An experienced Cornell team left the Storm wrestling team without a single win on the match in the conference opener on Nov. 16 in Mount Vernon. The final match score was 43-0.

But just four days later, the Storm came back strong with the 2010 Auggie Brute Adidas Open in Minneapolis and did well against some of the best competition in the country. More than 500 wrestlers competed at the Augsburg Open, which is home to the defending national champion Augsburg.

“Overall I was pleased with the young guys in the two meets,” said head coach Clint Manny. “They had a good showing. The Cornell team was full of juniors and seniors and was where we are now four years ago.”

The Storm only had two takedowns compared to Cornell’s 19 and Cornell outscored Simpson 13-3 with near-fall points.

“We actually had some good matches where we competed well with Cornell,” Manny said. “The final score doesn’t say that though.”

The Augsburg Open was a different story for Simpson, where sophomore Jeff Sand won the Copper II division at 133 for the Storm. Freshman Kody Havens finished second place in the Bronze I division at the 165-pound weight.

“The season has been fairly successful so far,” Havens said. “Some other teams just have more experience than us so they are more successful.”

Freshmen Zach Elder and Jared Bevins also wrestled well for the Storm. Elder went undefeated at the Copper II division at 174 with three wins while Bevins went 2-1 in the same division at 197.

The youth of the team is a big factor that is the main reason for early struggles. One senior, two sophomores and five freshmen started for the Storm against Cornell. The weights 125 and 285 remain open for the Storm. A separated shoulder from returning starter senior Caleb Brus is also slowing down the Storm.

“Injuries are what you have to deal with,” Manny said. “We have some depth in the middle weights but that stuff still hurts you.”

Brus is focused on what needs to be done when he gets back on the mats.

“When I get back, I need to focus on being patient on my feet and not forcing takedowns,” Brus said. “I also need take the match to the mat where I am the best. I expect the team to finish in the top half of the conference and show improvement throughout the year.”

The Storm’s next meet is at home in Hopper Gymnasium on Dec. 3 against two top-20 teams: Luther and Williams.