Wrestlers set for regionals

The up and coming Rattler wrestling team is looking to strike at the Regional Tournament this weekend.

“Our goal is to qualify everybody we’ve got for nationals and to go and represent our university well,” wrestling coach Reginald Snowden said.

Florida A&M’s fairly young wrestling team will be traveling this week to Palm Coast, Fla., for the Regional conference tournament at Palm Coast High school on Saturday.

“We will see a lot of the same teams we faced throughout the season, and especially the teams from former tournaments,” coach said.

Aside from the team preparing all season long for this tournament, the team has especially been practicing everyday this week to do everything they can before Saturday’s big tournament.

“We are taking 8 guys and 2 girls from FAMU to the Regional Championships this weekend, the Top 6 in each weight class advance to the NCWA National Championships,” said Coach. “I hope to take as many as we bring to Regionals, to Nationals.”

The team will be looking for leadership from their captain and other wrestlers who should have good outcomes this weekend.

 “We are led by our Junior, Team Captain, Roland Pitts, who is a returning Regional and National place-winner, as he earned All-American status last season placing 7th at Nationals,” Coach also said. “This year, he is looking to build upon that and bring home the title in the 197 lbs. weight-class.”

Some younger wrestlers may also have a big impact on the team’s outcome this weekend also.  

“We are also looking for big performances from sophomore Randall Gines, 149 lbs., and our young core of heavyweights, coach said.”

The game plan for this weekend’s tournament is no different from any other.

 “We should know what to expect,” coach said. “Hopefully, we have learned something throughout this past week. We spent a lot of time in the room and running outside the room.”

The team will be departing for their tournament on Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.