University of Minnesota Athletics
2002-2003 Golden Gopher Wrestling Season Outlook
11/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
| Head Coach J Robinson |
It's a bygone era. But why can't Minnesota revive that era? After the Golden Gophers won the 2001 NCAA title, many of the wrestling pundits called Minnesota a fluke. But the Maroon and Gold stormed through the 2002 season with utter disregard for their opponents and for the experts' opinions. Minnesota went 19-0 a season ago and captured the National Duals, Big Ten and national championships with relative ease. The consecutive titles showed the wrestling world that there's a new kid on the block and he's not about to be pushed around by the established bullies. The Golden Gophers proved they belong on the same stage as the Hawkeyes, the Cowboys, the Sooners and the Cyclones.
"To win those national titles is validation that we are doing things the right way," Head Coach J Robinson said. "We would like to be able to continue this tradition and build ourselves up to where people talk about us in the same light as Oklahoma State or Iowa as they have in the past."
The Golden Gophers have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in college wrestling. The proof for that contention lies in the credentials earned by the 2002-03 edition of Minnesota wrestling: two returning NCAA individual champions, one national runner-up, five All-Americans and seven NCAA qualifiers, a preseason No. 1 ranking, a top 20-ranked recruiting class and all the intangibles that are needed to earn the program's third consecutive national title.
The cast of characters that will wear the Maroon and Gold during the 2002-03 season hold impressive resumes, to say the least. The experience is there. The talent is unquestioned. The will to win is unmatched. The goals never change for Golden Gopher wrestling - win every match, meet, tournament and event by as many points as possible.
125
The University of Minnesota says farewell to its adoptive son, three-time All-American and 2002 Big Ten Champion Leroy Vega. The fan favorite from Portage, Ind., saw his career as a Golden Gopher come to a close in a most unlikely and emotionally-trying fashion at the 2002 NCAA Championships. Attempting to become only the second four-time All-American in school history, Vega was eliminated after four matches.
Replacing Vega will not be an easy task, but the Minnesota coaching staff believes they may have found a wrestler to gradually fill the shoes left at the 125-pound starting position. A transfer from Iowa Central Community College, Bob Lowe joins the Golden Gophers as a sophomore in 2002-03. The starting job is his to begin the season with two freshmen on the roster as the other 125-pounders.
Lowe comes to Minnesota as a 2001 National Junior College Champ at Iowa Central CC, a three time Missouri State Champ at Oak Grove HS and the holder of a 141-15 overall prep mark.
"Lowe obviously has big shoes to fill," Assistant Coach Mark Schwab said. "Although he's competing on a whole new level, he has a history of winning. It's just a matter of time before he adjusts to Division I wrestling."
Backing up Lowe as freshmen this season are Andrew Strand and Andrew Domingues. The lanky and athletic Strand has worked hard in the wrestling room to earn the respect of his teammates and his return to the roster this season is a welcome one. Domingues comes to Gold Country from Santa Maria, Calif. A fourth-place finisher at 112 pounds at the 2002 High School Nationals, Domingues will provide the Golden Gophers with needed depth at the 125-pound spot.
133
In the humble opinion of a good number of people, Ryan Lewis was robbed of the 2002 133-pound national title at the NCAA Championships in Albany, N.Y. But, the senior from Vernal, Utah isn't bitter. He now has that extra motivation to build on his memorable 2001-02 season and cap his eventful career with the one title that eludes him - NCAA Champion.
| Senior Ryan Lewis |
"Lewis has two big strengths," Assistant Coach Joe Russell said. "First, he's the strongest man in the world. Second, he wrestles harder than anyone. Losing in the finals last year has been an unbelievable driving force for him in the offseason. He'll use that loss as extra motivation in the upcoming season."
Behind Lewis, two true freshmen will use the 2002-03 campaign to gain experience, strength and knowledge for future use in the starting lineup. Quincy Osborn, a native of Grand Rapids, Minn., becomes a Golden Gopher after a standout prep career. A two-time Minnesota State Champion, Osborn went undefeated in his senior season at Grand Rapids High School.
Will Holst also comes to Minnesota as a strong wrestler at 133 pounds. A two-time Wisconsin State Champion at Prescott High School, Holst compiled a 131-9 overall prep record and was named a 2002 High School All-American by Amateur Wrestling News at 119 pounds.
141
The Golden Gophers lose another multiple All-America honoree at 141 pounds as Chad Erikson graduated after finishing seventh last season at NCAAs. Erikson, a four-year starter for the Maroon and Gold, will be difficult to replace. The task of taking over the 141-pound spot will be on the hands of either junior Trent Hatlevig or redshirt freshman Tommy Owen. With a decisive wrestle-off looming in the near future, the preseason workouts in the Minnesota wrestling room have been tense between the potential starters.
