The Red Raiders open up their 2017-18 season Saturday, November 11th at the DWU Open in Mitchell, S.D. Today we will preview the season for the Raiders, highlighting each weight class, the conference preview, schedule, and national rankings.
Northwestern has quite the dichotomy within their team this year with some seasoned veteran leaders and a lot of young talent. The roster consists of 9 freshman, 8 sophomores, 5 juniors, and 5 seniors. "There is a lot of excitement with our team this year," remarked Head Coach
Rik Dahl. "We have a sophomore class that is looking to rebound after a tough year, a freshman class that is full of talented young men, and 10 upper classmen who we know can compete at the highest level. We will have our growing pains I am sure, but we could surprise some people as the season goes on".
The Raiders start off the year at the DWU open on November 11. It will be an early test for many of the young Raiders as this event year to year brings strong talent to Mitchell, S.D. They follow up the DWU open with another open tournament, this time in Kearney, Nebraska at the Kearney Open on November 18.
Northwestern will then host their first dual of the year with Buena Vista coming to town on November 21. They follow up their first dual with their first GPAC Dual when Briar Cliff comes to town on November 30. "We have two tough duals to start off the year," commented Coach Dahl. "It is nice that they are back to back on the schedule and we look forward to having good support from our fans at those two duals. We will be able to see where we are at early on in the season."
The remaining first half of the schedule has one more open tournament at the BVU Open December 2, one GPAC Dual at Doane University on December 5, and finish off the first semester at the Augustana Duals in Sioux Falls, S.D. where NWC will face Southwest Minnesota State University, Augustana University, and Drury University. The second half of the season will be previewed in January after Winter Break.
The Raiders will face a tough battle throughout the GPAC Conference this year. Five GPAC schools, Morningside (12th), Midland (14th), Concordia (16th), Briar Cliff (T-18th), and Hastings (T-18) are all ranked in front of the Red Raiders who were receiving votes in the NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Preseason Top 20 poll. The Raiders received 26 points in the polls putting them T-27th in the nation. "Our conference looks on paper like a tough battle this year," commented Coach Dahl. "We feel as though we have some solid matchups in many of the weight classes this year and those will help us win duals when it comes down to the wire."
Northwestern will be competitive in those duals thanks to 149 pounder Dante Preciado (Ranked 6th Nationally), 174 pounder Brandon Schuler (Ranked 17th Nationally), and 197 pounder Nick Null (Ranked 14th Nationally). Each of the ranked Raiders are expected to be big performers this season in their respective weight classes but they will need more from unranked Raiders if they will make a push to be at the top of the conference.
"We will need our 41's, 49's, and 57's to be big for us this year. 65 and 97 are hard weight classes int he GPAC but we feel that Nick and Drew can help us gain an advantage throughout the year in those weights. Our heavyweights and 33's will be wild cards for us and we are excited to see what they can bring to the mat this year. We know that the battle between Marcus and Sam at the 25's will be competitive and fun and we hope that will help us get better every day."
Below is the weight class by weight class preview:
125 lbs.
With a three year starter and 2x National Qualifier taking a red-shirt year, this weight is up for grabs. It will be a two horse race between junior
Sam Klarenbeek (Hull, IA) and freshman
Marcus Tucker (La Mesa, CA). Klarenbeek is as healthy as he has ever been while at NWC. He's been destroying the workouts this pre-season and training like a man on a mission. His determination has been fun to watch, and we look forward to seeing how he continues to develop. Joining Klarenbeek is 2017 California State Qualifier,
Marcus Tucker. Marcus has adjusted well to college workouts and seems to have found a home here at NWC. He is a talented young man with a high ceiling. Our starter at this weight will be named later, so be sure to watch these two hungry competitors!
133 lbs.
Last year's starter at this weight was sophomore
Cole Mills (Hinton, IA). To say the season didn't go as expected would be an understatement. However, Mills, ever the competitor, amped up his training this off-season and returned to campus stronger and more determined than ever. The 2017 Champion of Character is also a team captain.Joining Mills at this weight is fellow captain and 2016 GPAC placer (5
th at 133 lbs.),
Jake Hergott (Lincoln, NE). After spending his red-shirt year healing and helping coach his teammates, Hergott is ready to make the most of his senior year. We are stoked to get this dynamic technician back on the mat as we believe he will add the big move dimension we missed last season. We hope to see many bonus points earned from this young man. Joining these two upper classmen will be freshman
Nathan Avant (Lancaster, CA). This California talent is definitely a wild card and could prove to be a major player in the mix. Avant has been impressive this pre-season with his approach to training and the amount of training he is willing to do. With these three talented fellas, 133 pounds will be one of our deepest weights. You can bet these guys will battle hard each day and make each other better as they prepare to lead our team into the post-season in February and March.
