Young Group -- As Tough As They Get
Oregon State University Wrestling 1996-97

Take away two-time All-American and NCAA champion Les Gutches, All-American Chad Renner and NCAA qualifier Chad Flack, and just what has Oregon State's wrestling program got left this winter?

"A real young group, but one that's as tough as they get," surmised Beaver assistant coach Randy Couture.

Fifth-year head coach Joe Wells and Couture won't have Gutches, who won back-to-back NCAA titles at 177 pounds, in the spotlight this season. They will, however, have him at their side as an assistant coach.

What the Beaver coaching staff will have in front of them is a lineup hungry to add to OSU's three straight Top 10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, including an eighth-place finish last year and a runner-up finish in 1995.

"Whenever you lose top-level performers like Les Gutches, Chad Renner and Chad Flack, you leave a leadership void that needs to be filled," said Wells, who could count on big points from the seniors in crucial meets the past few seasons. "I feel we have the young men in the program that are willing and capable of assuming that leadership role.

"We may actually have better team balance. We are young, but we have more depth and will see tough challenges in every weight class."

The Beavers' first three weight classes return with NCAA Championship experience. There's Junior Jason Buce (Dallas, Ore.), who placed third in the conference and was one match from All-America status at 118 pounds; Jake Whisenhunt (Stayton, Ore.), who finished second in the conference and went 3-2 at the national championships, pinning two opponents in less than three minutes at 126 pounds; and sophomore All-American Oscar Wood (Gresham, Ore.), who finished second in the conference and seventh in the nation at 134 pounds.

Buce will receive a strong challenge from Diego Hernandez (Philomath, Ore.) for the top spot at 118 pounds. Hernandez, a redshirt freshman, was a three-time state placer for Philomath High. Buce went 23-11 last season, but 10 of his losses were to nationally-ranked wrestlers and among his victories were wins over three All-Americans.

"Jason has an aggressive and physical style of wrestling -- very exciting," Wells said. "He is as good as the best and better than all the rest."

True freshmen Ryan Sugihara (Aica, Hawaii) and Briane Donne (Corvallis, Ore.) will serve in an apprentice role this season.

Jake Whisenhunt is back at 126 pounds. After a 4-7 start last season, he went 16-6 in the second half and beat several wrestlers he had lost to earlier in the year. He will receive a strong challenge from redshirt freshman Troy Sabot (Bismarck, N.D.). Sabot was the No. 1 pick a year ago by Amateur Wrestling News as the top recruit in the country at 130 pounds. Sabot is a pinner from Century High. Earl Hall (Corvallis, Ore.), a state placer from Crescent Valley High, will provide a challenge, as well.

Oscar Wood will receive a strong challenge from Josh Whisenhunt (Stayton, Ore.), who earned Junior College All-America honors at Clackamas Community College. Josh Whisenhunt was OSU's representative at 142 pounds in the Pacific-10 Championships last season and saw action at both 134 and 142 pounds in 1995-96.

Wood went 26-9 last season and was the first OSU freshman to earn All-America honors since Babak Mohammadi placed sixth in 1991. Wood hails from Barlow High and was a five-time Junior National Champion.

"Oscar likes the challenge and is not intimidated by anyone he will face," Wells said. "There is every reason to believe he will be a national champion. He expects it and we do, also. He needs to do everything a national champion does to prepare himself."

Perhaps the toughest battle will be to nail down the spot at 142 pounds, where Josh Whisenhunt has the inside track now. However, strong challenges will be made by two redshirt freshmen -- high school All-American Justin Vaughn (Prineville, Ore.), who placed in the Junior National Championships as a junior at Crook County High; and Jayson Wullbrandt (Milwaukie, Ore.), who was a fifth-place finisher at the Junior National Championships a year ago and whose grandfather, Bill Giester, wrestled for the Beavers. Redshirt sophomore Phil Baldacci (Walnut Creek, Calif.) will be fighting for the spot, as well.

Paul Navari (McMinnville, Ore.), a two-time state placer at McMinnville High, will add depth to the lower-middle weights and serve an apprenticeship as well.

Jim Kutz (Roseburg, Ore.), a two-time high school All-American and two-time state runner-up from Roseburg High, started as a freshman at 150 pounds last season and will be much-improved with a year of college experience. Kutz may receive challenges from Vaughan and Wullbrandt eary in the season.

