Wrestling Team Pins Tournament Title

In a tournament that is to become an annual event, the Flyer Club Wrestling team took first place on Saturday in the first-ever Flyer Invitational Tournament followed by runners-up Bowling Green State University and the Ohio State University.

"It was a good team effort. Being our first home tournament we just wanted everything to go well and put up a fight, but coming away as team champions made it even better," senior club founder Scott Kelly said.

In a tournament that included nine schools from Ohio, Minnesota, Virginia, Michigan and Indiana, there was plenty of talent to be seen. Craig Blike (141 lbs.), Jason Lousin (184 lbs.), Frederick "Fritz" Schoolfield (235 lbs.) and Frank Chiodo (heavyweight) all took first place for Dayton in their individual weight classes.

"I'm just happy that we could put on a tournament at home that went really well, and that we could pull out a win against league powerhouses like Bowling Green and Southern Virginia," Blike said.

The Dayton Club Wrestling Team was established in 2005 when Kelly circulated a petition and was able to produce enough signatures in support of a club team. "I was surprised to learn UD didn't already have a club team, so when I got here starting it was something that I wanted to do," Kelly said.

On June 23, 1972 the United States passed the Title IX law stating that “No person in the United States shall on the basis of sex, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” This action forced universities and high schools to terminate programs in accordance with the new law. One such program being the UD men’s wrestling team, which was a varsity sport until the mid-1980s.

With the opening of the RecPlex in early 2006, UD agreed to purchase a wrestling mat and allow for the formation of the club.

With the addition of coach Eric Blosser in 2007, the team began to emphasize conditioning and the molding of a winning attitude, while attempting to become one of the top teams in the North Central Conference.

"He's one of the most dedicated coaches out there with the amount of energy and enthusiasm he shows," Kelly said, "and you got to love his signature three-piece suits."

Coming off their first home victory, the Flyers have great plans for the future, returning all the wrestlers from the previous year.

"This is the first year we have had a full lineup and we have a lot of talent with three returning national qualifiers, so this year we are looking to be a North Central top competitor," Kelly said.

Note: This story was published in the November 18 issue of Flyer News

When I Paint My Masterpiece

Ever wonder when it's finally going to happen - your masterpiece, your greatest achievement. First the idea will hit you (right?). Will you be smart enough to listen to your inner-voice and follow through with it? Will it be difficult? You bet your ass it will be, but it'll be worth it.. won't it?

What exactly is it going to be? Well, I suppose that depends on who you are and what you are about. It could be a piece of music, it could be an illustration, whatever it is, when and more importantly how is it going to happen?

How can a person take their profession or supposed love to the next level to create their masterpiece? Is there a three-step program or a diagram of those that have gone before, or is it nothing but a blank piece of paper.

And sadly, whose to say it ever happens? What if you go your whole life and never reach your masterpiece? What does that say about you as a person, does that mean you failed? No, it doesn't mean that, but is it like your mother once told you? "I just wished you would of tried a little harder..." Is it that simple really?

Whose to say. How can one tell when they have poured all they can into a piece of work? Who is to define success and label the work a masterpiece? My dad use to say that until I dedicated myself 150 percent towards a project I wouldn't know what it meant to actually do work. At 21, I still don't believe I have, what does that say about me? Let's not worry about that for now - how about you? do you know what it means to work - have you achieved your masterpiece?