Oct. 28, 2005
The University of Northern Colorado wrestling team can see the light at the end of the tunnel. But that will not affect the type of effort the squad will put forth in the 2005-06 season.
"Each year of our transition to Division I, I think we have gotten better each and every year," head coach Jack Maughan said. "Now that we are one year away from being eligible for the national tournament does not mean we just give up and say `wait `til next year'. I know our squad will keep its great attitude and work ethic going throughout the year. We will prepare and compete just as if we were going to the post season."
Maughan was pleased with how the squad finished last season by defeating three foes who the Bears have a long-lasting rivalry.
"We were pleased at how we competed toward the end of last year with dual victories over North Dakota State, South Dakota State and Air Force," Maughan said. "Those teams will be in our new conference and we need to be successful against them to reach our Division I goals."
Maughan was referring to a new wrestling conference, a league which the Bears could be members of as early as the 2006-07 season. The schools involved in the talks to form a wrestling conference include: Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, Eastern Illinois, Fresno State, Wyoming, Air Force, North Dakota State, South Dakota State and Utah Valley State.
The Bears will face seven of those eight teams in dual matches this season. The only school UNC will not face this season is Fresno State.
"Not only would this league provide us with a chance to have national qualifiers and advance to the national tournament, it allows us to have academic and all-conference teams which would put us back on board with many of our sports that will be joining the Big Sky Conference," Maughan said.
Northern Colorado finished the 2004-05 season with a 6-7 dual record. This season, the Bears' schedule will feature 16 dual matches including the Lone Star Duals in Dallas, Texas, on Jan. 7. The Lone Star Duals will allow Northern Colorado to match up against the nation's other UNC - the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.
"The Lone Star Duals will replace our open tournament in Las Vegas and it allows us to add dual matches we would not normally have on the schedule," Maughan said. "We can wrestle against North Carolina, Purdue and Clarion - all Division I wrestling schools."
The Bears will open the season on Nov. 13 at the Wyoming Cowboy Open in Laramie, Wyo. Northern Colorado will open the home season on Nov. 19 with the Old Chicago Northern Colorado Open in the Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion.
WEIGHT-BY-WEIGHT BREAKDOWN
125 LBS.
Sophomore Beau Hessler will hold down the 125-pound starting position. Hessler posted a mark of 8-9 last season in the open tournament portion of the season. Hessler did notch a third-place finish at the Colorado Collegiates last season. The Bears plan to redshirt standout freshman Tony Mustari, who was a three-time state champion at Greeley Central High School.
133 LBS.
Maughan said a four-way battle will ensue at the 133-pound weight class. Junior Kyle Kaiser, junior Adam Garcia, redshirt freshman Derrick Salazar and freshman Will Cusker will produce a starter after quite a few preseason wrestle-offs. Kaiser has the most collegiate wrestling experience of the group as he has tallied 32 wins for the Bears over the past two seasons. The Bears plan to redshirt sophomore Blayze Bahe.
141 LBS.
Junior Mark Hastings will look to be the starter at 141 pounds, but will be pushed by sophomore Richard Lohr and redshirt freshman Paul Dack. Hastings was a Division II national qualifier as a freshman in 2003, but missed the last two seasons with various injuries. Hastings has 32 career wins entering the 2005-06 season. Lohr could see action at both 141 and 149 pounds this season. Sophomore standout and Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie team member Kenny Hashimoto will redshirt this season.
149 LBS.
The trio of sophomore Kyle LeValley, redshirt freshman Tim Silengo and Lohr will fight it out for the 149-pound spot in the dual matches. LeValley redshirted last season after posting a 13-12 record as a true freshman in the 2003-04 season. Senior Luke Salazer, who transferred to UNC from Boise State in the offseason, will redshirt this season.
157 LBS.
Four solid contributors will look to be the starter at 157 pounds. Senior Nathan Gerrard, who wrestled last season at 149 pounds, looks to be the leader in the preseason, but will be challenged for his starting position this season. Sophomore Sean Coughlin, junior Matt Stewart and incoming freshman Devan Lewis will all pose a challenge for Gerrard. Gerrard tallied nine wins last season, including three wins in dual matches. Sophomore transfer Chase Walker, who came to UNC from Northwest Community College where he was a national champion, will redshirt this season.
165 LBS.
Sophomore Alex Joseph will look to regain his starting spot at 165 pounds after redshirting last season. Joseph ranked second on the team in wins (19) as a freshman. A pair of redshirt freshman Ryan Johnson and Tito Rinaldis will look to battle Joseph for the starting nod.
174 LBS.
Sophomore Shawn Hart, a member of the Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie team, will return at 174 pounds. Hart tallied a team-high nine pins last season as he went 22-7 overall. Hart placed second at the Colorado Collegiates and won the 174-pound title at the Old Chicago Northern Colorado Open. Challenging Hart will be sophomore Caleb Van Vorst. Van Vorst saw action in five duals last season at 165 pounds.
184 LBS.
Sophomore Tim Sexton will be the Bears' starter at 184 pounds after wrestling at 197 pounds as a true freshman. Sexton notched seven victories last season and saw action in five dual matches 197 pounds.
197 LBS.
The Bears' will welcome the return of sophomore Reece Hopkin. Hopkin redshirted last season after posting a 14-7 record as a true freshman. Hopkin went 7-6 in 13 dual matches in the 2003-04 season. Hopkin won tournament titles at the Wyoming Cowboy Open and the Colorado Collegiates as a true freshman.
HEAVYWEIGHT
Junior Justin Flynn will begin the season as the Bears' starter at heavyweight. At the conclusion of football season, the Bears hope to welcome back junior Matt Sens. Sens wrestled for the Bears' two years ago but did not compete last year. Maughan also hopes to have the use of freshman Justin Tuell in the spring semester. Tuell attended Lone Star High School but wrestled for Yuma High School and was a state runner-up last season. He will hopefully join the team at the semester break.
