Return of Palmer anchors lower weights
October 27, 2015 | Wrestling
This is the first in a three-part series previewing the 2015-16 Oregon State wrestling team. Today we look at the 125-, 133- and 141-pound weight classes.
The lower weight classes on this season's Oregon State wrestling team should help the Beavers get off to a quick start when the matches begin in traditional fashion at the 125-pound weight class.
“We should be very strong in the lower weights,” said OSU coach Jim Zalesky, the 2015 Pacific-12 Conference Coach of the Year who begins his 10th season at OSU with a 111-42-2 record, five Coach of the Year awards and six Pacific-12 Conference championships on his resume.
Sophomore 125-pounder Ronnie Bresser, redshirt junior 133-pounder Joey Palmer and redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jack Hathaway all are former NCAA qualifiers. They comprise a formidable group that should give the four-time defending Pac-12 champion Beavers a solid 1-2-3 punch at that point of any match, no matter where it starts.
“With Ronnie Bresser and Joey Palmer leading off, they are two fun guys to watch. They're explosive, fun to watch, they can do a lot of things and can be exciting.
You want that spark at the start of a match and I think those two guys will provide a lot of energy to the team and to the crowd. And there is competition in the room. Guys are pushing guys.”
Bresser is ranked 11th by The Open Mat and by InterMat in their preseason polls. He was 34-7 with nine pins, six majors and three technical falls in an impressive freshman campaign, when he cruised to the Pac-12 championship and then went 2-2 at NCAAs. Bresser's 51 team points in duals led the Beavers.
“Ronnie has to make the mental jump,” Zalesky said. “Last year he wrestled everybody tough but I don't think he believed in himself.
“Every time he wrestled a guy a second time, he beat him. But you don't get a second chance at NCAAs. And even during the year you have to beat guys when you get the opportunity.”
Two of Bresser's five regular-season losses came to Evan Silver of Stanford and Tyler Cox of Wyoming. He rebounded to beat Silver the next two times they faced off, once in the Pac-12 tournament's title match, and he topped Cox at the NCAA tournament.
Redshirt freshman Kegan Calkins (7-7) will test Bresser in practice and compete in open events.
“Kegan's been pushing, he's made a jump from last year,” Zalesky said. “He's a lot better in the room. Now he knows he has to compete with Ronnie for a spot so he's upped his level in the practice room.”
An NCAA qualifier at 125 pounds after taking third at the 2014 Pac-12 championships, Palmer redshirted last season after moving up to 133 and went 20-1 in open tournaments. He won the Mike Clock Open, the Reno Tournament of Champions, the Clackamas Open and the California Collegiate events.
Palmer had four pins, nine major decisions and a technical fall. His only loss was to Danny Sabatello of Purdue in the championship bout at the Roadrunner Open. He was 18-12 at 125 in 2014.
“He's been overlooked in the polls, as far as I'm concerned,” Zalesky said. “He can win it all and I think he will surprise people” who may have forgotten about him during his redshirt year.
“Joey had a great spring, and great summer and is very determined. He's looked very good so far,” and learned a lot by observing last season. “He's built himself into a 133-pounder and done the things you need to do at this level.”
Redshirt sophomore Ronnie Stevens (7-12) is his backup. Freshman Hans Rockwell is also available.
Hathaway moves up from 133 pounds, where he went 27-12 with a team-leading 12 pins en route to a Pac-12 title. He scored 45 points in dual meets, third-best on the team, and was named to the Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie team.
Redshirt junior Jared Reis will challenge Hathaway. He was 14-8, with a championship at the Clackamas Open and a runner-up finish at the Mike Clock Open.
“They both have had good summers. That class could be decided at the intrasquad, at the first tournament and maybe in the first half of the season. It's a competitive weight class for us and we will see who comes out on top.”
The Beavers open the season at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 with the annual intrasquad match at Gill Coliseum. They start the regular season at the Northeast Duals in Albany, N.Y., on Nov. 15 with bouts against West Virginia, Northern Iowa and Nebraska.
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.
125
RETURNEES: So. Ronnie Bresser (34-7, Pac-12 champ, NCAA qualifier); Kegan Calkins (7-7).
NEWCOMERS: None.
LOST: RSo. Ronnie Stevens (moved to 133).
133
RETURNEES: RJr. Joey Palmer (20-1, 2014 NCAA qualifier at 125); RSo. Ronnie Stevens (7-12).
NEWCOMERS: Fr. Hans Rockwell.
LOST: RSo. Jack Hathaway (moved to 141).
141
RETURNEES: RSo. Jack Hathaway (27-12, Pac-12 champ, NCAA qualifier at 133); RJr. Jared Reis (14-8); So. Izaak Tobin (0-0).
NEWCOMERS: Fr. Bryce Parson.
LOST: RSo. Devin Reynolds (23-9, moved to 149); Aaron David (5-4).
Players Mentioned
