GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence men's wrestling team is prepared for one of the most challenging tournaments of the year. The team will wrestle at the Grand View Open on Saturday, Nov. 13 beginning at 8:00 a.m. MTN.

The Grand View Open is one of the toughest individual tournaments the team will take part in all season. The tournament will feature a majority of the top NAIA wrestlers, as well as some NCAA Division I wrestlers who are looking for some mat time. All-in-all, over 50 wrestling programs from around the country will be represented at the tournament.

"It's very deep," head coach Steve Komac said. "It's probably as hard or harder to place than the National Tournament. We're going into some really steep competition. I think that's good."

The team is excited about the level of competition, and the coaching staff believes they have wrestlers capable of competing and placing despite the stiff challenges.

"We have some of our guys that we expect to be right there at the All-American level," Komac said. "We want to try and place at these tournaments. We have guys whose individual goals are to win a tournament like this. So we've got guys that are there and have the ability to win in tough tournaments."

The team is coming off a frustrating loss to in-state rival Montana State-Northern on Wednesday. The loss showed the coaching staff that they need to step up the intensity in the practice room. 

"I like the relationship they have with themselves and I like the relationship they have with our coaching staff," Komac said. "There's a lot of mutual respect and I think we're all on the same page. If you don't start with that I don't think we could make up the difference. I think the relationships within our building are very healthy. I think the attitude and atmosphere and overall work ethic are healthy. We really made some hard adjustments in the room regarding pace and tempo in the room this week. The kids responded well."

Now, the coaching staff wants to see that hard work translate onto the mat.

"Our expectation is to stick our nose in a lot of matches," Komac said. "We want to be in competitive scraps. Where we got blown up and blown out a little bit against Northern, we need to get those guys in good tight matches. We have guys that just need to get their nose dirty if that makes sense and stay in the tough battles. Individually is where we're going to focus our goals right now. The competition is super stiff but I think that's what we need to make up some ground."