Navy Wrestling Aims for Strong Season Start
Navy wrestling gained valuable insights during its opening weekend, competing against No. 21 Pitt and hosting the annual Navy Classic. Coach Cary Kolat assessed the program's growth compared to last season.
Saturday's Performance Against Pittsburgh
Navy fell 20-12 to a Pittsburgh team that retained most starters and was ranked 21st in the National Wrestling Coaches Association preseason poll. Although disappointed with the loss, Kolat noted significant improvement over last season’s 35-3 defeat to the Panthers.
Sunday at the Navy Classic
The Midshipmen placed third out of ten teams at the 47th annual Navy Classic, which featured Pitt and Nebraska, the preseason No. 2 ranked team nationally. Navy currently holds a position in the “others receiving votes” section of the Top 25.
“It comes down to who is ready to perform when the season starts. We eased in last year and it was a wake-up call. We started to perform better as the season went on,” said Coach Kolat, now in his sixth season.
Team Composition and Challenges
- The lineup included three juniors, two seniors, three freshmen (plebes), and two sophomores, blending youth with experience.
- The biggest challenge is replacing All-American Josh Koderhandt at 141 pounds, who ranks 13th in program history with 106 career wins.
Coach Kolat emphasizes the importance of starting the season strong, a message he has reinforced throughout practices over the past months.