By Marcos Pena
After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Western New England University sport teams were unable to compete last year. This was the case for the Western New England University Wrestling team. Responding and adapting, Head coach, Michael T. Sugermeyer, had the team deviate from its usual routine to work more on strength and conditioning as well as mindset training.
Graduate assistant wrestling coach, Brian Shermeyer, would agree with these exercises, stating that a “huge part of wrestling is the mental aspect and… our guys really grew in this regard throughout the year.”
This year, things were different. The team was able to compete and show out in impressive ways. Shermeyer couldn’t be prouder of the team, “The guys, especially Cam Hines, did a great job of improving every time they stepped on the mat.” The team’s last four seasons have garnered them five All-Americans, seven national qualifiers, one regional champion and one national champion.
This was all due to their hard work and skill, as well as the leadership and values that the coaches have instilled in them. It seems as though the Western New England Wrestling team has been on the up and up, and they show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
It runs in the family: Head coach Sugermeyer’s father, who is now an accounting professor here at the university, was actually the wrestling team coach back in 1974. Sugermeyer began his career at Western New England in 2013 as an assistant coach; then in 2015, he became head coach and in 2018 was instated full time.
The players: there are forty-two total members in the wrestling team; ten of them are in the starting lineup, and three have made it to the all region this year. Sugermeyer talks about how every student athlete on the Wrestling team is encouraged and pushed to live a “championship lifestyle.” This means that every athlete on the team must perform well in academics, conduct themselves honorably and responsibly in the social component of their lives, and be active participants in the community. These qualities make them great team members.
This season the team has achieved 8 wins and 7 losses (go to wnegoldenbears.com for the most up-to-date stats), placed third at the Doug Parker Invitational, and won at the Will Abele Invitational for the first time in over a decade. In the future, Sugarmeyer hopes the team will bring home an NCAA championship and an individual national championship.
This Friday, March 11, WNE Wrestling will travel to Iowa for the NCAA 2022 Division 3 Wrestling championships. We wish the participating Golden Bears the best of luck!
By Marcos Pena
After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Western New England University sport teams were unable to compete last year. This was the case for the Western New England University Wrestling team. Responding and adapting, Head coach, Michael T. Sugermeyer, had the team deviate from its usual routine to work more on strength and conditioning as well as mindset training.
Graduate assistant wrestling coach, Brian Shermeyer, would agree with these exercises, stating that a “huge part of wrestling is the mental aspect and… our guys really grew in this regard throughout the year.”
This year, things were different. The team was able to compete and show out in impressive ways. Shermeyer couldn’t be prouder of the team, “The guys, especially Cam Hines, did a great job of improving every time they stepped on the mat.” The team’s last four seasons have garnered them five All-Americans, seven national qualifiers, one regional champion and one national champion.
This was all due to their hard work and skill, as well as the leadership and values that the coaches have instilled in them. It seems as though the Western New England Wrestling team has been on the up and up, and they show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
It runs in the family: Head coach Sugermeyer’s father, who is now an accounting professor here at the university, was actually the wrestling team coach back in 1974. Sugermeyer began his career at Western New England in 2013 as an assistant coach; then in 2015, he became head coach and in 2018 was instated full time.
The players: there are forty-two total members in the wrestling team; ten of them are in the starting lineup, and three have made it to the all region this year. Sugermeyer talks about how every student athlete on the Wrestling team is encouraged and pushed to live a “championship lifestyle.” This means that every athlete on the team must perform well in academics, conduct themselves honorably and responsibly in the social component of their lives, and be active participants in the community. These qualities make them great team members.
This season the team has achieved 8 wins and 7 losses (go to wnegoldenbears.com for the most up-to-date stats), placed third at the Doug Parker Invitational, and won at the Will Abele Invitational for the first time in over a decade. In the future, Sugarmeyer hopes the team will bring home an NCAA championship and an individual national championship.
This Friday, March 11, WNE Wrestling will travel to Iowa for the NCAA 2022 Division 3 Wrestling championships. We wish the participating Golden Bears the best of luck!
