After a rough 2001 season, the wrestling team enters this year with three returning NCAA qualifiers. However, two of the three, along with a pair of other top Blue Devils, are ineligible for competition until the beginning of the spring semester.
Consequently, head coach Clar Anderson understands that Duke could struggle, especially with its difficult early season schedule, but he believes his team can improve on last season's 6-12 finish.
"I don't expect the team results to be as good as they could be because we have two NCAA qualifiers sitting out," head coach Clar Anderson said. "Overall on the year it should be a better year for us."
The team is headlined by Michael Mitchell who placed third in the ACC at the 165-pound weight class as a freshman, but missed last season due to injury.
"Michael is a really really hard worker, a very tough individual that pushes himself," Anderson said. "I think the surgery that he had on his knee definitely impacted the way he trains, but as far as the competition and wrestling it shouldn't impact him besides making him a little more weak and vulnerable."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.