2009-10 season preview

New Recruits Join Solid Corps of Returners

Northwestern finished 20^th at the National Tournament last spring and finished with a 3-3 GPAC dual record and a 5-7 overall record in duals. Returning from last year’s squad are 2009 national qualifiers Matt Dowell, Levi Price, Martin Beeler, Nic Leither, and Brad Hughes. Also returning are former national qualifiers David Carter and Brian Heiberger. This season will also mark Head Coach Rik Dahl’s second season.

Coach Dahl has set up a challenging schedule for the grapplers. “We have set our schedule to feature a lot of mat time for the guys in some big tournaments. We are going to some great open tournaments and we have four non-conference duals this year against some of the top competition in the area.” Also included in the non-conference schedule are the National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa and the Red Raider Open in Orange City on Jan. 16^th.

This season, Northwestern combines an outstanding corps of returners with a very talented recruiting class. Northwestern added 11 recruits to their roster including wrestlers at 125 lbs. and 133 lbs., positions Northwestern forfeited in every dual last season.

Wrestling at 125 lbs. this season will be Angelo Quintana and Tyler Hatch. “We are ecstatic to have wrestlers at this weight, and these two have different styles, but both are fun to watch wrestle,” said coach Dahl.

Wrestling at 133 lbs. is Pedro Ruiz and Nathan Manfull. “Manfull is a grinder and Ruiz is shifty and slick, all four of our low weight guys are young, and we are excited to see their transition from the H.S. mat to the college mat,” commented Dahl.

Wrestling at 141 lbs. is Jerod Flores and Matt Dowell. “Dowell may drop to 133 lbs, but he comes in feeling like he has unfinished business after missing last year’s national tournament because of an injury,” said coach Dahl. “Flores is very technical with very good balance and ability. He has a great awareness of the mat and his hips, he doesn’t look like a freshman on the mat,” said Dahl.

Wrestling at 149 lbs. is Levi Price and Nate Halpin. Price is a captain of this year’s team and was an All-American in 2008. “Price has an in your face style and works hard to punish opponents,” said Dahl. Halpin is a two-time state champion in Colorado. Coach Dahl said, “Halpin knows how to win and wrestles an All-American every day, we are excited to see him wrestle in Red and make the jump to college wrestling.”

Wrestling at 157 lbs. is Martin Beeler, Brian Heiberger and Aaron Ruskell. “These three guys have been pushing each other since day one. Ruskell has been learning how to adjust to college wrestling while Beeler and Heiberger were national qualifiers in the past. We are excited to see how the battle at 157 plays out,” said Dahl.

Wrestling at 165 lbs. is Luke Evjen. “Evjen has a patient style but he is powerful and a very hard worker. We are excited to watching him compete. His approach to wrestling is a very fun/entertaining approach,” said Dahl.

Wrestling at 174 lbs. is Ethan Hackbarth. Hackbarth was an All-American at RCTC. “Hackbarth is very technical in how he approaches wrestling. He is always looking for ways to score points,” said Dahl.

Wrestling at 184 lbs. is David Carter. Carter qualified for the national tournament in 2008. “David is back with something to prove, he will beat guys at 184 who are bigger than him, he is a very smart wrestler who is a student of the sport,” said Dahl.

Wrestling at 197 lbs. is Nic Leither and Stanley Fleming. Leither was an All-American honorable mention last season. “Leither is stronger and bigger this season. He knows what it takes to succeed, loves to be challenged and wrestle the best and work hard in the wrestling room. We named him a captain as a sophomore because of his ability to keep things loose on the team and because he truly cares about his teammates,” said Dahl. Fleming is playing football for the Red Raider football team.

Wrestling at 285 lbs. is Zane Platt and Brad Hughes. “Platt wrestles like a middle-weight, not a typical heavy-weight. He and Hughes will give us two different successful styles at this position and we are excited to get them together on the mat,” said Dahl. Hughes is playing football for the Red Raider team.

The captains of the 2009-10 wrestling team are Levi Price, Brian Heiberger, and Nic Leither. All three have been national qualifiers during their career at Northwestern. Price and Leither have been All-Americans while Heiberger was one win away from being an All-American in 2007. “All three set the pace in the wrestling room. They are good role models in regards to work ethic and faith,” commented Dahl.

Northwestern has set high goals for themselves this season, including competing for a GPAC championship. “We would like to win every dual we wrestle and win the GPAC tourney,” said Dahl. “Nationally, we would like to finish in the top 10 and have 12 national qualifiers. We feel these are challenging but achievable goals.”

The Red Raiders are focusing their 2009-10 season on the verse from 1 Corinthians 16:13: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” Coach Dahl said, “If we can live out this verse, we will have success on and off the mat this season. That is what we are most looking forward to.”