141 lbs.
This weight will look very different for Red Raiders for us this season. Last year we had a freshman duo that held down the fort and finished 1st and 4th in the GPAC at this weight. This season will see both those guys bump up weights. Filling the void will be senior captain Elijah Dahl (Orange City, IA). Dahl has lived at 149 lbs. the past three seasons and was a GPAC placer as a freshman finishing 6th. Dahl started the 2016-17 season off hot placing 3rd at the Kearney Open and winning some key dual meet matches. He finished his junior campaign at 16-12 and led the team in tech falls (4). Dahl made the decision to drop down last spring and has been tearing things up this preseason keeping his weight down and his conditioning up. We are excited to see how this team leader finishes off his senior year and look for him to be in Des Moines, IA come March!
149 lbs.
Part of the reason Dahl felt the freedom to drop down was that returning All-American,
Dante Preciado (Chula Vista, CA)(and fellow freshman phenom, Dan Zeleny) made the commitment to bump up this off-season. Leading the team in several categories as freshman, including Wins (33), Match Points (264), and Decisions (21), this SoCal product impressed the NAIA by winning the GPAC tournament and placing 8
th at the National Tournament in Topeka last March. Preciado is the 2
nd Red Raider in school history to earn an All-American placing (Nic Leither was the first in 2009). Dante looks to continue his winning ways at the tough 149 lb weight class this season. We believe with his talent and the off season work he put in to get physically stronger, he will be a major player this season in the NAIA as he works to climb the podium. Joining Preciado at this weight will be sophomore
Matthew Shuka (Gilbert, IA). Shuka continues to be a vital member program. He trains hard and possesses a unique charisma. In his short time on campus we have seen much improvement, and we look to see that trend continue as he enters his 2
nd year of competition!
157 lbs.
We are pretty excited about this weight this season. When we made the decision to red-shirt 2017 letter winner,
Dylan Costello (Chula Vista, CA), we worked hard to fill this weight in the offseason.To successfully do that, we grew a guy, brought in a guy and brought back a guy to help build some depth. Accepting the challenge to grow into a 157 pounder, sophomore
Dan Zeleny (Gretna, NE) made the big jump from 141 lbs. last season. Having Dan move up to this weight was not that hard of a choice. He was struggling to make 141 lbs. last year and his body responded well to the lifting program this off-season. This 2017 4
th place GPAC finisher came on strong last year and avenged several earlier season losses at the GPAC Tournament. Zeleny led the team in reversals last year (13) and racked up 15 key victories for the Raiders as part of a duo of 141 pounders who tallied 48 wins! He will lead the charge at this weight but will be pushed by 2016 Red Raider,
Carter Behler (Independence, MO). Behler was our 157 pounder two seasons ago, but opted to stay closer to home last year. We are excited to have Behler back in the room and his unorthodox style of wrestling should complement Zeleny's grinding approach.Close behind these two veterans will be freshman
Matt Dahl (Orange City, IA). This 2017 Iowa State Qualifier has a high ceiling and a love for the throw! With a decorated background in the Olympic styles of wrestling, Dahl has big-move capabilities and rare power found in an 18 year old. We look forward to seeing how these three Raiders push themselves and work to get to Des Moines in March.
165 lbs.
There is always excitement in the air when someone returns to campus with a chip on their shoulder. Sophomore
Andrew Null (Plattsmouth, NE) has a very large chip to get rid of. This young Nebraska phenome had aspirations for his freshman campaign and things didn't go even close to plan! Although he mustered a 6
th place finish at the GPAC tournament, he had his hopes set on much higher achievements. Last spring, Null began planning for this season by putting in another season of competition in the Greco circuit. He competed in the University Nationals in Akron, OH and recorded a tech fall over the NAIA wrestler who finished 3
rd in the country at 165 lbs. last season. It has been fun watching Drew respond this preseason, and he enters this campaign as the favorite to be the starter at this weight. Joining Drew will be freshman
Bennett Sikkink (St Charles, MN). A 2017 Minnesota State Qualifier, Bennett brings with him a growing desire to improve and a tenacious work ethic. He has been a key part of an impressive freshman class that is making our team better. Bennett's greatest attribute is the way he is soaking up instruction and making immediate improvements. This humble, hard-working young man will be someone impressive very soon, and we look forward seeing both he and Null turn some heads this season at 165 lbs.
