Boise State Set to Recapture Pac-10 Championship

 Boise State would be going for a fourth consecutive Pac-10 wrestling championship this weekend if the streak were not so rudely interrupted by Oregon State last year.  The Beavers shocked Boise State, winning the title by two points and now get to host the championships Sunday in Corvallis.

The Broncos are bruised and battered from the debacle in Stillwater, but they are still loaded enough to capture the crown.  Here is a brief preview of each weight classification.

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1. Anthony Robles-Arizona State (Sr.) Robles is a two-time All-American, placing fourth in 2008 and seventh in 2000.  Robles is 28-0 in his senior year and possesses an incredible record of 110-23 over his career.  80% of his career victories have produced bonus points.  Robles is a two-time defending Pac-10 champion, defeating Jason Lara of Oregon State in the final last year. 

This season, Robles defeated Iwamura 19-3 and Lara 17-0.

2. Ryan Mango-Stanford (So)  Mango was 26-15 in his freshman year and has vastly improved, going 19-3 this season.  He defeated Iwamura this season 18-8.  Mango is 45-18 over his career. 

3. Tyler Iwamura-Cal-State Bakersfield (So) Iwamura has a 15-11 record this season.  Iwamura defeated Lara (13-4).  He lost to Mango (18-8), Bartelli of Boise State (14-10), Robles 19-3 but defeated Iwamura (13-4).

4. Jason Lara-Oregon State (Jr.)  Lara was runner-up last season in the Pac-10 Championships and owns a 19-8 record this season.  Over three seasons, Lara is 57-25.  Lara defeated Bartelli twice (3-2 and 5-3) and lost to Iwamura 13-4 and Robles 17-0.  Lara is 54-17 in his career. 

4. Alan Bartelli-Boise State (Sr.)  Alan was sixth in the Pac-10 Championships last year and is hoping for an improvement.  He was one of the only Broncos to wrestle well against Oklahoma State, upsetting Jon Morrison 6-1.  Bartelli comes into Corvallis sporting a 15-7 record this season and he is 68-53 overall in his Bronco career.  He defeated Iwamura (14-6) and lost to Lara twice (3-2 and 5-3) . 

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1. Andrew Hochstrasser-Boise State (Sr.)  Hochstrasser was third at the Pac-10 Championships last year and fourth at the NCAA Championships.  He is 22-1 on the season, with his only defeat coming to #1 Jordan Oliver of Oklahoma State.  Andrew has defeated Drucker three times (11-0, 10-1 and 12-3), Novachkov 16-2 and Paulson of Stanford.  Hochstrasser is 94-13 in his fabulous Bronco career. 

2. Filip Novachkov-Cal Poly (Sr.) Novachkov was runner-up in the Pac-10 last season and third place in 2009. Novachkov is 11-6 this season.  He lost to Hochstrasser 16-2 but defeated Drucker 6-4 and Mendoza 16-10.  Filip is 88-39 in his career. 

3. Garrett Drucker-Oregon State (Jr.)  Drucker downed Mendoza 15-3 earlier this year.  Drucker is enjoying a fine season at 15-6, making his career mark 32-21.

4. Justin Paulsen-Stanford (Sr.)  Paulson finished sixth in the Pac-10 last season.  He carries a 12-2 mark into the Championships and is 47-21 in his Cardinal career.  Paulsen beat Drucker 8-4 but also lost to him 6-4. 

5. Jose Mendoza-Cal-State Bakersfield (Fr)  Mendoza has gone 16-12 in his initial collegiate season.  He fell to Novachkov 17-2 early this season and also 16-10 less than a month ago and lost to Drucker 15-3.

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1. Boris Novachkov-Cal Poly (Jr.)  The younger Novachkov won the Pac-10 championship at 133 pounds and moves up a weight this year.  Novachkov also finished third in 2009.  He finished seventh in the nation last season.  Boris is 24-1 this season and is 80-18 in his career.  He shut out Gray of Stanford 8-0 early in the year and also defeated him 8-3 a couple of weeks ago.  Boris edged Mangrum 3-2 and also got the better of Boise State’s Levi Jones 4-2 before blasting Mendoza 19-4. 

2. Michael Mangrum-Oregon State (So), Mangum captured the consolation championship last year and owns a career record of 52-19.  Mangrum is 20-7 this  season, including an 11-4 win over Levi Jones and a 9-4 win over Nacita.  He lost to Novachkov 3-2 and downed Gray with a fall.  Jones got the better of him in a rematch in Corvallis 9-2. 

