Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Beau Markut Junior captain, Paul Hartt, accepts his plaque after being named Norther Wrestling Association Wrestler of the Year. Hartt placed first at the conference tournament on Saturday, February 10 at Lakeland. The Muskies as a team ended up taking secon place on the day.

All year long, Paul Hartt has been a leader through example for the wrestling team, and his recent reception of the Northern Wrestling Association Wrestler of the Year award is an example of exactly that.

At the conclusion of the conference tournament, the coaches from around the conference came together. Apparently, a 29-4 record was enough to capture this title.

The junior captain does not necessarily feel that he deserved the award. "I was real excited but surprised once I got (my award)," said Hartt. "A bunch of the guy's on my team told me that I deserved it. I didn't think I was going to get it."

Hartt agrees that he has improved greatly this past season. "Last year, I went 18-10 I think, so (a 29-4 record) is a big step up. I have also wrestled some good guys this year."

Although next year's team will not include fellow captains Mark Vanden Hoogan and Matt Priemesberger, Hartt will be returning to his leadership position. The knowledge of another year to wrestle in the future sometimes ices over the will of wrestlers entering their regional tournament. Seniors, on the other hand, realize their own mat time ticking away and wrestle with an unflinching devotion.

Hartt maintains that this type of unfortunate situation will not fall on his shoulders. "I think it is actually pushing me harder. Like how Mark (Vanden Hoogan) hurt his ankle and he is a senior and he waited until his last year to do anything. If I am healthy right now, I might as well train as hard as I can and try to make it there. Hopefully, next year I will be healthy again and try to do the same."

This weekend, Hartt and the rest of his team will travel to Elmhurst, IL in an attempt to further their seasons into nationals. Only the top two places will advance. "I will probably be the underdog," said Hartt. "I will probably be seeded third or fourth. Hopefully I can get a couple upsets and make it to the finals and upset the number one seed. Hopefully I can make it nationals be an all-American."

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