2006-2007

UW-Parkside Wrestling

Season Outlook

The UW-Parkside wrestling team is entering the 2006-07 season.  Although the Rangers graduated three seniors with a career total of 256 wins among them, they have seven returning starters including a national champion and three other national qualifiers.  The team's success will depend largely on how fast the newcomers come along and the ability of the team to stay healthy.

Last year the Rangers posted a 6-1 dual meet record, with its only loss at the hands of the perennial NCAA II powerhouse, the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. The Rangers were ranked as high as tenth in the NCAA II national rankings and finished twelfth in the rankings and thirteenth in the NCAA II National Tournament.

Here is a roundup of the 2006-07 wrestling Rangers:

The 125-pound class is hotly contested.  With Craig DeGreef moving up to the 133 pounds there are four legitimate contenders at 125 pounds.  The most experienced is Matt Lentz, who has won 40 matches at the 133-pounds the past two years.  His success will depend on how he can handle the weight loss.  One redshirt freshman and two true freshmen will give him plenty of competition. Redshirt freshman Brandon Kircher had a fine high school career with a record of 119-29.  True freshman Cody Zimmerman had an overall high-school record of 148-9 at the same high school as the Becker Brothers and his success was comparable to theirs.  Danny Malouf was a two-time state qualifier in Illinois and a two-time Greco-Roman All-American in summer wrestling.  Joe Steffen, another fine freshman, will be reshirted.

At 133 pounds, junior Craig DeGreef is wrestling at his natural weight after cutting down to 125 pounds the past two years to help the team. He is expected to improve on the 34-19 his first two seasons.  If help is needed, one of the five 125 pounders will be available.  Kevin Steffen, brother of Joe, will also redshirt this year.

The 141-pound spot is manned by sophomore Craig Becker, who enjoyed a great freshman season with a 27-14 record, placing in seven tournaments and qualifying for the NCAA II Nationals.  He participated in the NCAA II Nationals along with brothers Brad and Kyle, the first time in NCAA II wrestling history that three brothers competed in the same nationals together.  Redshirting at this weight will be Russell Jackson.

The 149-pound class will be held down by Eric Enderby.  Eric redshirted last year to gain experience after an outstanding high school career.  As a senior he was the Wisconsin Division II state champion posting a 50-3 record. 

At 157-pounds, senior co-captain and defending NCAA II national champion Brad Becker will provide both leadership and a strong presence in the middle of the lineup.  Last year Brad was 41-7, winning titles in five tournaments including the NCAA II Nationals.  He also recorded 19 pins, highlighted with falls in the finals of the Midwest regional and nationals. His overall collegiate record is 88-29.

(Brad Becker pictured with Coach Jim Koch)

The 165-pound class features Kyle Becker.  He enters his junior season with high expectations.  Last year, he qualified for the NCAA II Nationals by placing third in the Midwest Regional and was an overtime match away from earning All-American honors.  His season record was 25-8.

The 174-pound class is in the capable hands of senior co-captain Albert Morgan, a two-time NCAA II national qualifier with a career record of 62-27, whose goal is to earn All-American honors.  A solid backup at this weight class is true freshman Luke Haag.  He was an undefeated 46-0 and a Wisconsin Division III state champion as a senior.  If possible he will redshirt.  Also redshirting is freshman Ryan Woods, who was last year's Wisconsin Division I runner-up.  Other potential 174-pound candidates are Sean Shanahan and Mark Thiem.  Both redshirted last year and are anxious to work their way into the lineup.

The 184-pound class will likely feature sophomore Corey VanGroll.  Corey won 30 matches last year mostly at 165 pounds.  He is strong and skilled enough to be very effective anywhere from 165 to 184 pounds.  Two freshmen who can fill in are Austin Brunet and Curtis Hines.  Austin placed fifth in the Wisconsin Division I State Tournament last year, and Curtis posted a 34-4 record as a high school senior.

At 197 pounds, redshirt freshman Jon Treml will try to continue the tradition established by Luke and John Goral, who earned six All-American awards over the past eight years for the Rangers.  Jon Treml had a 49-5 record as a high school senior and placed second in the Wisconsin Division II State Tournament.  Both Brunet and Hines could fill in at this weight if necessary.

At 285 pounds, two true freshmen will challenge for the top spot.  The leader is Joe Dhein, the fifth-place finisher in last year's Wisconsin Division I state tournament.  He had a senior record of 35-2.  His competition is Jim Dietrick, a Michigan state qualifier, who posted a 45-8 record as a senior.

TOUGH SCHEDULE

            As always, the Ranger's will face some of the top competition in the country.  They have eight regular-season tournaments on the schedule.  They also have been invited to the NWCA National Dual Meet Tournament in Cedar Falls, Iowa where they will compete against the top fifteen NCAA II teams in the country.  The Rangers will culminate their season at the NCAA II Midwest Regional on February 24, 2007, and at the NCAA II National Championships on March 9-10, in Kearney, Nebraska.

EAGER COACHING STAFF

            Head Coach Jim Koch returns for his 37 th year with an experienced staff of assistants, Gregg Lewis, Roger Spears, Jeremie Ott, and Rick Schmoll.  The assistants together boast a total of six All-American awards.  According to Koch, they all love wrestling and bring a wealth of wrestling knowledge to the practice room and enjoy sharing it with the team members.