Marable overcomes illness to win match

Missouri defeated Cornell 21-13 in the dual wrestling meet.

By Nick Forrester
Jan. 29, 2008

Sophomore No. 2 Nicholas Marable defends a takedown attempt by No. 4 Mack Lewnes in a duel against Cornell University on Sunday afternoon in the Hearnes Center. Marable was named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week.

With No. 11 Missouri trailing Cornell 10-7 halfway through the dual wrestling meet on Saturday, the 165-pound division match between nationally second-ranked MU sophomore Nick Marable and fourth-ranked Cornell freshman Mack Lewnes finally took place.

The match featured a memorable delay.

Just 90 seconds in, Marable scored the first points by getting a takedown. He held Lewnes to two escapes, and after an escape of his own, Marable defeated Lewnes 3-2.

That wasn’t the most dramatic part of the match for Marable.

After the second period, Marable ran off of the mat and into the Missouri locker room, grabbing a trashcan on his way.

“I woke up this morning and felt fine, but then I got out there and wrestled, and my body just felt real fatigued,” said Marable. “I’m not feeling well, and I took a day or two off practice because I was sick earlier in the week.”

Though allegedly throwing up in the restroom, Coach Brian Smith said he never had a doubt that Marable would be able to finish the match.

“I was asked if he’s still going to be able to wrestle, and I said we’re fine now, once he gets sick, he’s going to come back shooting, and that’s exactly what he did,” Smith said of Marable. “I asked him how he felt, and he said I’m not tired, my stomach is just killing me right now.”

Going into the third period just after getting sick, up by only two points against the fourth-ranked wrestler in the nation, Lewnes threw everything he could at him to try and win the match, Marable did everything he could to hang on.

“The last minute felt like 5 minutes,” Marable said. “But I just kept fighting and just hoping that time would run out. (The coaches) kept saying one more takedown wins the match for me. I was just thinking, man, I want that takedown, but I just couldn’t get it. It wasn’t a pretty win, but I got the job done I guess.”

Nonetheless, Marable was able to hold on in the closing seconds of the match for the win.

His victory over Lewnes not only tied the meet at 10 points, which later led to a 21-13 Missouri victory, but it was also Marable’s eighth win against a Top 20 opponent. It improved his record to 17-3. Marable attributes his major success this season to the backups on the team.

“Our backups could be first string at many different schools,” he said. “They could even probably be All-Americans at different schools. That definitely helps our program out, and it’s definitely helping me out. Former Missouri wrestler Ben Askren took me to the Olympic Training Center over the summer, and that helped a lot too.”

Last season, Marable had a hard time getting a spot in the starting lineup, but is now ranked second in the nation.

“My technique isn’t the best, but my greatest asset is my pride in fighting,” he said. “I just hate losing, so I find a way to win.”

Share on Facebook

Marable overcomes illness to win match

More Jan. 29, 2008 Sports Stories

Most recent Sports Stories