If there was one word to sum up the early goings for the Jimmie wrestling team it would be competition.
Coach C.J. Campbell has brought in quality and quantity, replenishing the roster from top to bottom. The Jimmies have 40 wrestlers in the room and competition at every weight class heading into Sunday's season opener at South Dakota State's Daktronics Open in Brookings.
"I feel good about the guys we have in the room. They're doing the right things both on the mat and in the classroom and we want to continue to keep moving things in that direction," Campbell said.
When the NAIA released its national and regional rankings last week, there was reason for optimism.
Sophomore Dillon Kifer (149 pounds) and Pat Nord (165) were both ranked nationally, while Jaykob Miller (174) and heavyweight Antonio Lopez were ranked in the region. As a team, the Jimmies were not far outside the top 20 at No. 27.
"It's good to get that recognition, but ultimately it doesn't mean much if we don't go out there and prove it on the mat," Campbell said. "It's a good starting point for us, but we certainly want to set our expectations higher and achieve more."
Earning a spot in the opening lineup was no gimmie. Competition was hot and heavy at the Black & Orange Dual last week.
Joey Murillo earned the nod at 125 after caddying behind All-American Sean Blumhardt last season. Campbell highlighted Murillo's improvement and said he beat out a strong field, including Andre Aguinaga, who also is the top runner on the UJ cross country team.
Coby Horner, who along with Miller, are the only seniors on the roster, will open at 133. Jonah Moore, one of 22 freshmen on the squad, is the backup.
Eddy Wilson moved up from 133 to take the 141-pound spot. He was certified at 125 and 133 last season, but Campbell said his weight-room work has paid big dividends.
Kifer, coming off a sparkling freshman season, opens at 149, but has promising freshman Mark Uehling waiting in the wings.
Tyler Schnaubert edged Zach Pickering in a showdown of returners for the 157-pound seat.
Pat Nord, an All-American two years ago, but sat out last season, will be leaned on heavily at 165, but he had to beat freshman Brett Walton in overtime to earn the spot.
Miller is making a big leap to 174 after qualifying for nationals at 157 last year, but Campbell credited the Californian's work ethic for packing on the extra muscle. It could be tough keeping the spot past Christmas though as Michael Nord will be eligible second semester and he was nearly unbeatable last season.
Freshmen Julian Gallegos and Demtreus Roby get thrown into the fire at 184 and 197.
Gallegos is a little undersized for now, but is on an aggressive growth program.
Roby, a name wrestling fans will know, earned the tough 197-pount slot. Roby was a multi-time state-placer at Minot High.
Lopez leads a deep field of heavyweights to round out the lineup.
The Jimmies' first home action is Nov. 14, following the Bison Open in Fargo Nov. 9.
Campbell is upbeat as the season begins.
"I feel like we're building the program the right way, but we understand we need the results to follow," Campbell said. "My job is to build a national-championship caliber team. It takes time, but that's the goal we're working towards."
2013-14 Jimmie wrestling roster
Freshmen: Andre Aguinaga, 125, Chubbuck, Idaho; JC Alvarenga, 184, Apopka, Fla.; Dillon Beeler, 141, Glendive, Mont.; Stuart Brandt, 125, Moorhead; Jonathan Castro, 125, Apopka, Fla.; Branden Edwards, 125, Apache Junction, Ariz.; Keon Gallagher, 149, Missoula, Mo.; Julian Gallegos, 174, American Falls, Idaho; Jose Garcia, Swannonoa, N.C.; Phillip Johnson, 125, Riverbank, Calif.; Sean Lambert, 165, Cottonwood, Ariz.; Joe Malmstead, 174, Bismarck; Shawn Martin, 149, Santa Clarita, Calif.; Matt McCullough, 285, Temecula, Calif.,; Jonah Moore, 133, Edmond, Okla.; Marco Psihountas, 197, Olathe, Kan.; Demetreus Roby, 197, Minot; Alejandro Ruelas, 285, Westminster, Calif.; Chris Shaver, 157, Avondale, Ariz.; Nate Shenk, 149, Hammett, Idaho; Marc Uehling, 149, Apache Junction, Ariz.; Brett Walton, 165, Boise, Idaho.
Sophomores: Tucker Davison, 174, Dayton, Ore.; Brian Kaehler, Soph., Cottonwood, Ariz.; Dillon Kifer, 149, Little Falls, Minn.; Carlos Lazo, Pacioma, Calif.; Andrew McAllister, 133, St. Louis, Mo.; Joey Murillo, 125, El Paso, Texas; Jake Paul, 157, Marshalltown, Iowa; Jacob Tilley, 174, King, N.C.; Joe Wilkins, 133, St. Louis, Mo.; Eddy Wilson, 141, Spring, Texas.
Juniors: Antonio Lopez, 285, Paramount, Calif.; Michael Nord, 165, Enderlin, N.D.; Pat Nord, 165, Enderlin, N.D.; Zach Pickering, 157, Pinehurst, Idaho; Tyler Schnaubert, 157, Hobbs, N.M.; Klinton VanHeuveln, Pennock, Minn.;
Seniors: Coby Horner, 133, Fircrest, Wash.; Jaykob Miller, 165, Etiwanda, Calif.
Courtesy of Jamestown Sun sports writer Dave Selvig, 11/1/13
