Ambitions soar under pressure for Little Rock wrestling

Little Rock, Arkansas – Last season marked the fifth year of Little Rock wrestling, which surprised everyone by securing a spot in the top 20 at the national tournament.

“We accomplished all of our five-year objectives within the five-year timeframe,” stated head coach Neil Erisman. “We exceeded our five-year goals in numerous aspects by the end of last year.” It was truly the result of our dedication, determination, and the unwavering faith of the team.

Redshirt junior Matty Bianchi is one of the individuals who has been brought in since his arrival on campus. Bianchi has witnessed the program develop from the ground up and appeared to recognize something unique in last year’s team.

“It seems that everyone is united in this moment,” Bianchi remarked that the practices became more purposeful, highlighting a significant shift in the culture from merely assembling a group of individuals to fostering a cohesive team that has built long-standing relationships.

While last year held its significance, it has now become a thing of the past for the Trojans. The upcoming 2024-25 season sets high hopes for a program that was previously considered “the new kid on the block.”

“As we enter this year, we’ve received a ranking of 20th in the nation, which is fantastic and shows the respect for our team. However, this also brings an expectation,” Bianchi stated. “We have moved beyond being a team that simply offers encouragement…” We have established ourselves as a credible team, and our ranking reflects that. It’s time for us to conduct ourselves accordingly.

The hidden truths of college wrestling have now come to light. However, Erisman suggests that this may not be significant.

“Regardless of whether we’re the newcomers or if people are aware of our presence, the way we compete and the team we have is what truly matters,” Erisman stated. “Our team is incredibly resilient and definitely entertaining to watch.”

This season brings promising developments for the Trojans. Everyone’s return from last year’s remarkable season amplifies the anticipation surrounding what the Trojans might achieve this time around.

“If I had to assign a number, I believe aiming for a top 10 finish at the NCAA tournament is a realistic expectation for our team at this moment.” “I believe that’s quite plausible,” Erisman stated.

Aiming to make their mark in the record books once more this season, the team faces high expectations. They have made an impressive beginning. The Trojans have started the year strong with a perfect 4-0 record, capped off by a notable victory against Northwestern on November 24.

Their upcoming significant test is on December 22 as they face off against #1 Penn State— all part of their preparation for the NCAA tournament in March.