. The coaches do a great job of recruiting and putting a team together, and I think we should be No. 1 every year.”
Brenner is also confident that he and his teammates can travel far in the NCAA Championships. Two-time All-American Brandon Rader (141) looks to complete his road to recovery and experienced NCAA qualifiers David Jauregui (149) and Dustin Rogers (HWT) are part of a core group who have been put to the test over their careers.
“I see no reason why we can’t finish in the Top 15 or Top 10, and with some of the guys we have I think they can finish in the Top four – at least three or four of us,” Brenner added.
Poised to have another solid season, the Mountaineers will continue to rely on Brenner’s experience, leadership and skill in hopes of garnering a solid national ranking.
The three-time NCAA qualifier, who possesses a 76-26 career record, is more than ready to help lead the Mountaineers to a fulfilling season. In the process, he looks forward to the many challenges that await him in the 174-pound class.
“You are always looking to wrestle the top guy. It’s something I pride myself on, and I love wrestling the top guys,” Brenner admitted. “Whether I win or lose, it’s a great experience and it betters me for the NCAA Tournament.
“(2007 NCAA runner-up) Steve Luke from Michigan will probably be ranked No. 1, and I’ll see him at the Las Vegas Invitational and look forward to wrestling him and taking over that No. 1 spot and trying to hold it for the rest of the year.”
As the countdown to the 2008-09 season comes to a close, Brenner is excited about the prospective awaiting a deep and experienced WVU squad.
And one thing is for certain: Brenner and the rest of the Mountaineers are well-equipped and well-prepared for a fulfilling season, both individually and collectively. As Brenner thinks about his final matches from a season ago, he knows that he is on the cusp of perhaps his best season ever.
“Last year I always knew I was right there with those guys,” Brenner said of his postseason opponents. “Seeing a lot of people that I had close matches with finish so high in the bracket – I wrestled two All-Americans last year that finished in the Top five – it lets me know that I’m right there.
“I have the ability; I just need to take care of the intangibles. Down a weight class, I’ll be much stronger and I’ll be ready to go.”