3. Levi Jones-Boise State (Sr.) Jones was a disappointing sixth place last season at the Pac-10 Championships after a third-place finish as a sophomore.  Levi is again just 12-8 this season but is wrestling better of late, getting the fall over Mendoza and a 9-2 decision over Mangrum a few weeks ago.  Jones lost earlier in the year to the Oregon State star 11-4.  Jones gave Novachkov a battle before losing 4-3 and also defeated Gray 10-3 and Nacita 5-2.  Jones has a 32-16 career record for Boise State. 

4. Elijah Nacita-Cal-State Bakersfield (Sr.)  Nacita too had a disappointing 2009 even though he finished fourth in the conference; he was the Pac-10 champion in 2009.  Nacita is 19-7 this year and is 100-45 in his career.  He shut out Gray 9-0 and lost to Jones 5-2 and Mangrum (9-4)

5. Jordan Gray-Stanford (Fr)

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1. Jason Chamberlain-Boise State (Jr.)  Chamberlain is out to reclaim the Pac-10 championship he won as a promising freshman but lost last year (third in 2010).  He was undefeated (22-0) until his crushing upset at Oklahoma State.  Jason is 70-19 in his career and will be one of the few remaining starters next year with experience on the Bronco team.  Shortly before his loss in Stillwater, Chamberlain blasted Cardenas 25-12.  Chamberlain is very familiar with the man many think will be his greatest challenger in Corvallis—Oregon State’s Scott Sakaguchi, facing and defeating him four times 4-3, 6-4, 3-1 and 6-3. 

2. Scott Sakaguchi-Oregon State (Fr)  Aside from the four losses to the Pac-10’s top seed, Sakaguchi has put forth an impressive freshman campaign, going 21-10.  He defeated Timmy Boone 4-1 and John Cardenas 4-0 and 6-1. 

3. Timmy Boone-Stanford (So) Boone was 7-9 in his freshman year.  He lost to John Cardenas of Bakersfield 5-3.

4. John Cardenas-Cal-State Bakersfield (Jr.)  Cardenas is 9-9 this season and also an even 28-28 for his career.  Cardenas beat Boone 5-3 and Nick Jordan 8-6 and lost twice to Sakaguchi (4-0 and 6-1) and 25-12 to Boise State’s Chamberlain.

5. Nick Jordan-Cal-State Fullerton (Sr.)  Jordan has had a nice 21-10 record this season and is 48-28 in his career.  He lost to Cardenas 8-6. 

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1. Adam Hall-Boise State (Sr.)  Hall is one of the most successful Bronco gymnasts of the last 10 years, finishing second in the Pac-10 in 2008 and 2009 before winning it last year at 157 pounds.  Hall rode all the way to third place at the NCAA’s in his weight classification in 2010 and is the only Bronco wrestler that is headed into the postseason undefeated (23-0) and is currently ranked #2 in the nation.  Adam defeated Alex Elder twice by the count of 22-7 and another time 26-8, Bubba Jenkins (2-1 and  8-2), Barrett Abel of Cal Poly 14-6  and Kyle Meyer of Stanford 14-3 earlier this season.  Hall is now 117-16 in his remarkable collegiate career. 

2. Bubba Jenkins-Arizona State (Sr.)  Arizona State got a good addition when Jenkins transferred to Tempe.  He was the Big 10 runner-up last season  and also finished fifth in 2008 and 6^th in 2007.  In 2008, Jenkins was the national runner-up so he is a formidable force.    Jenkins has a career mark of 88-23 and is 14-2 this season.    He lost to Hall 8-2 and Abel (by fall) and downed Alex Elder 8-3.  Jenkins is ranked #4 by Intermat.

3. Barrett Abel-Cal Poly (Sr.)  Abel is the defending Pac-10 champion at 149 pounds and decided to move up a weight this year.  Abel carries a 61-29 overall mark into the championships.  He is 23-8 this season and has split with Jenkins (winning with a fall and losing 18-6) while defeating Meyer 8-6 and 14-6 and Elder 11-5 and losing to Hall  14-6.

4. Kyle Meyer-Stanford (Fr)  Meyer defeated Alex Elder 4-2.

5. Alex Elder-Oregon State (Fr) Elder is 13-16 this year.  He lost to Hall twice at 22-7 and another time 26-8, Meyer 4-2, Jenkins 11-3 and Abel 11-5. 

