Wrestling: Still young but experienced

Jacob Gabbard finished 25-5 last season (photo by Jim Lindquist)

A quick look at the Tiger roster and one would think that lack of experience would be an issue with the 2012-13 squad. After all, of 14 returning letterwinners, only one is an upperclassmen.

What that number doesn't reflect, however, is that 11 of the returnees were varsity starters last season.

"We have all of those starters back and we will have a lot of depth," coach Chad Olson said. "But we have eight duals against state-ranked teams. We'll need to see how we respond when we compete against the best."

Junior Jamie Scavone is the only junior returnee. Sophomore letterwinners include Brian Caravantes, Jacob Gabbard, Joe Hoeve, Joey Liden, Chris McCue and Jake Rudeen.

Other returning monogram winners from 2011-12 include freshmen Kyle Benjamin, Brayden Chapman, Logan Haakana, Joey Herrera, Matt Rustad, John Walz and Taylor Venz.

Venz may be the youngest grappler on the roster but he brings the most impressive resume'. Last year as an eighth-grader he compiled a 32-7 record, won all-Missota Conference honors and spilt four matches at the Class AAA state meet.

Taylor Venz (32-7) was a state meet qualifier in 2012 (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Hoeve, who finished 27-12 last winter, also made the all-conference team while Walz (18-14) received all-legaue honorable mention.

Gabbard piled up a 25-5 record last season. Rustad was 12-8 and Rudeen 16-20.

Gabbard, Venz and Hoeve were all ranked among the pre-season top 10 wrestlers in Minnesota at their respective weights: Gabbard third at 106 lbs.; Venz fifth at 113 lbs. and Hoeve seventh at 160 lbs.

Olson said ninth-grader Jamin LeDuc has also looked strong in early practices and should see varsity mat time at one of the lighter weights.

Even with the large number of returnees, Olson said there are still some spots to be filled at the upper end of the lineup. Still, he likes his team's chances.

"We will be better than last year," he predicted.

Olson said New Prague and Shakopee are favored in the chase for top spot in the Missota with Prior Lake, Shakopee and Lakeville North the likely teams to beat in the section.

"We should be in the top half of the section," he said.

Olson will have three assistant coaches this season: former head coach Jon Lund, Doug Quick and Mike Kirsch.

The Tigers get their first taste of live competition this Saturday when they make the short trip west for the Panther Invitational at Lakeville North.