The 2000-01 season should bring success and gratifying rewards for the St. Olaf wrestling team and its fans. St. Olaf enters the season with nine returning starters, six of whom were All-Conference last year.

However, the Oles will have some questions to answer as the season begins. One of those questions is replacing three-time National qualifier Thor Apland.

"With the starters we have coming back we expect to compete among the top of the conference," said head coach Ken Pratt.

Although the program lost Apland, the 2000-01 Oles will field a talented team that is setting out to improve on their third place finish in the conference last year.

"I like the attitude this team is developing," said Coach Pratt. "Weıve been working extremely hard and have encouraged them to be more aggressive on the mat. I think itıs an attitude and approach that can spread throughout the team and we can build some momentum that will carry us during the season."

This momentum will be the key ingredient for the team to improve and achieve their level of success. Key returners that will be looked up to are seniors Shaun Murphy and Matt Picchietti, and sophomore Alex Morf.

At 157 pounds, Murphy has the most experience of the Oles. Murphy placed second in the conference and was an alternate for Nationals last year.

Morf, wrestling at 149 pounds is looking to improve on his third place finish in the conference last year. Picchietti hopes to regroup and stay healthy after last yearıs second place conference finish. Other returners that will make an impact this season are senior John Holm and junior Chris Schulteis. Holm, who will wrestle at 174 pounds is a two-time All Conference winner.

Holm placed second two years ago and fourth last year. Schulteis struggled early last season, but turned things around with a strong third place finish in the conference.

Pratt remarked about the key returners on this team, "I think we have a number of guys who are very capable of placing high in the conference and making it into the National Tournament. If we stay healthy there is no reason for us to not improve on last yearıs third place finish."

The team is focused on one thing and that is success. Senior co-captain Andy Brown commented on that focus, "Everyone has come together this season and picked up the intensity. You can see it in the practice room and it will help all of us when the Conference Tournament rolls around."

The wrestling team got off to a great start last weekend at the UW-River Fall Dual Meet Tournament. The Oles defeated Concordia University and Waldorf College, and earned a tie with UW-River Falls.

The team is excited about its chances for the rest of the year. With the refocused attitude and strong leadership the wrestling team hopes to achieve success and look to improve on their third place finish in the conference a year ago.