New starters expected at 141, 149 pounds
This is the second installment of a five-part series previewing the 2014-15 Oregon State wrestling team. Today we look at the 141- and 149-pound weight classes.
The 141- and 149-pound weight classes are wide-open as the Oregon State wrestling team begins its final week of practice before the Nov. 6 Intrasquad Meet at Gill Coliseum.
The Beavers had Pacific-12 Conference champions and NCAA qualifiers in both classifications in 2014, but both have moved on, albeit for different reasons. Redshirt sophomore Joey Delgado (141) has bumped up to 157 pounds; Scott Sakaguchi (149) completed his eligibility and graduated.
The contenders at 141 are redshirt freshman Izaak Tobin, a 133-pounder last season; sophomore Jared Reis, a 149-pounder in 2014, and redshirt freshman Devin Reynolds.
“With Delgado moving, somebody has to step up in that weight class,” OSU coach Jim Zalesky said.
Reis was stuck behind Sakaguchi last season but still went 29-12 with three pins and five major decisions, mostly in tournaments. Tobin was 8-9 and Reynolds was 4-0 with four pins, also at tournaments.
“Reis has done a good job of getting his weight down and realizes that 141 is his ideal weight for college,” Zalesky said. “I think he’s done a good job all summer of working his way down there.”
“None of those guys have a redshirt year so it will be whoever steps up in those first two tournaments.”
Redshirt freshman Abraham Rodriguez drops town to 149 after going 13-4 last season at 165 and 157. Junior Aaron David (4-2) and sophomore Jay Tovey (5-7) are also in the mix.
“Abraham had a good summer and he’s wrestling what he wrestled in high school, it’s his natural weight,” Zalesky said of Rodriguez, a former Hermiston standout.
“There are guys there who have to step up” if OSU hopes to locate a quality successor to Sakaguchi, a two-time Pac-12 champion and a four-time NCAA qualifier.
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.
141
RETURNEES: RFr. Izaak Tobin (8-9); RSo. Jared Reis (28-12 at 149); RFr. Devin Reynolds (4-0).
NEWCOMERS: None.
LOST: Joey Delgado (24-16,Pac-12 champion, NCAA qualifier; moved up to 157); James Roberts (5-3).
149
RETURNEES: Jr. Aaron David (4-2); RFr. Abraham Rodriguez (13-4); So. Jay Tovey (5-7).
NEWCOMERS: None.
LOST: Scott Sakaguchi (31-11, Pac-12 champion, NCAA qualifier); Reed Van Anrooy (8-3).