Heavyweight Dhesi solid anchor for lineup
This is the final installment of a five-part series previewing the 2014-15 Oregon State wrestling team. Today we look at the 197- pound and heavyweight classes.
One thing is for sure about the 2014-15 Oregon State wrestling team: Its anchor won’t slow down the ship.
Sophomore heavyweight Amarveer Dhesi took second at the Pacific-12 Conference tournament and won two matches at the NCAA tournament as a freshman.
In the offseason, he placed second at the FILA World Junior Freestyle Championships; won the Junior Pan American Championships, and took second at The Canada Cup.
Dhesi is ranked No. 7 by the Associated Wrestling Press and The Open Mat and No. 8 by Intermat in their preseason polls. So the Beavers are set when it comes to the final weight class.
“He’s a solid guy, he’s has gotten a lot better and has improved a lot,” OSU coach Jim Zalesky said of the solid Canadian. “There’s been a big jump from him from last year at this time to this year.
“He’s bigger and stronger. Last year he had just turned 18 and I think the maturity he gained going through that year really helped him out.”
Dhesi was 27-10 in 2013-14, with six majors and three pins. Three of those losses came to Boise State’s J.T. Felix, who has graduated. Another, to Michigan’s Adam Coon, was avenged at the FILA juniors.
“The international experience was great,” Zalesky said. “He got good experience wrestling all summer and I think it will show this year.”
Junior Mick Dougharity (14-8) is a capable backup, and had eight pins last season.
Redshirt freshman Cody Crawford is the favorite to succeed Taylor Meeks, who moved down to 184 pounds for his senior season. Crawford was 14-6 with two majors, a technical fall and three pins as a redshirt in 2013-14.
“He is a three-time state champion [at Cascade High School] , but came in unprepared as a freshman and had to work his way down,” Zalesky said. “He got better as the year went on,” and went 7-1 three pins, two majors and a technical fall in his last eight bouts in late January and February.
“I think he will have a good year. He’s gotten a lot better on his feet and he has improved a lot. It’s his spot to lose.”
The annual intrasquad match is set for Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. OSU’s first dual is Nov. 13 against Southern Oregon at Gill Coliseum. A victory would be the 1,000th in school history and the 100th in Zalesky’s tenure at OSU.
For more information on the OSU wrestling team, follow the club’s official Twitter account at Twitter.com/OSU_Wrestling or by Facebook at Facebook.com/OregonStateWrestling.
197
RETURNING: Fr. Cody Crawford (14-6); So. Nathaniel Keeve (5-8).
NEWCOMERS: None.
LOST: Sr. Taylor Meeks (29-9, Pac-12 runner-up, NCAA qualifier, moved to 184); Lucas Mondragon (1-4).
HEAVYWEIGHT
RETURNING: So. Amar Dhesi (27-10, Pac-12 runner-up, NCAA qualifier); Jr. Mick Dougharity (14-8); RFr. Josh Parazoo (1-4).
NEWCOMERS: None.
LOST: Tyler Sherman (2-8).