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1. Ryan DesRoches-Cal Poly (Jr.)  DesRoches finished third in the Pac-10 last year.  Ryan is 27-5 this year, advancing his career mark to 77-28.  This year, he pined Edwards of Arizona State and defeated him two other times (8-6 and 14-6), beat Trevor Hall twice (5-2 and 5-3) and defeated Kurt Swartz 6-0 and Jon Brascetta 5-3.  

2. Kurt Swartz-Boise State (Sr.)  Swartz was the Pac-10 runner up a season ago but has not enjoyed the senior season he was hoping for, going 10-8.  Swartz defeated Hall (8-6), has beaten  Brascetta of Oregon State twice (once by fall and once 3-2) and lost 6-0 to DesRoches.  Swartz is 48-20 in his Bronco career.

3. Te Edwards-Arizona State (Jr.)  Edwards finished third last season at the championships and has compiled a 15-12 record this year.  He is 35-33 in his career.  He lost by fall to DesRoches and two other times by decision (8-6 and 14-6), and fell to Brascetta 8-7 and  defeated Trevor Hall 5-4.

4. Jon Brascetta-Oregon State (Sr.)  Brascetta had a 24-14 record coming into this season.  He lost to Swartz (by fall and a 3-2 decision) but defeated Edwards 8-7 and Trevor Hall 8-5.  Brascetta is 16-12 this season.

5. Trevor Hall-Cal-State Bakersfield (Sr.)  Hall finished fifth at the 2008 Pac-10 Championships but hasn’t been in the money since.  He is 18-14 this season with a career record of 47-37.  Hall lost to DesRoches (5-2 and 5-3), Swartz (8-6), Brascetta (8-5) and Edwards (5-4).

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1. Colby Covington-Oregon State (Sr.)  Covington is the defending Pac-10 champion at this weight and is 16-1 this season.  The former Iowa transfer is 65-10 in his career and is unbeaten against his closest challengers in the conference.  He slaughtered Jake Swartz 13-4 and won two other contests by decision (3-1 and 12-6), defeated Eric Starks 4-1, Nick Amuchastegui (3-2), Eric Starks 4-1  and Joey Granata 22-7. 

2. Nick Amuchastegui-Stanford (Jr.)  Amuchastegui was the Pac-10 runner-up in 2009 and won the championship last year at 165 pounds, advancing all the way to fourth place at Nationals.  He has a sparkling 26-2 record this season and is 90-16 in his great career at Stanford.  This season, Nick lost a close contest to Covington (3-2), defeated Granata 10-3 and downed Swartz twice (3-2 and 4-0).

3. Joey Granata-Cal-State Bakersfield (Sr.)  Granata is 16-11 this year, losing to Covington 22-7 and Amuchastegui 10-3 but pinning Swartz and defeating Starks 8-7.  Granata is 53-33 in his Roadrunner career.

4. Jake Swartz-Boise State (Fr)  Swartz shows a lot of promise and might be more successful than his brother.  This year, he is 15-12, losing three times to Covington (13-4, 3-1 and 12-6), twice to Amuchastegui (3-2 and 4-0) and lost to Joey Granata by pin.

5. Eric Starks-Arizona State (Jr.)  Starks is 14-7 this year 42-31 in his career.  He lost to Covington 4-1 and Granata 8-7.

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1. Jake Meredith-Arizona State (Jr.)  Meredith enjoyed a good junior season, going 19-14 to move his career mark over .500 (42-39).  Meredith split with Noel, with each taking 5-0 decisions.  Meredith also defeated Brice Arand of Oregon State twice (3-2 and 6-0) and downed Troy Goodban 9-4.

2. Todd Noel-Cal-State Fullerton (Sr.)  Noel is 18-9 this season and is 75-44 in his career.  Noel defeated Goodban 10-1and 13-5  but lost 4-3; he also lost to Meredith 5-0 and defeated Arand (3-1).

3. Kirk Smith-Boise State (Sr.)  Smith is the two-time defending Pac-10 Champion and finished runner-up in his sophomore season.  He finished 8^th pace in the NCAA’s in 2008 and was 2^nd in the nation last year.  Smith defeated Troy Goodban 9-2 and Brice Arand 6-2 and 9-0.  Smith has been competing sparingly to recover from a previous injury and then had to be carried off the mat following a loss at Oklahoma State.  Given that everyone at Boise State is tight-lipped about Smith’s injury, I cannot rank him #1.  Although he should be head and shoulders above his competition, the injury and subsequent silence complicates things.  When I’ve seen him in the past after he’s injured, he’s wrestled very carefully, trying to “get by”.  That’s the quickest way to injure it again.  Smith has a 102-11 career record coming into the Pac-10 Championships.