"It's really close between Hatlevig and Owen, but that's an advantage for the team," Head Assistant Coach Marty Morgan said. "They push each other to develop and grow. By the end of the season, either guy could be vying for All-America honors."
Hatlevig looks to take over the role vacated by Erikson with the important experience he gained last season in a back-up position. Hatlevig went 13-10 overall in 2002-03, including a 5-5 mark in duals and a 3-3 record in the Big Ten. One of the hardest workers on the team, Hatlevig has shown a never-say-die attitude on the mat and a lighthearted look on life off the mat.
Owen redshirted the 2001-02 season compiling a 7-2 overall record and fighting injuries for much of the season. A power-packed wrestler, Owen joined the Maroon and Gold as a top 50 recruit. He looks to use the upcoming campaign to prove he deserved the attention.
The coaching staff expects the battle for the 141-pound starting spot to be hard-fought, but no matter the outcome of the competition, the team will be in good hands with either Hatlevig or Owen wrestling in the starting lineup.
149
Jared Lawrence won the 149-pound national title last year and he didn't even need to face his nemesis - Iowa's Mike Zadick. Lawrence went 34-3 in 2001-02 with all of his losses coming to the Hawkeye, including the Big Ten Championship bout. Zadick was installed as the clear favorite entering the NCAA Championships, but luck shined on the Golden Gophers as Zadick was upset in the quarterfinals, allowing Lawrence a clear path to the national title.
| Senior Jared Lawrence |
"He's the guy that dreams of winning 24-7," Robinson said. "Lawrence lives and dies through wrestling. In addition to his outstanding ability and will to succeed, he's a vocal leader in the wrestling room for us. Watching him win the NCAA title last season was a fulfilling event, knowing what he puts into his wrestling, day in and day out."
This season, the back-up role falls to sophomore Jake Avre. A muscular and solid grappler, Avre pushes himself daily in the wrestling room. This season, he looks to possibly see time in dual meets, giving Lawrence a day off here and there.
Following Avre, two more true freshmen join the Maroon and Gold this season in the 149-pound weight class. Danny Williams comes to Minnesota as a two-time Indiana State Champion. A native of Indianapolis, Williams broke his leg in December 2001 and returned to later become a 2002 High School All-American. Williams brings an athletic and talented form of wrestling to the Golden Gophers in 2002-03.
Dayton, Minn., native Thomas McAlpine also comes to Gold Country as a 2002 Minnesota State Champion at Elk River High School. He posted a 46-0 mark in his senior season and recorded 85 pins during his prep career, so clearly McAlpine has the attitude and skill to compete for the Golden Gophers.
157
Could Luke Becker have made his path to the 2002 NCAA crown more exciting? First, in the semifinals, Becker dropped Yoshi Nakamura of Penn in a breathtaking overtime match for his first victory over the second-ranked 157-pounder. Then, Becker drew Nebraska's Bryan Snyder in the championship match. Coming into the bout, the Golden Gopher held a 1-5 career mark against the top-ranked Husker. Becker scored the all-important first points of the bout and used those markers to take the advantage in the tiebreaker after a scoreless overtime. Snyder had no chance to keep the Golden Gopher down. Four seconds into overtime, Becker matched that feat, making his wrestling dreams come true.
Like Lawrence, Becker enters the 2002-03 campaign as the nation's top-ranked 157-pound wrestler and the clear-cut favorite for the title. His big-move, attacking, non-stop wrestling style will be in full force again this season with a target on his back as opponents shoot to knock off the national champion. The hunger is still there to become an NCAA champ. The road to the top of the collegiate wrestling world is never easy, but if any Golden Gopher has the tools to attain two straight national crowns and a fourth consecutive All-America citation, it's Luke Becker.
| Senior Luke Becker |
Unlike several other weight classes, the 157-pound position boasts several experienced and talented wrestlers to back-up an established starter. Second on the depth chart behind Becker is redshirt freshman Matt Nagel, one of the most decorated wrestlers in Minnesota high school history. Coming out of high school, Nagel was the fourth-best recruit in the nation, a three-time Junior National Greco-Roman Champ, and a record five-time Minnesota State Champion. He compiled a 7-3 overall record in 2001-02 as he fought injuries for part of the season, limiting his competition time. In the offseason, Nagel took first place in Greco-Roman at 69 kg and was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the 2002 FILA Junior World Team Trials.
