Boxer wrestling looks to shift from building to winning

11/13/2007 9:28 AM - article care of Blake Timm, Sports Information Director - Pacific University

-Men's Wresting-

2007-08 Season Preview

FOREST GROVE - The primary objective for the 2007-08 Pacific men's wrestling team is no simpler than the age old mantra of Oakland Raiders' owner Al Davis: just win, baby.

The Boxers have taken their lumps over the last two seasons as Head Coach Scott Miller worked to build a line-up from the ground up. The Boxers went 5-11 in dual meets last season and finished 12th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with a starting slate that featured six underclassmen.

This year, Miller believes experience will be the difference between a repeat of the previous season and the success he believes is bound to come. Of the Boxers' projected starting lineup, only the heavyweight class is without a wrestler that has regional meet experience.

" We wanted to have a team that would move up with a lot of experience and feel like we have that team," Miller said. "For the first time, we will go into regionals and it won¹t be the first time for half of them."

As much as experience helps, however, Miller sees the key to winning in an emphasis in building mental toughness. The sixth-year head coach said he saw too many matches slip away last season because the young squad could not come out ahead in a number of one, two and three-point losses.

"This team is definitely much tougher than any that I have had here," Miller said. "That's important because we're not a team that is made up of racehorses. We are like an oxen team; we have to work. When you have that kind of team, mental toughness is important."

-125 pound class-
Pacific will turn to a pair of inexperienced, but capable wrestlers to anchor the team at their lightest weight. Ryan Kuroda (Sr., Beaverton,
Ore.) did not wrestle a match during the 2006-07 season, but wrestled in 16 matches his sophomore while competing behind all-region grappler Kevin Spangler. The fact that he has been out of the spotlight could make him a hidden threat.

"Ryan has flown under the radar, but he has gotten a lot of matches over the last couple of years," Miller said. "This is the year that we expect him to step up and be able to win matches for us."

Andrew Wolfe (So., Milwaukie, Ore.) will also look to make a name for himself after a series of injuries limited him to just two matches in his freshman season. A former Oregon high school state placer, his wide range of experience in the preps could translate into a starting spot. "We feel like Andrew is going to be really good," Miller said. "He was a tough luck case last year and he¹s chomping at the bit to get after it."

-133 pound class-
The departure of Spangler, who wrestled his final two years at 133 pounds, opens the door for Fausto Baltazar (Sr., Culver, Ore.) to re-prove himself. As a freshman, Baltazar surprised many when he finished fourth at the 2005 Great Lakes Regional despite a 2-8 record entering the meet.

Miller hopes that the weight of being a senior will help Baltazar return to form. "He's had a lot of matches over the last couple of years and now he needs to step up his game and win those tough matches," Miller said. "He is very important and he should anchor the lower weights. He is the oldest and he has the most success."

Blaine Shippy (Fr., Spokane, Wash.) also stands to contribute at both 125 and 133. Shippy qualified for the Washington state meet each of the last two seasons.

-141 pound class-
The Boxers will look to another senior, Trevor Arsenault (Sr., Newberg, Ore.) to continue building on a momentum-building campaign last year.
Arsenault finished with 11 wins in 2006-07, most of which came in January and February. Arsenault was 5-11 in duals and took home fourth place in his weight class at the Northwest Open, the first tournament placing of his college career.

"Trevor wrestled real well during the last half of January and February," Miller said. "This is a case again where we have someone with experience who we need wins from."

Meanwhile, Miller will look to build with a pair of high school teammates in Kody Kramer (Fr., Oroville, Wash.) and Matt Kostelnik (Fr., Oroville, Wash.). Kramer brings a record of success at the high school level, placing three times at the Washington state championships, including a second place finish in 2005. He transferred to Pacific after two years at the University of Washington.

³Kody transferred to Pacific simply for the fact that he wants to wrestle," Miller said. He's a very lanky wrestler, the type of kid who wants to win matches. We¹re happy to know that we¹re going to have him for four years."

Kostelnik also brings solid high school experience after winning the 130-pound class in the Washington 1A/2B state tournament last year. In 2006, Kostelnik finished fourth at 125 pounds.

-149 pound class-
The 149-pound class will be one of the Boxers' younger weight classes.
Nathan Shay (So., Gresham, Ore.) will be the starter at the weight for the second straight year. Shay wrestled 37 matches during his freshman season. While he only won nine matches, Shay has put a lot of effort in improving his strength and mental focus.

"We saw a lot of improvement in him technically last year, but where we saw some weakness in him was in his strength," Miller said. "He did a really good job in the off-season to build himself up. His strength has improved dramatically."

-157 pound class-
Justin Barden (Sr., Prineville, Ore.) came into his own as a junior and returns as the Boxers' top wrestler. Barden saw a 15-win improvement over his sophomore season, capturing 25 victories and placing at the Portland State Open.