174 lbs.
When we lost
Brandon Shuler (Plattsmouth, NE) last season to a knee injury, it was a big hit to our line-up. Brandon's workman-like approach to wrestling is a grind on opponents and his absence was not good for our room and our team. A 2016 National Qualifier, Shuler has been impressive in the preseason and has led the charge in workouts and practices. After missing out on last season, this Nebraska product is chomping at the bit and ready to compete in his junior season. We believe this perennial 20 match winner will be instrumental in leading the Raiders this season; both in the room and around campus. Joining Shuler and coming down from 184 lbs. will be sophomore
Caleb Boyles (Lawrenceburg, KY). Caleb certainly didn't have the season he had hoped for coming out of high school. This young man is used to winning and last year certainly left a bad taste in his mouth. What has been impressive is Caleb's commitment to improve in the off-season. We believe he has a high ceiling and would love to see him have a breakout year at this weight.
184 lbs.
This is a weight we have been excited about since last March. Sophomore
D'rell Gist (San Diego, CA) had an incredible first season and led the Raiders in takedowns (89). In addition, he was among the leaders in Match Points, Major Decisions and Tech Falls. D'rell came in with an incredible feel in the neutral position and used this to his advantage as he tallied wins over three NAIA All-Americans throughout the season. This 6
th place GPAC finisher will hold the starting spot at this weight and has the talent to make it on the national scene. Gist is tenacious and committed to doing what needs to be done to be successful. His offseason training is a testament to this, and if that is an indication, we are stoked for what he can do this year! Also finding some time on the mat at this weight will be senior
Brock Brenneman (Parnell, IA). Brock was a utility guy for us last year and came up big for the Raiders on several occasions including tallying a fall in our last dual of the season. Brenneman brings us back to when farm kids had incredible natural power and an unmatched work ethic. What this guy lacks in experience, he certainly makes up with his motor. These guys are certainly a contrast in style and technique; however they make up a strong duo that will push each other in the room – as Iron Sharpens Iron!
197 lbs.
At the 197 lbs weight class, we focus a weight that will look completely different from last year as we replace 2017 GPAC Champion and Tournament MVP,
Luis Rivera-Santiago. Luis' mat savvy and slick neutral offense will be replaced by a two- pronged attack led by 2x NAIA National Qualifier,
Nick Null (Plattsmouth, NE). Null's dangerous and all-out style of wrestling is not only entertaining to watch, it is motivating to wrestle alongside. Null's gutsy 2
nd place performance last season at the GPAC Tournament sealed his 2
ndtrip to the national tournament, and he did it with a torn ACL! We are excited to get this young man back healthy, inspired to compete and lead this team. Joining Null at 197 lbs this year will be freshman standout,
Reid Seelhammer (Chatfield, MN). Seelhammer capped his high school career by winning the Minnesota state championship at 220 lbs for Dover-Eyota HS. This imposing young man brings with him a dominating style on the mat and tons of potential. Seelhammer has spent the preseason learning the ropes and has made big strides in the room; taking full advantage of the talent around him. If the past few months have taught us anything, it is that these two guys will live to push each other with full intentions of both making the podium.
285 lbs.
Our last featured weight also finds us working to replace a strong leader on the team as 3x National Qualifier and team captain; Randy Null graduated this past May. Filling the void this season will be a platoon on young Red Raiders. Leading the charge will be sophomore letter-winner
Victor Garcia (El Cajon, CA). Victor came on strong late last season and earned himself a spot on the national qualifying team. He is a driven young man with his sights set on a trip to Des Moines in March. Pushing Victor and equally as driven are two talented young freshman.
Andrew Poumele (Lenon Grove, CA) was a state qualifier for Helix Academy in San Diego, CA. This big guy is quick and agile on his feet. It has been fun watching Poumele battle in the practice room this season. He is tenacious and lets his work do his talking! Equally as talented is local high school standout
Skyler Bonestroo (Hull, IA). This 2x state place-winner for Western Christian was very familiar with the program growing up in NW Iowa. His transition has been smooth and his desire to improve is refreshing. Skyler possesses an athleticism and desire that will make him a force to be reckoned with as he battles for the spot.
Also in the mix at heavyweight will be sophomore
Nikita Raketckii (St. Petersburg, Russia), local product
Chris Calhoun (Bronson, IA) and
Dorean Gardner (Phoenix, AZ). All three of these young men have made huge strides this preseason and will add depth in the room and will fight for time on the mat.