Nagel will provide Becker and the squad with a stellar talent in the wrestling room and beyond. He looks to jump into the competition role in dual meets this season to gain experience for his bright future. A strong and athletic wrestler, the coaching staff expects big things from the second-year 157-pounder this season and in years to come. Sophomore Tyler Marr returns to the Golden Gophers this season with another year of experience under his belt. After an 8-8 season in 2001-02, Marr will look for additional experience at 157 pounds. Rounding out the 157 pounders is Jon Tyler, a redshirt freshman from Sheboygan, Wis.
165
The second big battle for the starting spot takes place at 165 pounds for the Golden Gophers in 2002-03. Like 141 pounds, two talented wrestlers will wrestle-off this fall for the coveted role. Junior Jacob Volkmann moves to his natural weight after spending the past two seasons at 174 pounds. The 2001 All-American had a bittersweet 2001-02 season, going 29-9 overall and taking third place at the Big Ten Championships to qualify for his second NCAA tournament. However, Volkmann suffered the same fate as Vega and was eliminated after four matches at the national meet, missing his chance to grab a second All-America honor in as many years.
With his disappointing finish to last season, Volkmann opens this season with a newfound drive to succeed at his new weight class. A deceptively strong wrestler, Volkmann is nearly impossible to beat in the top position with his incredible hand and wrist strength. This season looks like Volkmann's chance to once again quiet the doubters and gain the national accolades that the coaches fully expect from him.
"By allowing Volkmann to drop a weight class, we're giving him a chance to be more selfish because 165 pounds is his natural wrestling weight," Morgan said. "He's going to be even scarier than he was at 174."
| Junior Jacob Volkmann |
"Last year, Baker was the team's freshman of the year and he already has varsity experience," Morgan said. "It's certain he will be a future leader."
A dark horse candidate for starting time at 165 pounds is senior Mitch Marr. A native of Wyoming, Minn., Marr went 5-4 last season and now looks to cap off his career with substantial time in dual meets and tournaments. Considering his family's wrestling pedigree, one would be wise not to count out this Golden Gopher.
174
With Volkmann's weight switch to 165 pounds, the 174-pound starting role is in the hands of talented underclassmen. Returning with substantial experience in the weight class is sophomore Josh McLay. A Hastings, Minn., native, McLay posted an overall record of 18-7 last season and showed flashes of the promise that the Minnesota coaches expect to see. A hard-nosed and solidly-built athlete, McLay was a three-time Minnesota State Champion and a 2000 Junior National Champion in both styles. He used his past two seasons to add some muscle, in addition to valuable mat experience, to position himself for a shot at the starting lineup.
"McLay has had to learn patience because he has had to sit behind some guys for a couple of years," Schwab said. "This year will be his chance to show he has been training and working hard to hone his skills on the mat."
Dropping out of the fight for the 174-pound spot is senior John Hardy who has been medically disqualified with back and neck injuries. A native of Princeton, Ind., Hardy went 16-7 last season wrestling at 165 pounds.
Joining the fray to compete for competition time this season is sophomore Casey Flaherty. He went 6-5 last season and hopes to gain additional time on the mat in 2002-03. Rounding out the 174-pounders is freshman Cesar Marin. Hailing from Baldwin Park, Calif., Marin joins the Golden Gophers after a solid prep career at Earnest Righetti High School.
184
It's Damion Hahn's turn to shine in 2002-03. After two solid All-American seasons, it's time for the highly-touted wrestler from New Jersey to take the next step in his career and make his mark on the national scene. In his freshman season, he went 35-7 and took third and fifth at Big Tens and NCAAs, respectively.
Last season, Hahn compiled a 30-10 overall mark and won the 184-pound conference title. He had a bit of a letdown at NCAAs, however, placing fifth again for his second All-America honor. Despite nagging injuries which may keep him out of the starting lineup early on this season, Hahn is ready to step up and meet his lofty potential. An extremely talented wrestler with the ability to pull off all sorts of maneuvers, Hahn looks at the 2002-03 season as his chance to reach his goals and expectations for his career.
"At the end of last season, Hahn showed a lot of improvement, and we hope he will continue to improve," Robinson said. "He plans to win a national title and one would be smart to not bet against that happening during his career. Seeing Lawrence's and Becker's success last year has given Hahn new motivation to win."
Playing backup to Hahn is sophomore Drew Hageman, a native of Newberg, Ore. An all-around athlete, Hageman had a remarkable offseason, taking second place in Greco-Roman and fourth place in freestyle at the 2002 FILA Junior World Team Trials. With that experience, Hageman looks to compete for more time on the mat this season.
