2009-10 Men's Wrestling Season Preview
Severin
Walsh could analyze his first season coaching the Pacific men’s wrestling
program in many ways. He chooses to look at the successes the program achieved
in a year that would have been a challenge for any coach.
The Boxers started small and ended small. A roster of 10 wrestlers whittled down to seven by season’s end. While that left Pacific basically unable to compete in dual meets, Walsh choses to focus on the individual successes made by a relatively young group that stayed stuck with the program the whole season.
“I was happy with the improvement we made,” Walsh said. “We had a lot of individual success. We had small victories with kids who were able to stay healthy and kids winning more college matches than they ever had. I wasn’t happy with the team wins and losses, but there was enough individual success and improvement that I considered it a successful year.”
As Pacific moves into the 2009-10 season, the Boxers will benefit from the luxury of over doubling the roster while continuing to build around a core of returners that have bought into a new style of training. Walsh has put a heavy emphasis on strength training and living lifestyles that make is easier for his charges to maintain their competitive weights.
On top of that, newcomers and returners alike are showing the aptitude to improve every time they step onto the mat. “Our returners all have great attitudes, but the new kids have all jumped on board and it’s almost like they’ve been here for a while,” Walsh said. “It’s nice to have a good group of guys that all want to get better and all have goals of becoming All-Americans or national champions.”
The most important change, however, comes in the depth of the roster. With wrestlers available at all 10 weight classes, Walsh sees great chances for team successes in both dual meets and the invitational settings. “This year we won’t give up 18 points automatically when we start the dual off,” Walsh said. “There were matches last year where if we hadn’t given up 18 points that we could have won.”
125 POUNDS
John Cushman (So., Lakewood, Wash.) returns for his second season on the
mat. A three-sport athlete who will be well conditioned after a season
of cross country, Cushman was one of the biggest surprises of the 2008-09
season. Pressed into service as the starter at 125 pounds, Cushman won
eight matches despite being overmatched in both size and strength.
It was Cushman’s heart, conditioning and attitude that kept him in matches, and now a summer of strength training should make him even more competitive. “He has added a considerable amount of strength. It won’t be an issue for him,” Walsh said. “He’s wrestling well and wrestling with a great deal of confidence.”
Cushman will be pushed, however, by a very talented newcomer in Zach Binkerd (Fr., Hillsboro, Ore.). A four-time Oregon state meet participant and two-time runner-up at 119 pounds, Binkerd amassed 106 victories as a prep wrestler and is perhaps the most highly touted recruit to come to Pacific this season. Binkerd is the son of Kevin Binkerd, a Pacific Hall of Famer. “Zach has been a great addition,” Walsh said. “His attitude and his drive to get better means that he has a bright future at Pacific.”
133
POUNDS
One of two seniors on the roster, Andrew Wolfe (Sr., Milwaukie, Ore.) is
eager to have his best season yet. Wolfe finished with 13 victories last
year, his most as a collegian, and was one of three Pacific wrestlers to
win five dual matches. This season, Wolfe has dedicated himself to doing
what he can to enjoy success all the way to the regional tournament.
“Andrew is considerably more focused in his last year of wrestling,” Walsh said. “He is wrestling real well right now. He has bought into the way that we are training now at Pacific."
141 POUNDS
Pacific will turn to another highly touted newcomer to fill the void at
141 pounds. Seth Honl (Fr., Scappoose, Ore.) was a two-time Oregon state
champion at 125 and 130 pounds in addition to being a four-time state meet
qualifier. Honl finished third at last year’s state tournament at 135 pounds
while amassing an impressive 44-1 record.
Walsh is excited for Honl’s potential as a Pacific athlete, especially considering his success in the prep ranks. “He’s the kind of kid whose not training to make the team or to be the best wrestler at Pacific. He’s training to be an All-American and national champion.”
149 POUNDS
Pacific will enjoy having two returners competing for the starting spot
at 149 pounds. Kody Kramer (Jr., Oroville, Wash.) led the Boxers with 15
victories last year, wrestling all of his matches at 157 pounds. Like many
of his teammates, Kramer spent much of the off-season dedicated to strength
training and looks poised to have a breakout season.
“Kody has improved a ton,” Walsh said. “He has bought into the strength training. It will be interesting to see what he can do at a weight that he probably should have been at last year.”
Andy Duncan (So., Everett, Wash.) will add depth at 149 pounds after getting a season of experience as a freshman. Pressed into a starting role last year at 141 pounds, Duncan won four matches and was a starter in all 14 dual matches. Junior transfer Trent Jones (Jr., Winlock, Wash.) adds additional depth after two seasons at Clackamas Community College.
157 POUNDS
Lane Wiltshire (So., Eagle Creek, Ore.) will focus on work at 157 pounds
after competing for the Boxers at three different weight classes as a freshman.
Wiltshire filled holes at 165 pounds, 174 pounds and 184 pounds and finished
with four victories.
Ken Hyland (Fr., Medford, Ore.) will also compete at 157 pounds. Hyland was a four-year standout in high school and a two-time state placer, wrestling to a fourth place finish at 160 pounds at the 2009 championships.
165
POUNDS
The other senior on the roster, Nathan Shay (Sr., Gresham, Ore.) is looking
to finish with his best season in red and black. Shay finished with nine
wins as a junior, splitting his matches between 165 pounds and 174 pounds.
Shay is also expected to reap the benefits of dedicated off-season of strength
training.
“Nathan has dedicated the past year to making himself stronger,” Walsh said. “Physically he is stronger than he ever has been and he has made a lot of improvements to his wrestling form.”
174 POUNDS
After two seasons wrestling at both 197 pounds and heavyweight, Jordan
Branson (Jr., Sheridan, Ore.) has made quite a change to his lifestyle
and his wrestling. Branson has bought in to Walsh’s program of strength
training and changing lifestyles to make himself a better wrestler. The
transition has been dramatic as Branson will now wrestle at a lean-and-mean
174 pounds. He may also see some time competing at 184 pounds.
184 POUNDS
Cole Banta (Fr., Astoria, Ore.) enters with a chance to earn the Boxers’
regular spot at 184 pounds. Banta also comes to Pacific with a strong prep
pedigree, qualifying for the state championships each of the last two years
and finishing third in 2009 at 189 pounds. Walsh sees potential for Banta
to far in his college career.
“He physically has all of the tools,” Walsh said. “If we can get him to be believe in himself and his ability, he can go far. His body type, attitude and mental toughness will take him a long way.”
197 POUNDS
A pair of newcomers will anchor the 197-pound class. Nik Streng (Fr., Honolulu,
Hawaii) will wrestle down to the weight class after spending his prep career
at 215 pounds. Streng finished third at the 2008 Hawaii state championships.
“Nik is a well-rounded athlete and student and has been a great addition
to the room,” Walsh said.
Ron Neu (Fr., Tillamook, Ore.) will join Streng at the weight class. Neu cut down to 189 pounds after wrestling at 215 pounds as a freshman. The move was successful as Neu qualified for the Oregon state meet three times and finished sixth in 2008 at 171 pounds. Walsh believes that Neu will have a bright future once he overcomes some injuries.
285 POUNDS
With Branson’s move to 174 pounds, the Boxers will look to Chris McLinden
(Fr., Redwood City, Calif.) to anchor the Boxers at heavyweight. McLinden
will have a steep learning curve after sitting out injured for the last
two years of his high school career. He amassed a 15-3 record as a sophomore,
which included 13 pins.