Spring Break
TIMEOUT WITH Drew Lashaway, Danny Mitcheff, Nic Bedelyon
Lightweight, but STILL heavy hitters
DKS Editors
Issue date: 3/4/09 Section: Opinion
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When the Mid-American Conference tournament kicks off Saturday, the Flashes will be defending their first regular season title in 19 years. § Sports reporter Caleb Raubenolt sat among the team's "1-2-3 punch," beginning his conversation with the wrestlers' success and how they've led their team to Kent State wrestling's history books. Somehow it led to PowerBars and Saran Wrap.
Combined, the three of you post an impressive 17-1 record in the team's last six meets, including several victories against nationally ranked opponents. What do you have to say about this run of recent dominance?
Drew Lashaway: We've been working real hard. We should be doing that. Our team's good; we should be ranked in the top 15. And I feel that our team is solid - we can compete at the national level. I had no doubt that we could (win) those matches.
Nic Bedelyon: Yeah, we've just been working hard. That's what it comes down to.
As the team's 125-, 133- and 141-pound wrestlers, typically your matches are scheduled to begin a meet. Your records prove you guys are able to deal with that pressure. Would you agree?
Danny Mitcheff: You just want to start off getting good wins right off the bat, so it ups everyone on the team's confidence. It's a good way to keep the momentum going, especially in dual meets.
DL: (We're a) 1-2-3 punch! (laughing)
Currently the three of you are ranked No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference in your respective weight classes. Knowing that, how will you be approaching the MAC tournament this weekend?
NB: I think we've just got to take it one match at a time. You can't look past anyone in the MAC because the MAC tournament is a tough tournament.
DM: We wrestle these guys all the time, so they're going to be ready, and they're going to know your moves. So you've just got to be ready to wrestle knowing that it's going to be tough.
NB: Every match counts.
DL: (We have to) go into those nights the same way we've done in other matches. Keep pushing the tempo and hopefully it comes out on our side, and we win the MAC tournament as a team, too.
You're all returning NCAA qualifiers from last year, and obviously you'll be looking forward to going again this year. How confident do you feel toward accomplishing this goal now, as compared to last year?
NB: For me, I have a lot more confidence because last year I was young, just going out there and wrestling. But this summer I kept it up; I worked out a lot more, doing a lot of college-level stuff instead of high school. So this year I think I have a lot more confidence going into MACs.
DL: We all have more knowledge of the sport. I mean, every year you wrestle the sport in college, you're going to gain confidence, (and) you're going to gain knowledge and skill. I think our skill techniques and our mindsets are all there - we've just got to go out and perform.
DM: I've been there before, and I wasn't happy with how I did last year. That kind of motivated me a lot, so I worked real hard over the summer to get me ready for the national tournament.
So let's take a step back from the mat for a bit. Drew, I've noticed that when you're wrestling, a lot of your teammates will be chanting "Go Larry," or "Shoot, Larry, shoot." How'd that name come about?
DL: (Laughing) About three or so years ago, our 125-pounder, Chad Sportelli, was making up all these names for everybody that rhymed with your last name. Larry ended up sticking with me, and everybody calls me it and it's just funny.
DM: Nobody calls him Drew anymore. It's just Larry. Larry Lashaway.
What about you guys? Any nicknames for either of you two?
DM: A lot of people call me Spanish, saying I look like the guy from "Old School."
DL: We call (Bedelyon) Bedrock.
(Everybody laughs)
DM: His dad knows him as Bedrock. We're just taking the name on.
And is there a team prankster, among you three or your teammates in general?
DM: (Indicates Bedelyon) I'd say it's this guy over here … little Nic. (Laughing) He likes to pull pranks all the time. We were at a tournament once, and he had a chocolate PowerBar, and he smooshed it all up and it looked like a big turd. Then he put it in the elevator, and people saw it, and they thought someone pooped in the elevator. He also did it in the weight room once and our weightlifting coach thought it was a turd too.
NB: (The coach) was like, 'There was an animal in here the other week.' (laughing)
DM: I wonder if he knows about that?
DL: Yeah, we like to laugh.
I've noticed you guys are a really close, tight-knit group as a team. Would you comment about how being on the wrestling team has brought you guys together?
DL: Even after the season, we're real tight when we go out; everybody goes out together. It's fun.
NB: It's what makes the team better too, getting close with each other.
DL: That's one reason why I feel like this team is doing so good this year. We're all close, we're all trying to help each other get better. We'll all try to help each other to succeed at the national level.
Nic, as a sophomore, you're the youngest among these guys here. Did Danny, Drew and your other teammates take you under their wing as a freshman?
NB: For sure they helped me because when I came here, I didn't know anyone. It was all new for me, especially being from out of state. They helped me out big time.
DL: We didn't know about him at first. He was a little goofy. But we took him under (our wing), and the goofiness turned into good friends.
And as Drew is in his final year with the team, are there any memories of having him as both a teammate and friend that come to mind?
NB: (Laughing) Christmas break last year, we Saran-Wrapped him for like an hour and a half. It was on New Year's Eve; we Saran-Wrapped and duct-taped his whole body and just sat him on a chair.
DL: And they put makeup on me. (Everyone laughs)
DM: I'm his roommate, so I'm going to miss his cooking. He's a great cook.
NB: And he cleans good. He's like a housemaid.
DM: But I'm definitely going to miss his cooking, that's for sure.
Contact sports reporter Caleb Raubenolt at craubeno@kent.edu.
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