Minnesota welcomes Mike Schmidt to the squad in 2002-03 at 184 pounds. The freshman from Hartford, Wis., was a two-time Wisconsin state placewinner.
197
Gone is the imposing and hard-working two-time All-American Owen Elzen at 197 pounds. Elzen closed out his career with another inspiring season, going 35-5 and capturing his first Big Ten title with a rousing 9-8 win over Ohio State's Nick Preston in the championship match. He followed that performance up with a strong showing at NCAAs, going 4-2 to take fourth place in his final collegiate event. The Golden Gophers don't expect to fill the void left by Elzen the person, but the coaching staff believes Minnesota has the wrestlers in place to replace Elzen the competitor.
The 197-pound starting position will be another spot contested by talented and experienced grapplers. Joining the Golden Gophers as a junior transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, Jacob Lininger comes to Minnesota with the expectation to immediately start for the Maroon and Gold. At Pitt, Lininger went 33-11 overall last season and finished second at the EWL Championships to qualify for his first NCAA tournament. In the 2002-03 campaign, Lininger, a native of Dillburg, Pa., hopes to fill the spot left by Elzen with his first All-America performance. The coaches know that Lininger brings with him an athletic style of wrestling that will be well-received at the U.
Eli Ross had a baptism by fire in his first season of collegiate wrestling in the 2000-01 season. The imposing 197-pounder's first match as a starter in a dual meet came against eventual 2001 NCAA Champion Mark Munoz of Oklahoma State. Ross was pinned in 5:30, but the experienced he gained in that match and for the remainder of the season was invaluable. Ross spent much of his freshman year filling in for Elzen, who tore his ACL midway through the season. The Owatonna, Minn., native went 15-13 that season before redshirting last year. Ross went 12-5 competing unattached in 2001-02 and now hopes to break back into the starting lineup on his own terms. A physically-intimidating grappler, Ross knows his chance is now to make his mark as a Golden Gopher.
Redshirt freshman Chad Mentel rounds out the 197 pound position for Minnesota. The Austin, Minn., native compiled a 7-8 record in his freshman year.
"It's a close three-way race for the starting job," Russell said. "There's a great tradition at 197 with role models to look up to. Any of these guys should be able to step in and exceed expectations that have been set by those before them."
HWT
Heavyweight Garrett Lowney came to the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1998. Four autumns later and the Freedom, Wis., native is still only a junior. After the typical redshirt year in 1998-99, Lowney took an additional redshirt season to train for the U.S. Olympic team. It paid off as he went on to surprise the international wrestling community with a bronze medal in Greco-Roman at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Lowney then quickly went to work adding weight and switching styles for his first season as a starter at Minnesota. He proved he could make the switch with relative ease, capturing the 2001 Big Ten heavyweight title and earning his first All-America honor with a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Last season, Lowney earned his second All-America citation, taking fifth place at NCAAs. In the offseason, he went back to the national and international Greco-Roman scene, winning the 96 kg U.S. Nationals and the World Team Trials crowns to qualify for the World Championships.
| Junior Garrett Lowney |
"Getting past the national semis will be important in Lowney's quest to reach his ultimate goal in collegiate wrestling," Morgan said. "Heavyweight is one of the toughest weight classes in the NCAA. Lowney needs to be really focused in order to succeed."
Joining the Golden Gophers as a true freshman this season at heavyweight is Cole Konrad. A graduate of Freedom High School (Lowney's prep alma mater), Konrad represents Minnesota's typically-sized heavyweight. Konrad comes to Gold Country as a 2002 Wisconsin State champ and a 2002 Junior National Champ in both styles. With his experience and talent, Lowney will have a worthy work-out partner in the wrestling room this season and beyond.
Schedule
Once again, Minnesota's schedule has all the makings of one of the toughest campaigns in the nation as the Golden Gophers face several national wrestling powers throughout the season. The Maroon and Gold kicks off the 2002-03 season on November 15 with a non-conference battle with arch-rival Iowa in the Minnesota vs. Iowa Showdown at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The non-conference season also includes a match-up with perennial national contender Oklahoma State on January 3 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The Big Ten season will once again test the mettle of the Maroon and Gold with the Border Brawl against Iowa on February 14 in Iowa City looming on the schedule. The Golden Gophers host seven dual meets this season. It will be another tough road to conference and national glory, but the Golden Gophers are truly up to the task.
"When we weren't good, we still wrestled the best teams," Robinson said. "It just proves that if you wrestle the best, you'll get to be the best. The tough schedule prepares your team for the national championships."
