The 1996-97 Gophers wrestling team may be young, but Coach J Robinson is confident in his team’s experience and leadership.
With no seniors and only three juniors, the Gophers youth might appear to be a weakness — not in Robinson’s eyes.
“This is by far the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” he said. “We are a highly motivated team with a lot of enthusiasm. I look at our youth as a strength rather than a weakness.”
Minnesota opens its dual meet season tonight against North Dakota State. Robinson looks for this match to increase the team’s momentum for the season.
“We will be able to see exactly where the team is at before we begin our Big Ten schedule,” he said.
The Gophers have downed NDSU in seven out of the last nine dual meets.
Minnesota is ranked seventh in the national preseason poll and returns All-Americans Jason Davids and Chad Kraft. Davids, who finished fifth in the NCAA Championships at 142 pounds last season, is currently ranked second. Kraft finished fifth in the NCAA meet’s 150-pound weight class and is now ranked fourth.
Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson and Olympic trials participant Zac Taylor will return to Gophers action after sitting out last season because of their Olympic commitments.
Paulson, who qualified for the NCAAs in 1995, is ranked seventh at 118 pounds. Robinson said the biggest change in Paulson is his confidence level.
“Guys that saw Brandon a year ago can’t believe how much he has improved in just one year,” Robinson said.
Taylor, who finished eighth at the Olympic trials, is sidelined with a sprained knee. He is expected to return to action soon and will remain a solid starter in this year’s lineup.
Junior Shelton Benjamin will fill the position of heavyweight in the absence of departed three-time All-American Billy Pierce. Benjamin was a junior college national champion at Lassen Community College in California. Robinson said Benjamin has the ability to step in and become an All-American.
With one of the toughest schedules this season, five of the top seven teams in the preseason are in the Big Ten, Robinson is confident in the quality, leadership and motivation of his team.
“The guys have a lot of team goals,” he said. “They are a very close-knit group and highly competitive.”
Minnesota will continue its unattached season Saturday sending sixteen wrestlers to Nebraska-Omaha to compete in an open meet. Last Saturday the team won six individual titles and four second-place finishes at the Bison Open.
Paulson, Davids and Taylor, as well as teammates Tim Hartung, Delaney Berger and Brandon Eggum, finished first. Paulson recorded three pins in the tournament. Placing second for Minnesota were Benjamin, Barrett Golyer, Troy Marr and Josh Dodd.
Notes: Three-time Minnesota High School State Champion Chad Erickson signed with the Gophers earlier this week. Erickson, an Apple Valley native, currently has a 149-15 career record with 69 pins.