4. Troy Goodban-Cal-State Bakersfield (Sr.)  Goodban has lost to Kirk Smith (9-2), Jake Meredith (9-4) and won one of three against Noel (losing 10-1 and 13-5 with a 4-3 win).  Goodban also defeated Arand 8-6.

5. Brice Arand-Oregon State (Sr.)  Arand had a 43-33 record heading into this season.  He is 19-11, making his career mark 62-44.  Arand lost to Smith (6-2 and 9-0), Goodban (8-6) and Meredith (3-2 and 6-0).

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1. Zack Geisen-Stanford (Sr.)  Zack was the runner-up in 2007, improved to fourth in 2008, third last year, and would love to win the title this year.  Geisen has wrestled to a 15-2 mark this season and he is now 102-37 in his fabulous Cardinal career.  Orozco defeated the always-tough Riley Orozco 6-4 and 7-5 this season and he defeated Ryan Smith 11-2 but he did suffer a 3-2 setback at the hands of Chad Hanke of Oregon State and he lost to Casperson 4-3.

2. Riley Orozco-Cal-State Bakersfield (Sr.)  Orozco finished fourth place in the Pac-10 in 2008, was runner up in 2009 and won the Pac-10 championship last season (at 197 pounds).  Orozco is 22-9 this year and is 69-30 over the last three years.  Orozco lost two close decisions to Geisen (6-4 and 7-5), has two wins over Chad Hanke (a pin and a 7-3 decision), lost to Casperson of Boise State (2-1) and he split with Ryan Smith (winning 9-5 before losing 9-7).

3. Matt Casperson-Boise State (Sr.)  Matt finished third in the Pac-10 Championships in 2008.  He is 10-6 this season, including a 2-1 decision over Orozco.  Matt’s career mark stands at 67-47.  Casperson also split with Hanke of Oregon State, losing a tough 4-3 decision earlier this month after winning 10-5, defeated Ryan Smith of Cal Poly 10-5 and edged Geisen 4-3. 

4. Ryan Smith-Cal Poly (Jr.)  Smith is 12-6 this year and 39-28 in his Mustang career.  He lost to Orozco 9-5 and then defeated him 9-7.  He also downed Hanke of Oregon State 5-3 and lost to Geisen 11-2 and Casperson 10-5.

5. Chad Hanke-Oregon State (Jr.)  Hanke was fifth at the 2009 Pac-10 Championships and was fourth last season.  Hanke is 19-9 this year and possesses a 71-34 career mark.  Hanke defeated Geisen 3-2 and lost to Orozco twice (by fall and a 7-3 decision) and to Smith (5-3).  Hanke split with Casperson, losing 10-5 and then coming back to take a 4-3 win. 

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1. Levi Cooper-Arizona State (So)  Cooper has compiled a 22-8 record this season in earning the top seed.  He has a career mark of 39-27.  Levi defeated Felix of Boise State 7-2, Disney of Cal-Poly (9-4), Morgan (3-1) and Jack (6-3).  He also had to drop a contest with Disney because of injury. 

2. Clayton Jack-Oregon State (Jr.)  Jack was the third-place finisher in 2009 and the runner-up last season.  He is 19-8 this season, advancing his career mark to 77-31.  He split with Disney, winning 4-1 before losing 12-6, defeated Morgan (3-1) and Felix twice (7-2 and 10-5)  but lost to Cooper (6-3).

3. David Morgan-Cal-State Bakersfield (Sr.)  Morgan is 17-8 this season and is 38-24 in his career.  He has defeated Felix twice (2-1 and 7-3) and Disney 4-1 and lost to Jack and Cooper by 3-1 counts.

4. JT Felix-Boise State (Fr)  Felix has fought his way to an 11-9 mark in his freshman campaign.  Felix lost to Morgan twice (2-1 and 7-3), Jack twice (7-2 and 10-5) and to Cooper (7-2).

5. Atticus Disney-Cal Poly (So)  Atticus is just under .500 this year with an 8-9 record.  Disney lost to Cooper 9-4 and Morgan 4-1 and split with Jack (a 4-1 loss and a 12-6 win).  The Minnesota transfer was 18-3 in open meets two years ago.