"In the first, and even the second year, you go out and win, and everyone is happy for you," Robinson added. "In the third year, you're one of the bad guys and everyone wants to knock you off. We need a different way to win this year."
| Head Coach J Robinson |
It's a bygone era. But why can't Minnesota revive that era? After the Golden Gophers won the 2001 NCAA title, many of the wrestling pundits called Minnesota a fluke. But the Maroon and Gold stormed through the 2002 season with utter disregard for their opponents and for the experts' opinions. Minnesota went 19-0 a season ago and captured the National Duals, Big Ten and national championships with relative ease. The consecutive titles showed the wrestling world that there's a new kid on the block and he's not about to be pushed around by the established bullies. The Golden Gophers proved they belong on the same stage as the Hawkeyes, the Cowboys, the Sooners and the Cyclones.
"To win those national titles is validation that we are doing things the right way," Head Coach J Robinson said. "We would like to be able to continue this tradition and build ourselves up to where people talk about us in the same light as Oklahoma State or Iowa as they have in the past."
The Golden Gophers have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in college wrestling. The proof for that contention lies in the credentials earned by the 2002-03 edition of Minnesota wrestling: two returning NCAA individual champions, one national runner-up, five All-Americans and seven NCAA qualifiers, a preseason No. 1 ranking, a top 20-ranked recruiting class and all the intangibles that are needed to earn the program's third consecutive national title.
The cast of characters that will wear the Maroon and Gold during the 2002-03 season hold impressive resumes, to say the least. The experience is there. The talent is unquestioned. The will to win is unmatched. The goals never change for Golden Gopher wrestling - win every match, meet, tournament and event by as many points as possible.
125
The University of Minnesota says farewell to its adoptive son, three-time All-American and 2002 Big Ten Champion Leroy Vega. The fan favorite from Portage, Ind., saw his career as a Golden Gopher come to a close in a most unlikely and emotionally-trying fashion at the 2002 NCAA Championships. Attempting to become only the second four-time All-American in school history, Vega was eliminated after four matches.
Replacing Vega will not be an easy task, but the Minnesota coaching staff believes they may have found a wrestler to gradually fill the shoes left at the 125-pound starting position. A transfer from Iowa Central Community College, Bob Lowe joins the Golden Gophers as a sophomore in 2002-03. The starting job is his to begin the season with two freshmen on the roster as the other 125-pounders.
Lowe comes to Minnesota as a 2001 National Junior College Champ at Iowa Central CC, a three time Missouri State Champ at Oak Grove HS and the holder of a 141-15 overall prep mark.
"Lowe obviously has big shoes to fill," Assistant Coach Mark Schwab said. "Although he's competing on a whole new level, he has a history of winning. It's just a matter of time before he adjusts to Division I wrestling."
Backing up Lowe as freshmen this season are Andrew Strand and Andrew Domingues. The lanky and athletic Strand has worked hard in the wrestling room to earn the respect of his teammates and his return to the roster this season is a welcome one. Domingues comes to Gold Country from Santa Maria, Calif. A fourth-place finisher at 112 pounds at the 2002 High School Nationals, Domingues will provide the Golden Gophers with needed depth at the 125-pound spot.
133
In the humble opinion of a good number of people, Ryan Lewis was robbed of the 2002 133-pound national title at the NCAA Championships in Albany, N.Y. But, the senior from Vernal, Utah isn't bitter. He now has that extra motivation to build on his memorable 2001-02 season and cap his eventful career with the one title that eludes him - NCAA Champion.
| Senior Ryan Lewis |
"Lewis has two big strengths," Assistant Coach Joe Russell said. "First, he's the strongest man in the world. Second, he wrestles harder than anyone. Losing in the finals last year has been an unbelievable driving force for him in the offseason. He'll use that loss as extra motivation in the upcoming season."
Behind Lewis, two true freshmen will use the 2002-03 campaign to gain experience, strength and knowledge for future use in the starting lineup. Quincy Osborn, a native of Grand Rapids, Minn., becomes a Golden Gopher after a standout prep career. A two-time Minnesota State Champion, Osborn went undefeated in his senior season at Grand Rapids High School.
Will Holst also comes to Minnesota as a strong wrestler at 133 pounds. A two-time Wisconsin State Champion at Prescott High School, Holst compiled a 131-9 overall prep record and was named a 2002 High School All-American by Amateur Wrestling News at 119 pounds.
141
The Golden Gophers lose another multiple All-America honoree at 141 pounds as Chad Erikson graduated after finishing seventh last season at NCAAs. Erikson, a four-year starter for the Maroon and Gold, will be difficult to replace. The task of taking over the 141-pound spot will be on the hands of either junior Trent Hatlevig or redshirt freshman Tommy Owen. With a decisive wrestle-off looming in the near future, the preseason workouts in the Minnesota wrestling room have been tense between the potential starters.