Also, incoming two-time champion and outstanding wrestler Luke Duffy (Anchorage, Alaska) will provide depth and support here as well after a successful career at Robert Service High. Junior Marcus Marjama (Redmond, Ore.) will join the team for the second half of the season after an internship with OSU's School of Engineering.

Isaac Wood (Gresham, Ore.), a four-time Junior National Champion, comes off a redshirt season in which he wrestled several times in open tournaments at 158 pounds, showing great potential. Like his brother, Oscar, Isaac Wood was a state champion for Barlow High. Andy Sapp (Brookings, Ore.), a senior, will challenge at 158 as well as junior Marcus Marjama (Redmond, Ore.), incoming freshman Josh Monk (Hood River, Ore.), who wrestled the last two seasons for Hood River Valley High after starting his career at Corvallis High.

Jason Gutches (Central Point, Ore.), a redshirt freshman, has continued his dramatic improvement from last season. Gutches had an opportunity to train with his older brother, Les, and the United States Olympic Team over the summer and gained some very valuable experience. Jason Gutches is strong physically and has a dominating style of wrestling.

"He has as much ability as anyone in the weight class this year," Wells said. "I have seen a tremendous amount of growth in Jason these last few months. He's very exciting to watch and I feel Jason is one of those young members of our team that is anxious to make his mark."

Two freshmen will come in to challenge Gutches, gain experience, and serve their apprencticeships. There's Chris Lynde (Dallas, Ore.), who was a state runner-up at 185 pounds for Dallas High; and Slade Zajac (Mokena, Ill.), the smaller of a set of brothers joining the OSU program this year. Zajac was a state freestyle placer for Lincoln-Way High last season.

At 177 pounds, OSU has another high school All-American -- Clint Wilson (Hermiston, Ore.). Wilson, who was coached at Hermiston High by former Beaver wrestler Curt Berger, redshirted and wrestled in open tournaments last season. Challenging him will be senior Jason Milham (Elgin, Ore.) and freshman Jeremy York (Springfield, Ore.). York was a state finalist for Thurston High, a state freestyle champion and a state Greco-Roman placer, as well.

Sanders Freed (Dallas, Ore.) will wrestle at 190 pounds this season. Freed has continued to gain height and weight since his days as a state 154-pound champion at Dallas High.

"Sanders is due for a breakthrough year," Couture said. "He's been in matches with some very accomplished wrestlers and has studied under some of the best in the country and it's his turn." Added Wells: "He's a leader and outstanding student and has won the academic/achievement award the last two years."

Also challenging at 190 or heavyweight will be senior Chris Renzullo (Yuba City, Calif.), a three-year letterwinner for OSU.
"Chris is one of the hardest workers on the team," Wells said. "He's worked faithfully lifting all year to make the most of his last season at Oregon State."

Incoming freshman Shane Zajac (Mokena, Ill.), the other half of that brother combination, is a two-time state champion and the 220-pound Junior National Champion this past year in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.

"Shane is a very accomplished wrestler for his age and will be a great addition to the upper weights," Wells said.

Sophomore Mat Orndorff (Kent, Wash.) returns at heavyweight.

"Mat was a very young wrestler coming in last year as a true freshman," Wells said. "He has shown dramatic improvement, narrowly missing a shot at his first NCAA tournament last season. This is a new year, and Mat is very excited to get started. He has done a great job in the off-season preparing for this year. Mat has been faithful about his lifting program this past spring and summer and has gained over 25 pounds on his lanky frame. Mat has made the adjustment to college and we look for him to be a very dynamic force at heavyweight."

Challenging at heavyweight will be Arleigh Hix (Eagle Point, Ore.), a state finalist at Eagle Point High and a state freestyle and Greco Roman placer. Hix, a very active and aggressive heavyweight, plans to study engineering at Oregon State. Also joining the team after football season will be junior college transfer Freddy Perez (Upland, Calif.).

"People aren't going to give them much respect," Couture said of the 1996-97 Beavers. "But as we tell them, 'There is no age requirement on being a champion.' You work hard enough and it will come to you."

Said Wells: "These guys have high expectations and they plan on doing well. They are used to competing against the best. They are not intimidated and look forward to the challenges this season will bring.

"I feel this team will be exciting and, from week to week, we may see a number of faces in the lineup, especially in the first half of the season. We expect their best and believe the will to prepare is the key for this team to step up and give a consistently high level of performance."


[OSU Wrestling 1997]
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