The Florida A&M University varsity wrestling team may be the school’s best-kept secret.
Florida A&M’s wrestling team is the only HBCU team in the Southeast Conference, and is certainly making a lot of noise.
The team beat Florida State 33-30 Feb. 5, and is rolling through the season.
The wrestling team is now getting ready for the Southeastern Regional Conference Championship. The regional competition will be held at the Al Lawson Center on Feb. 27.
Head coach Abdul Sharif, a former FAMU wrestler, thinks his team is doing well this year.
“For the most part the team looks pretty decent and pretty solid,” Sharif said. “I think we’ll go pretty far this year at nationals.”
Before nationals, the team has to take care of business at home, when they host the regional championship for the first time.
The team is looking to improve last season’s third place finish in the championship, which was held at Kennesaw State University.
The team is looking for the home crowd to show up with much-needed support.
Sharif said the team has some pretty competitive guys that people should keep an eye on. Roland Pitts, at 197 pounds, is one.
Sharif said Pitts has finished in first place in a majority of this season’s tournaments. If Pitts was not in first place, he was a close second.
“I can see him becoming conference champion and maybe even national champion; he’s on that level,” Sharif said.
If looking for some excitement, freshman Tavarius Hicks, at 184 pounds, is one to watch.
“If you like seeing people slammed around or picked up, that’s the guy to look for if you’re looking for entertainment,” Sharif said.
Scouts will be watching the conference championship, giving wrestlers the opportunity to land scholarships. Sharif said the team has invited high schools throughout Florida. Former 90.5 radio personality Joe Bullard will be the master of ceremony for the event.
Sharif said he thinks the team has a very high chance of winning the championship.
“My guys are hyped and they are ready,” Sharif said. “They’ve got their spirits up and I want their spirits to be transcended toward the spectators.”
The Florida A&M University Varsity Wrestling Team may be the school’s best-kept secret. FAMU’s wrestling team is the only HBCU in the Southeast Conference, and is certainly making a lot of noise.
The team beat Florida State 33-30 Feb. 5th and is rolling through this season. The wrestling team is now getting ready for the Southeastern Regional Conference Championship. The regional competition will be held at the Al Lawson Center on Feb. 27th.
Head coach Abdul Sharif, a former FAMU wrestler, thinks his team is doing well this year. “For the most part the team looks pretty decent and pretty solid,” Sharif said. “I think we’ll go pretty far this year at nationals.”
Before nationals, the team has to take care of business at home, when they host the regional championship for the first time.
The team is looking to improve last season’s third place finish in the championship, which was held at Kennesaw State University.
The team is looking for the home crowd to show up with much-needed support.
Sharif said the team has some pretty competitive guys that people should keep an eye on. Roland Pitts, at 197 pounds, is one. Sharif said Pitts has finished in first place in a majority of this season’s tournaments. If Pitts was not in first place, he was a close second.
“I can see him becoming conference champion and maybe even national champion; he’s on that level,” Sharif said.
If looking for some excitement, freshman Tavarius Hicks, at 184 pounds, is one to watch.
“If you like seeing people slammed around or picked up, that’s the guy to look for if you’re looking for entertainment,” Sharif said.
Scouts will be watching the conference championship, giving wrestlers the opportunity to land scholarships. Sharif said the team has invited high schools throughout Florida. Former 90.5 radio personality Joe Bullard will be the master of ceremony for the event.
Sharif believes the team has a very high chance of winning the championship. “My guys are hyped and they are ready,” Sharif said. “They’ve got their spirits up and I want their spirits to be transcended toward the spectators.”