"It's really close between Hatlevig and Owen, but that's an advantage for the team," Head Assistant Coach Marty Morgan said. "They push each other to develop and grow. By the end of the season, either guy could be vying for All-America honors."
Hatlevig looks to take over the role vacated by Erikson with the important experience he gained last season in a back-up position. Hatlevig went 13-10 overall in 2002-03, including a 5-5 mark in duals and a 3-3 record in the Big Ten. One of the hardest workers on the team, Hatlevig has shown a never-say-die attitude on the mat and a lighthearted look on life off the mat.
Owen redshirted the 2001-02 season compiling a 7-2 overall record and fighting injuries for much of the season. A power-packed wrestler, Owen joined the Maroon and Gold as a top 50 recruit. He looks to use the upcoming campaign to prove he deserved the attention.
The coaching staff expects the battle for the 141-pound starting spot to be hard-fought, but no matter the outcome of the competition, the team will be in good hands with either Hatlevig or Owen wrestling in the starting lineup.
149
Jared Lawrence won the 149-pound national title last year and he didn't even need to face his nemesis - Iowa's Mike Zadick. Lawrence went 34-3 in 2001-02 with all of his losses coming to the Hawkeye, including the Big Ten Championship bout. Zadick was installed as the clear favorite entering the NCAA Championships, but luck shined on the Golden Gophers as Zadick was upset in the quarterfinals, allowing Lawrence a clear path to the national title.
| Senior Jared Lawrence |
"He's the guy that dreams of winning 24-7," Robinson said. "Lawrence lives and dies through wrestling. In addition to his outstanding ability and will to succeed, he's a vocal leader in the wrestling room for us. Watching him win the NCAA title last season was a fulfilling event, knowing what he puts into his wrestling, day in and day out."
This season, the back-up role falls to sophomore Jake Avre. A muscular and solid grappler, Avre pushes himself daily in the wrestling room. This season, he looks to possibly see time in dual meets, giving Lawrence a day off here and there.
Following Avre, two more true freshmen join the Maroon and Gold this season in the 149-pound weight class. Danny Williams comes to Minnesota as a two-time Indiana State Champion. A native of Indianapolis, Williams broke his leg in December 2001 and returned to later become a 2002 High School All-American. Williams brings an athletic and talented form of wrestling to the Golden Gophers in 2002-03.
Dayton, Minn., native Thomas McAlpine also comes to Gold Country as a 2002 Minnesota State Champion at Elk River High School. He posted a 46-0 mark in his senior season and recorded 85 pins during his prep career, so clearly McAlpine has the attitude and skill to compete for the Golden Gophers.
157
Could Luke Becker have made his path to the 2002 NCAA crown more exciting? First, in the semifinals, Becker dropped Yoshi Nakamura of Penn in a breathtaking overtime match for his first victory over the second-ranked 157-pounder. Then, Becker drew Nebraska's Bryan Snyder in the championship match. Coming into the bout, the Golden Gopher held a 1-5 career mark against the top-ranked Husker. Becker scored the all-important first points of the bout and used those markers to take the advantage in the tiebreaker after a scoreless overtime. Snyder had no chance to keep the Golden Gopher down. Four seconds into overtime, Becker matched that feat, making his wrestling dreams come true.
Like Lawrence, Becker enters the 2002-03 campaign as the nation's top-ranked 157-pound wrestler and the clear-cut favorite for the title. His big-move, attacking, non-stop wrestling style will be in full force again this season with a target on his back as opponents shoot to knock off the national champion. The hunger is still there to become an NCAA champ. The road to the top of the collegiate wrestling world is never easy, but if any Golden Gopher has the tools to attain two straight national crowns and a fourth consecutive All-America citation, it's Luke Becker.
| Senior Luke Becker |
Unlike several other weight classes, the 157-pound position boasts several experienced and talented wrestlers to back-up an established starter. Second on the depth chart behind Becker is redshirt freshman Matt Nagel, one of the most decorated wrestlers in Minnesota high school history. Coming out of high school, Nagel was the fourth-best recruit in the nation, a three-time Junior National Greco-Roman Champ, and a record five-time Minnesota State Champion. He compiled a 7-3 overall record in 2001-02 as he fought injuries for part of the season, limiting his competition time. In the offseason, Nagel took first place in Greco-Roman at 69 kg and was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the 2002 FILA Junior World Team Trials.
