Wrestling preview: Looking for the right mix

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Just looking at a roster for the Rosemount wrestling team, coach Brett Larson knows the Irish are in a tough spot.

Rosemount has a healthy roster with a good number of wrestlers prepared to compete this season. As is life in wrestling though, where the numbers line up is sometimes just as important as who lines up.

The Irish have another solid group of wrestlers this season, but the depth in weight classes is not as strong as it has been in other years.

“In the past we knew we would fill out the lineup from top to bottom with guys like Frank Pokriefka up there and Phil Levine and Adam Sommers at the start,” Larson said. “We knew what we had. I think this team might have more experienced wrestlers, but we don’t have the weights spread out.

“The numbers are up. The intensity is good and we have just as much experience, if not more. We just aren’t spread out like we have been in the past.”

Larson is most concerned with the lighter and heavier weights. The Irish should be strong in the middle weights, beginning with 119 pounds through 189. It’s filling out the other spots, particularly as the lineup takes shape the early part of the season, that has the coach concerned.

“We’re in a little more of an uphill battle when we go into these key duals and we’re giving up six to 12 points right away,” Larson said. “Just by default it makes it more difficult.”

Senior captain Garrett Bothun returns at 152 pounds and opens the season ranked No. 3 in the weight class. Fellow senior captains Tyler Sandoz and Tony Marthaler give Larson three captains he can count on to provide leadership and score points for the team.

The three offer a strong mix through the lineup as well, with Marthaler fitting in at 130 or 135 pounds and Sandoz coming in at about 170 or 189 pounds.

Tyler Ausen, Matt Bigelow and Hamza Bile are senior returners.

JoshFrancois and Paul Domeier also return.

Now it’s just a matter of how Larson is able to fit the puzzle together.

“We’ll probably have some flexibility in our lineup,” Larson said. “We might have to be that way and be able to react to the matchups to be as competitive as we can.”

Tags: sports, wrestling