USC Wrestling Prime for Pac-12 Tournament

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The Trojans were taken to the mat in their first major competition last weekend in Nevada. The team was undermanned and undersized against elite varsity competition but understand what it takes to improve.

Freshman public relations major Nick Cegelski is spearheading the Trojans transformation.

"We have pretty high hopes for that, we set pretty high hopes from the start and a part of that is that you got to get yourself in shape," said Cegelski.  

This will be the first year that the Wrestling program is competing at a varsity level, a move that has sent positive shock waves throughout the locker room. "There really was a 180-degree turnaround," according to Cegelski. "The fact that we will now be competing with these other varsity programs has been kicked guys in the butt, you know it’s go time."

"I can bring a tone of enthusiasm to the program,” said Cegelski. “I have three-and-a-half years ahead of me to really transform the way the team is and the culture of the program."

As the newest member of USC storied athletic tradition, Wrestling is working to implement the Trojan seal of success."In your athletic life, in your academic life, in your social life you need to be representing the best of your abilities at all times," said Cegelski.  

While Wrestling at USC is on the rise, the state of Olympic Wrestling is currently under fire. Cegelski says this is nothing unusual for the sport. "This challenge the Wrestling community has to overcome just characterizes what is special about the sport in dealing with adversity," according to Cegelski. 

The USC Wrestling Program continues their historic season this Saturday from the Pac-12 Championships at Arizona State.