Nagel will provide Becker and the squad with a stellar talent in the wrestling room and beyond. He looks to jump into the competition role in dual meets this season to gain experience for his bright future. A strong and athletic wrestler, the coaching staff expects big things from the second-year 157-pounder this season and in years to come. Sophomore Tyler Marr returns to the Golden Gophers this season with another year of experience under his belt. After an 8-8 season in 2001-02, Marr will look for additional experience at 157 pounds. Rounding out the 157 pounders is Jon Tyler, a redshirt freshman from Sheboygan, Wis.
165
The second big battle for the starting spot takes place at 165 pounds for the Golden Gophers in 2002-03. Like 141 pounds, two talented wrestlers will wrestle-off this fall for the coveted role. Junior Jacob Volkmann moves to his natural weight after spending the past two seasons at 174 pounds. The 2001 All-American had a bittersweet 2001-02 season, going 29-9 overall and taking third place at the Big Ten Championships to qualify for his second NCAA tournament. However, Volkmann suffered the same fate as Vega and was eliminated after four matches at the national meet, missing his chance to grab a second All-America honor in as many years.
With his disappointing finish to last season, Volkmann opens this season with a newfound drive to succeed at his new weight class. A deceptively strong wrestler, Volkmann is nearly impossible to beat in the top position with his incredible hand and wrist strength. This season looks like Volkmann's chance to once again quiet the doubters and gain the national accolades that the coaches fully expect from him.
"By allowing Volkmann to drop a weight class, we're giving him a chance to be more selfish because 165 pounds is his natural wrestling weight," Morgan said. "He's going to be even scarier than he was at 174."
| Junior Jacob Volkmann |
"Last year, Baker was the team's freshman of the year and he already has varsity experience," Morgan said. "It's certain he will be a future leader."
A dark horse candidate for starting time at 165 pounds is senior Mitch Marr. A native of Wyoming, Minn., Marr went 5-4 last season and now looks to cap off his career with substantial time in dual meets and tournaments. Considering his family's wrestling pedigree, one would be wise not to count out this Golden Gopher.
174
With Volkmann's weight switch to 165 pounds, the 174-pound starting role is in the hands of talented underclassmen. Returning with substantial experience in the weight class is sophomore Josh McLay. A Hastings, Minn., native, McLay posted an overall record of 18-7 last season and showed flashes of the promise that the Minnesota coaches expect to see. A hard-nosed and solidly-built athlete, McLay was a three-time Minnesota State Champion and a 2000 Junior National Champion in both styles. He used his past two seasons to add some muscle, in addition to valuable mat experience, to position himself for a shot at the starting lineup.
"McLay has had to learn patience because he has had to sit behind some guys for a couple of years," Schwab said. "This year will be his chance to show he has been training and working hard to hone his skills on the mat."
Dropping out of the fight for the 174-pound spot is senior John Hardy who has been medically disqualified with back and neck injuries. A native of Princeton, Ind., Hardy went 16-7 last season wrestling at 165 pounds.
Joining the fray to compete for competition time this season is sophomore Casey Flaherty. He went 6-5 last season and hopes to gain additional time on the mat in 2002-03. Rounding out the 174-pounders is freshman Cesar Marin. Hailing from Baldwin Park, Calif., Marin joins the Golden Gophers after a solid prep career at Earnest Righetti High School.
184
It's Damion Hahn's turn to shine in 2002-03. After two solid All-American seasons, it's time for the highly-touted wrestler from New Jersey to take the next step in his career and make his mark on the national scene. In his freshman season, he went 35-7 and took third and fifth at Big Tens and NCAAs, respectively.
Last season, Hahn compiled a 30-10 overall mark and won the 184-pound conference title. He had a bit of a letdown at NCAAs, however, placing fifth again for his second All-America honor. Despite nagging injuries which may keep him out of the starting lineup early on this season, Hahn is ready to step up and meet his lofty potential. An extremely talented wrestler with the ability to pull off all sorts of maneuvers, Hahn looks at the 2002-03 season as his chance to reach his goals and expectations for his career.
"At the end of last season, Hahn showed a lot of improvement, and we hope he will continue to improve," Robinson said. "He plans to win a national title and one would be smart to not bet against that happening during his career. Seeing Lawrence's and Becker's success last year has given Hahn new motivation to win."
Playing backup to Hahn is sophomore Drew Hageman, a native of Newberg, Ore. An all-around athlete, Hageman had a remarkable offseason, taking second place in Greco-Roman and fourth place in freestyle at the 2002 FILA Junior World Team Trials. With that experience, Hageman looks to compete for more time on the mat this season.
Minnesota welcomes Mike Schmidt to the squad in 2002-03 at 184 pounds. The freshman from Hartford, Wis., was a two-time Wisconsin state placewinner.
