The Minnesota West Bluejays wrestling team will try to leave it all on the mat Friday, as they compete for the National Junior College Athletic Association championship in Rochester.
The Bluejays will send five wrestlers to the meet: Josh Butrous (133 pounds), Josh Sullivan (141), Derrick Pomranky (165), Dallas Mitchell (184) and T.J. Scheidecker (197).
West head coach Bob Purcell is optimistic about his team's chances to do well in Rochester.
"I expect us to have a top-five finish as a team," Purcell said. "We're going to have to have at least two other kids, beside Dallas, step up and perform well."
Mitchell is the defending champion in his weight class and is hoping to repeat his feat of a year ago. He points to individual matches being the key to team success.
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"If we can all work hard and wrestle our individual matches well, the team part will take care of itself," Mitchell said. "We have to stay focused and wrestle hard."
Asked what he thought his chances are of a repeat, Mitchell was confident -- not cocky.
"I like my chances," he said. "Everyone counts me out. They really don't give the respect I deserve because they don't like my style of wrestling. But that really motivates me."
While only Mitchell was over .500 at the regional tournament, Purcell attributes much of that to injuries. The two-week break between the tournaments has given the Bluejays a chance to heal and mentally prepare for the match.
"We've had a chance to rest and take care of our bruises," Purcell said. "We're coming around health wise and I expect we'll compete for a top position."
As always, the competition will be stiff. West expects regional foes Ridgewater and Itasca to be tough, while perennial favorites Nassau and Harper, out of New York, will also vie for the top honors.
"It's going to be a real dogfight to get in the top five," Purcell said. "Our wrestlers are going to have to keep their composure and wrestle their best -- leave it all on the mat."
The meet begins at 9:30 a.m.