Barden became much more technically sound after cracking the starting lineup and may be the Boxers' best chance of earning a national meet invitation. "He's a guy we're looking at for that nationals trip, so he needs to go out and win those big matches," Miller said. "We need him to place at tournaments and have a big year for us."

-165 pound class-
Bryson Vivas (So., Kahuku, Hawaii) is in line for a starting position in the lineup after seeing spot starting time as a freshman. Vivas won eight matches in a variety of weight classes, but showed promises of being a brilliant performer. "He's a sophomore, and we're very glad about that," Miller said. "He did a nice job in the off-season of working on his strength. We think that he is a guy that, once he puts things together, is probably going to be scary good."

-174 pound class-
Miller hopes that Marshall Cook (Jr., Canby, Ore.) will be able to turn the corner and be the team¹s performer at 174 pounds. Cook saw his sophomore season shortened by injuries but he gained a lot of valuable experience as a freshman while wrestling in 28 matches. "Marshall knows the program. He has a lot of matches underneath his belt," Miller said. "He's won close matches. We need to make sure that he opens the season on a roll and keep it going. He's a tough kid."

-184 pound class-
Matt Bowe (Jr., Bend, Ore.) continued his growth as a wrestler in his sophomore year, improving to 12 wins over just five as a freshman. Bowe continued to build his strength and is among the best on the team in holding his position on the mat. "He's a guy that we think will wrestle quite well this year," Miller said. "He's just a real solid wrestler. He wants to be good and he wants to win matches."

-197 pound class-
After having a potential breakout season shortened by injuries, Nick Locke (Jr., Tualatin, Ore.) will aim to build on his success at a new weight class. After two years competing as a 184-pounder, Locke will move up to 197 pounds. He won 13 matches last season and could stand to surpass the 20-win plateau as long as he stays out of injury trouble.

"Nick has got to wrestle smart to keep from getting injured," Miller said. "We have to make sure he stays compact and doesn't get into position where he can get hurt. But he has worked hard in the off-season to build himself up. He's going to have a good year."

-285 pound class-
With the departure of last year's regular starter, Mike Weir, the Boxers will be faced with a case of dual personalities at heavyweight. Miller plans to use C.J. Aalona (So., Hauula, Hawaii) later in the season after he saw some limited action at the weight as a freshman. "He did a good job for us in his limited matches," Miller said. "He was light then, but he is 20 pounds heavier and it's all strength. We think he will be real good for us."

In the meantime, Jordan Branson (Fr., Sheridan, Ore.) will have a chance to prove himself. Branson comes to Forest Grove as a three-time state qualifier and placed fourth in 2007 Oregon state championships at 215 pounds despite having mono. "Jordan has been a surprise for us," Miller said. "He is a kid who is deceptively quick and he can score on everyone in the room."

Pacific University Men's Wrestling
2007-08 Roster

Name Wt. Ht. Yr./Elig. Hometown (Previous School)
C.J. Aalona 197/285 5-11 So./So. Hauula, Hawaii (Kahuku)
Trevor Arsenault 141 5-9 Sr./Sr. Newberg, Ore. (Newberg)
Fausto Baltazar 133 5-5 Sr./Sr. Culver, Ore. (Culver)
Justin Barden 157/165 5-9 Sr./Sr. Prineville, Ore. (Crook Co.)
Chris Beechwood 125 5-1 Sr./Sr. Homer, Alaska (Marinette, Wis.)
Matt Bowe 174 5-10 Jr./Jr. Bend, Ore. (Bend)
Jordan Branson 197/285 5-8 Fr./Fr. Sheridan, Ore. (Sheridan)
Marshall Cook 165/174 5-10 Jr./Jr. Canby, Ore. (Canby)
Matt Kostelnik 133/141 5-3 Fr./Fr. Oroville, Wash. (Oroville)
Kody Kramer 141/149 5-9 Fr./Fr. Oroville, Wash. (Oroville)
Ryan Kuroda 125/133 5-4 Sr./Sr. Beaverton, Ore. (Beaverton)
Nick Locke 184 6-1 Jr./Jr. Tualatin, Ore. (West Linn)
Justin Phelps 125 5-6 So./So. Lanai City, Hawaii (Kamehameha)
Zach Rousslang 125/133 5-9 So./Fr. Gig Harbor, Wash. (Gig Harbor)
Joshua Sera 133 5-4 Fr./Fr. Los Angeles, Calif. (Salesian)
Nathan Shay 149 5-11 So./So. Gresham, Ore. (Centennial)
Blaine Shippy 125/133 5-8 Fr./Fr. Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park)
Bryson Vivas 157 5-9 So./So. Kahuku, Hawaii (Kahuku)
Andrew Wolfe 125 5-6 So./So. Milwaukie, Ore. (Milwaukie)

Head Coach: Scott Miller (6th Season/16th Season Overall) Assistant Head Coaches: Lewis Coy (4th Season), Jacob Pence (1st Season) Assistant Coaches: Kris Sherrill (1st Season), Kevin Spangler (1st Season)