| With little time to savor its first victory of the regular season over Chico State last Thursday, the Spartan wrestling
team hits the mat again tonight when it travels to Humboldt State. |
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| "They're supposed to be real tough," SJSU coach T.J. Kerr said. "The coach is an ex-marine, and
he runs his team accordingly. They're in better shape than we are at this point, but i don't like to push too hard
this early in the season." |
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| The Spartans will go with the same lineup they used against Chico, but there is a possibility of some changes by
match time. |
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| 126-pound Eddie Baza injured his shoulder in his win over Chico, and the full extent of his injury is not known. |
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| Steve Lutz will make the trip to Humboldt in case Baza is unable to wrestle. |
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| In the 118-pound division, Wayne Jones is slated to start, however, Mike Rodrigues is also making the trip in case
Jones cannot make weight. |
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| "It's demanding to make weight," Kerr said. "Each individual is different. Some guys can't cut an
ounce, and some guys get meaner and take it out on their opponents." |
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| Earlier in the season, Jones was wrestling in the 126-pound division, but dropped to the 118s because there he
has a better chance to wrestle, according to Kerr. |
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| "Jones is slick on his feet," Kerr said. "He's different from last year. Now he is disciplined.
He has really turned things around." |
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| The Spartans also hope to turn things around from the last time they traveled to Humboldt. |
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| During the 1977-78 season when SJSU went up to Humboldt, they weighed in at SJSU, then made the long journey up
to Humboldt in a rainstorm. |
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| It resulted in SJSU losing the first five matches, a feat Kerr does not want to repeat. |
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| Kerr remedied the situation this year by going up a day early. |
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| "We have a good rivalry with Humbodlt," Kerr said. "But i told them what to expect. We'll be competing
with emotion. Our team will get homered, but it will be a good experience for us." |
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| Getting "homered" as Kerr called it, refers to playing a small college in a small town such as Humboldt,
where the "home court advantage" plays a big part. |
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| "Their coach plays all the angles and is a hell of a recruiter," Kerr said. "But they do have a
good program and a lot of local support." |
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| However, Humboldt really has nothing to lose, whatever the outcome because they compete as a Division II college
and SJSU is a Division I college. |
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| "We're pretty much the dominant force in Northern California," Kerr said, "so it looks good if they
beat us." |
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| The Spartans next home meet will be Dec. 1, when they host the Mumby Invitational. |
