Along with Dong’s disappointment in the ACC and NCAA tourney last year, the team as a whole was disappointed as well. The Hokies placed second in the ACC tournament last season, mainly because of their youth.
“Like myself, I think that our team kind of took things for granted,” Dong said. “We were ranked 11th in the country last year and we had a really good dual meet season and a really good season overall.”
Despite increased experience this year, the team finished even worse in the conference tournament, placing third behind champion Virginia and second place Maryland.
With four individual conference champions and six wrestlers headed to the NCAA tournament, however, the team hopes it can shake off the third place finish and represent well on the big stage.
“I think last year we went into the NCAA tournament there a little starstruck,” said junior Tommy Spellman, who is also headed to the championships this year. “We didn’t really know what to expect. We have a lot of people
returning this year that have been there before. So we’re going in there looking for blood. Can’t accept going 1-2 or 0-2 again.”
“This year, we have a chip on our shoulder and we need to use that to show up at the NCAA tournament,” Dong said.
Dong is focused on preparing for the championships by staying humble and keeping his focus.
“I have to stay humble, but at the same time I have to realize that I’m the one that everybody’s looking for. I’m the target, so I should be able to blow kids out,” he said.
“So I have a chip on my shoulder to punish kids and to win by a major decision, win by a tech fall or a pin. Every match I look for that and if I don’t, I come out disappointed.”
The NCAA Championships will begin on March 18 in Omaha.
Dong, a three-seed, along with his teammates, 11-seed junior Chris Diaz, sophomore Jarrod Garnett, freshman Brian Stephens, redshirt junior Matt Epperly and junior Tommy Spellman will represent the Hokies at the event.
Continue Reading: « Previous12
A version of this article appeared in the Mar 17 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 0 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.