Navy's Ed Prendergast

Ed Prendergast is currently the number three ranked heavyweight by D1CW, and sports a fifteen match winning streak.  The streak includes tournament victories at the Reno Tournament of Champions, as well as the Southern Scuffle.  Prendergast, a defending EIWA champion, is aiming to become first Midshipman to win an NCAA title since the 1972-73 season.  D1CW recently spoke to the big man from St. Louis, Missouri...

D1CW: Ed, take us through your season so far....

Ed Prendergast: I got off to kind of a slow start.  After Vegas I started to feel good about my performance.  I won Reno and was very happy about that.  All of that momentum carried over to the Scuffle.  Now we are in the dual-,meet portion of our schedule and I've been pleased with the way they have gone.

D1CW: Last year you made your first trip to the NCAA tournament and won two matches.  What did that experience do for you as you prepared for this season?

EP: It gave me a goal to shoot for going into this season.  It was a whole new experience.  A new experience, but a good one.  After the tournament, I knew that I had to come back this year.

D1CW: So far this season, one of your toughest opponents has been your teammate Scott Steele.  (The two have met in the finals of three tournaments).  Talk about wrestling Scott...

EP: It's really good to have someone as talented as him in the room.  He has beaten some really good wrestlers himself.  Practicing together really has helped us both, as we are able to push each other. 

D1CW: You have had more success and achieved higher national rankings in college, compared to high school.  What are some reasons for this?

EP: I've just kept working hard.  Coach Burnett and the entire coaching staff is great and has really helped me develop and constantly work to improve.

D1CW: Entering this season, what were your personal goals?

EP: To be a National Champ! Also another EIWA championship.

D1CW: How does this year's team stack up against the rest of the EIWA?

EP: We have a few guys who can win titles.  For the team to do well, we will need some of our younger guys to really step up. The young guys we have, are really capable of doing well.

D1CW: For the readers who are unfamiliar with the service academies, how is wrestling at the Naval Academy different from any other school?

EP: Well you have a lot of different commitments that can be time consuming.  Also, it is very challenging academically.  Then you also have the military aspect.  It can be very difficult to find a balance while training for wrestling, as well.  You get used to it though, and you find a way to get it done.

D1CW:  When did you realize that you wanted to attend the Naval Academy?

EP: I decided to go before my Senior year of high school.  They were interested in me, so I decided to come on a visit.  I really liked the coaches and wrestlers, so I decided then.

D1CW: When and why did you begin wrestling?

EP: I was five years old.  My older brother (Jim) got me interested in the sport.  He was an All-American at SW. Missouri State.

D1CW: What are you plans after this school year?

EP: I will be graduating in May.  From there I will enter the Surface Warfare Community.  I will be going onto a ship as a division officer, stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.

D1CW: Thanks Ed, Good Luck!!