Indiana University Athletics
GOLDMAN AND NEW COACHING STAFF HAVE POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON SEASON
11/16/1998 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
GOLDMAN AND NEW COACHING STAFF HAVE POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON SEASON
When the Indiana University Wrestling team hits the mat this year, Head Coach Duane Goldman expects his team to be ready to win. After a disappointing 1997-1998 campaign, Goldman is hoping his new coaching staff can help turn things around.
Last season the Hoosiers finished with a record of 6-7, and a 1-6 mark in the Big Ten, while finishing 11th at the Big Ten Championships. This season, Goldman is counting on the experience from last year to help his team succeed.
"We had a little over .500 (winning percentage) record last year, but we started six freshman and three sophomores," Goldman said. "We have the majority of those people back. But they're a year older and hopefully a year wiser and we hope to have a better season."
Trying to help his wrestlers, Goldman has brought in an entirely new coaching staff. Goldman calls his new coaches, Lenny Zelalsky, Charles Burton and Scott Norton, quality individuals, good role models and hard workers.
So with new coaches and many of the wrestlers returning from last year, Goldman expects success. "I expect to see us improve a lot this year," he said. "I'm not looking for the ultimate result in the beginning of the year, I expect us to wrestle to our potential and ability. But I expect our ability and potential to increase as they year progresses."
At 125 pounds, junior Pat Cassidy will start for the Hoosiers. Cassidy had a good year last year, compiling an overall record of 13-8, while going 4-3 in Big Ten competition. He was also second on the team with five pins.
"He's had a good college career," Goldman said. "But it's time for him to take that next step, especially now as a junior and get to the NCAA's and break through and become an All-American."
Challenging Cassidy at 125 pounds will be Greg Schaefer. Schaefer won four letters in high school and was a state champion both his freshman and senior years. He also compiled a record of 168-5 while at Mater Dei High School in Evansville, Indiana.
Competing at 133 pounds will be sophomore Brian Smiley. Last season, Smiley was the only true freshman to start for Indiana. Smiley finished last season with an overall record of 4-9 and a record of 1-6 in the Big Ten. Although Smiley only had one pin last season, Goldman is confident in his abilities.
"Once again, he's another kid who has a great deal of potential," he said. "He's worked hard over the summer and we hope to see a better result from him."
Pushing Smiley at 133 pounds will be two freshman, James Bader Andrew Storrs. Bader was ranked 12th in Pennsylvania his senior year in high school and his team won three section championships while he was there. Storrs was ranked first in the state of Michigan all four years in high school. During that time, he racked up an outstanding record of 163-1.
Wrestling at 141 pounds will be James Torres. Torres, a junior, finished last season with an overall record 16-15. Wrestling at 134 pounds, Torres finished fourth at the Big Ten Championships last year. He also qualified for the NCAA Championships.
"He's a NCAA qualifier and he scored points for us at the NCAA's," Goldman said. "His goal is to become an All-American this year and hopefully he'll stay on that course."
Shuffling between 141 and 149 pounds will be Gabe Cook. Cook is a sophomore who finished the regular season with 9-14 record. Despite his 1-6 record in the Big Ten, Goldman thinks Cook is a fighter and values his experience from last season.
Also competing for 141 pound slot will be freshman Daniel Cysewski. Cysewski tallied 157 wins in high school and was a two-time All-State selection in Illinois.
At 149 pounds, the Hoosiers will have Tim Myers back. Myers missed last year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. In 1997, Myers was third on the team with 17 victories and finished the year with only four defeats. He went undefeated in dual meets and Big Ten competition (2-0).
"He's very tough and we have high hopes for him," Goldman said. " He another real good kid who's had a good college career but has had some bad luck with injuries."
Sophomore Kevin Stanley represents IU at 157 pounds. Stanley led the Hoosiers with 25 victories and six pins last season. He finished last year with a record of 9-3 in dual meets and 4-3 in Big Ten action. At one point last year, Stanley was ranked #10 in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News. Goldman is looking forward to having Stanley back and watching him get better as the season goes on.
"He was a national qualifier last year as a freshman, and he beat three All-Americans during the year," Goldman said. "We have high expectations for him. He's shown he can compete with anyone in the country, he just needs to take the next step and place in the nationals."
Challenging Stanley for that 157 pound position will be Jerry Jensen. Jensen is a freshman from Greentown, IN who compiled a 26-5 record his senior year at Eastern High School.
At 165 pounds, Butch Hildebrand will be the starter. Hildebrand took the place of the injured Mike Powell and finished the regular season with a 14-13 record and four pins. His 14 wins were also a career high. Hildebrand has been a utility wrestler for IU, competing at 158, 167, and 177 pounds.
"He's a had a good career," Goldman said. "He's won some big matches and done a good job. But he needs to take the next step and place at nationals."
Also competing for 165 pound slot is freshman Mike Bundy. Bundy won four letters in high school, was two-time state champion and had a record of 41-0 his senior year. During his high school career at Lake Stevens High School in Washington, Bundy compiled a record of 129-14.
Jack Wade will battle Mingo Morrison for the spot at 174 pounds. Morrison is a redshirted a year ago and Wade did not participate last season.
"Both are untested at the weight and it will be a new experience for them," Goldman said. "Hopefully one of those guys will step up and later in the year Mike Powell should step in there as well."
Powell, a former All American who missed most of last season with post-concussion syndrome, compiled a record of 5-2, including one win in the Big Ten with two pins. In 1997, Powell wrestled at 177 pounds, finishing with a record of 16-7. He was also undefeated in Big Ten competition.
"He wasn't able to compete in Big Tens or Nationals and he's looking to cap off his career with some good things," Goldman said. "He's always come through for us in the past."
Wrestling at 184 pounds will be either Viktor Sveda or Brett Becks. Sveda, a redshirt freshman, was a two-time junior All-American. He wrestled on four national championship teams and was the state champion his senior year at Walsh Jesuit High School in Peninsula, OH. Sveda also earned earned four letters in football.
"Viktor is a tough kid and he was a pretty highly touted recruit," Goldman said. "He's the kind of kid who we think is going to represent us well and do some good things.
Brett Becks is also a redshirt freshman. Becks was the Lake County, Washington Wrestler of the Year and district champion in 1997.
"He also had a pretty good redshirt year last year," Goldman said. "Between Becks and Sveda, I expect us to be pretty tough at that weight."
In the heavyweight division, sophomore Mike Dixon will be back. Last season Dixon finished seventh in the Big Ten Championships. He was also a national qualifier.
"He did a good job last year and he's improved a great deal," Goldman said. "Making to nationals was a big boost for him and we're looking for him to have a better year this year."
Overall, Goldman is confident his wrestlers are going to have a better season. He's made sure their attitude is right and his new staff has brought plenty of experience to look up to. While Goldman does not expect to see the end result immediately, he does expect the team to steadily progress throughout the season.
"The whole program has a good outlook this year. The guys are hungry to go and they're really pleased and encouraged with the staff and the way things are going," he said. "The staff wants to see progression throughout the year and with the potential we have, we should have a pretty good year at season's end."
Last updated: 15 July 1999
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