197
Gone is the imposing and hard-working two-time All-American Owen Elzen at 197 pounds. Elzen closed out his career with another inspiring season, going 35-5 and capturing his first Big Ten title with a rousing 9-8 win over Ohio State's Nick Preston in the championship match. He followed that performance up with a strong showing at NCAAs, going 4-2 to take fourth place in his final collegiate event. The Golden Gophers don't expect to fill the void left by Elzen the person, but the coaching staff believes Minnesota has the wrestlers in place to replace Elzen the competitor.
The 197-pound starting position will be another spot contested by talented and experienced grapplers. Joining the Golden Gophers as a junior transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, Jacob Lininger comes to Minnesota with the expectation to immediately start for the Maroon and Gold. At Pitt, Lininger went 33-11 overall last season and finished second at the EWL Championships to qualify for his first NCAA tournament. In the 2002-03 campaign, Lininger, a native of Dillburg, Pa., hopes to fill the spot left by Elzen with his first All-America performance. The coaches know that Lininger brings with him an athletic style of wrestling that will be well-received at the U.
Eli Ross had a baptism by fire in his first season of collegiate wrestling in the 2000-01 season. The imposing 197-pounder's first match as a starter in a dual meet came against eventual 2001 NCAA Champion Mark Munoz of Oklahoma State. Ross was pinned in 5:30, but the experienced he gained in that match and for the remainder of the season was invaluable. Ross spent much of his freshman year filling in for Elzen, who tore his ACL midway through the season. The Owatonna, Minn., native went 15-13 that season before redshirting last year. Ross went 12-5 competing unattached in 2001-02 and now hopes to break back into the starting lineup on his own terms. A physically-intimidating grappler, Ross knows his chance is now to make his mark as a Golden Gopher.
Redshirt freshman Chad Mentel rounds out the 197 pound position for Minnesota. The Austin, Minn., native compiled a 7-8 record in his freshman year.
"It's a close three-way race for the starting job," Russell said. "There's a great tradition at 197 with role models to look up to. Any of these guys should be able to step in and exceed expectations that have been set by those before them."
HWT
Heavyweight Garrett Lowney came to the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1998. Four autumns later and the Freedom, Wis., native is still only a junior. After the typical redshirt year in 1998-99, Lowney took an additional redshirt season to train for the U.S. Olympic team. It paid off as he went on to surprise the international wrestling community with a bronze medal in Greco-Roman at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Lowney then quickly went to work adding weight and switching styles for his first season as a starter at Minnesota. He proved he could make the switch with relative ease, capturing the 2001 Big Ten heavyweight title and earning his first All-America honor with a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Last season, Lowney earned his second All-America citation, taking fifth place at NCAAs. In the offseason, he went back to the national and international Greco-Roman scene, winning the 96 kg U.S. Nationals and the World Team Trials crowns to qualify for the World Championships.
| Junior Garrett Lowney |
"Getting past the national semis will be important in Lowney's quest to reach his ultimate goal in collegiate wrestling," Morgan said. "Heavyweight is one of the toughest weight classes in the NCAA. Lowney needs to be really focused in order to succeed."
Joining the Golden Gophers as a true freshman this season at heavyweight is Cole Konrad. A graduate of Freedom High School (Lowney's prep alma mater), Konrad represents Minnesota's typically-sized heavyweight. Konrad comes to Gold Country as a 2002 Wisconsin State champ and a 2002 Junior National Champ in both styles. With his experience and talent, Lowney will have a worthy work-out partner in the wrestling room this season and beyond.
Schedule
Once again, Minnesota's schedule has all the makings of one of the toughest campaigns in the nation as the Golden Gophers face several national wrestling powers throughout the season. The Maroon and Gold kicks off the 2002-03 season on November 15 with a non-conference battle with arch-rival Iowa in the Minnesota vs. Iowa Showdown at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The non-conference season also includes a match-up with perennial national contender Oklahoma State on January 3 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The Big Ten season will once again test the mettle of the Maroon and Gold with the Border Brawl against Iowa on February 14 in Iowa City looming on the schedule. The Golden Gophers host seven dual meets this season. It will be another tough road to conference and national glory, but the Golden Gophers are truly up to the task.
"When we weren't good, we still wrestled the best teams," Robinson said. "It just proves that if you wrestle the best, you'll get to be the best. The tough schedule prepares your team for the national championships."
"In the first, and even the second year, you go out and win, and everyone is happy for you," Robinson added. "In the third year, you're one of the bad guys and everyone wants to knock you off. We need a different way to win this year."
