Wrestling Season Outlook
10/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Oct. 30, 2006
Head coach Tom Minkel sees his 2006-07 squad as the perfect blend of veterans and young talent. While heralded red-shirt freshmen Franklin Gomez and Rocky Cozart will get plenty of attention in their first seasons in the starting lineup, the focus will be on the senior seasons of returning All-Americans Nick and Andy Simmons.
"There is a certain symmetry to the entire thing," Minkel said. "They grew up just down the road in Williamston, went to high school at Williamston High School, and have had extremely successful careers here. To finish their careers here at the Breslin Center with the 2007 Big Ten Championships, and at the Palace of Auburn Hills with the NCAA Championships is something special."
Minkel thinks both Nick, a three-time national placer who took fourth in 2006, and Andy, a two-time All-American who was fifth last season, are poised for another run at national championships. At the same time, he also thinks the Green and White have a special thing going with Gomez and Cozart.
Gomez enters his first season of collegiate eligibility having won five consecutive national championships in his age group. The Puerto Rico native won a high school national title in the spring of 2005, junior national titles in both Greco Roman and freestyle divisions, a Fila Cadet national championship last fall, and a University national championship this past April. Cozart, who was Gomez's high school teammate at Brandon (Fla.) High School, brings similar credentials to the table. He was a three-time junior national freestyle national champion and a three-time Florida state champion.
"I think it will be a special year, not only for Nick and Andy, but for the program," Minkel said. "We have got leadership and experience at that end, and on the other end we have two of the most outstanding young wrestlers we've ever had here."
The Spartans have the potential to be strong at the other six weight classes as well. Minkel expects big things from sophomore John Murphy, who will drop from 184 to 174 pounds to fill the void left by two-time NCAA qualifier R.J. Boudro. Murphy placed last season at the highly competitive Midlands Championships and expects more success at a lower weight.
Tony Greathouse, a fifth-year senior, spent the 2005-06 season in transition, after bumping up from 133 pounds to 157 pounds, and will be solid after spending a season learning the nuances of the higher weight class.
At the other end of the spectrum, the 149, 197 and 285 pound weight classes will feature young talent breaking into the starting lineup. Several freshmen and sophomores will compete for the 149-pound spot, while Nick Palmieri has been penciled in as the starter at 197 after an injury-plagued season in 2005-06. Four freshmen will battle for the 285-pound role.
However, the team's success this season could come down to the individual strides made by junior Joe Williams at 184 pounds.
"Joe has an enormous amount of talent, he has just struggled with injuries in his first three years here," Minkel said. "Joe is a wrestler that can make or break a lot of matches, and I am optimistic about him because he had such a great summer of training."
For the first time since coming to East Lansing in the fall of 2003, the Orange, Calif., native spent the summer on campus, training hard, lifting weights, and getting healthy.
"He is a pivotal player for us," Minkel said. "He is a junior this year, so this is the time he should be stepping up."
All things considered, the Spartans are poised for another intriguing season. While some will be pushing for national champion and All-American status, others will be trying to win that crucial match to put MSU over the top.
"Our team success will come down to guys that have been in the program for a while; they will really make or break the season," Minkel said. "We have to stay healthy and continue to progress, but if things line up like they should, I think we could have a heck of a year."
125 and 133 pounds
Because both Franklin Gomez and Nick Simmons are naturally 125 pounders, each will want a shot to win that spot.
"If Nick wins the 125, Franklin will be a little handicapped at the 133," Minkel said. "Nick, on the other hand, is a little better suited for 133 because he is a bigger kid."
 Nick Simmons enters the season ranked No. 3 at 125 pounds.  | |
The spot will probably be evaluated after the preseason tournaments, but it's a decision that must be made promptly after that, as State jumps right into its dual-meet schedule with defending national champion Oklahoma State on Nov. 16. Simmons enters the year ranked No. 3 in three preseason rankings at 125, while Gomez is ranked as high as 15th at 133.
"Nick clearly is driven to be an NCAA champion; he certainly has the potential to do that and we know that on any given day he can beat anybody," Minkel said. "But, Franklin is one of the best wrestlers we've had in our program, and, as young as he is, he'll compete for a national title, no questions. In any case, it will be one-two with Nick and Franklin, and that's a great way to start any competition."
141
The Spartans follow the one-two punch of Nick and Franklin with defending Big Ten champion Andy Simmons at 141 pounds. Simmons had another great summer of wrestling, training hard and competing in the University World Championships in Mongolia. He is unquestionably a national title contender once again, and begins the season ranked No. 1 by Amateur Wrestling News and No. 2 by W.I.N. Magazine.
"Right away, our first three kids have the potential to win a national title," Minkel said. "It's a great way to begin our lineup."
149
With national-title contenders holding down the first three classes, the 149-pound class is the ultimate wild card for the Spartans as three wrestlers will compete for the spot. Sophomores Eddie Skowneski and Nick Fallico spent their two seasons in the weight class with different results. Skowneski has been a force in the open competitions where he has competed, while Fallico has been marred by numerous injuries. Fellow sophomore Tim Hammer rounds out the threesome, making the move up from 141 pounds.
"At this point I cannot quite tell who is going to win the spot," Minkel said. "I am just hoping for the best."
157
The 157-pound spot is Tony Greathouse's to lose, but he will have a little more competition this season from sophomore Rex Kendle.
"Tony learned a lot last year with the move from 133 to 157," Minkel said. "It was quite a jump, but I think this year he is more comfortable in that weight, stronger and more experienced."
165
For as young as he is, Rocky Cozart has tremendous experience in the sport, and will compete with the nation's elite in 2006-07, even as a red-shirt freshman. Cozart comes from a wrestling family, having been coached by his dad at Brandon, one of the most successful high school programs in the country.
"Rocky has great tools, and a very unique, unorthodox style of wrestling," Minkel said. "A lot of his background is in Greco Roman, but he is still a very tough collegiate wrestler. He'll have a heck of a year."
174
John Murphy trained hard this offseason to earn the starting nod at 174 pounds going into the season, but he can't look back, as several upperclassmen will be pushing him. Juniors Greg Goidosik and Bryan Harney both bring starting experience to the table, while Abe Cross and Jeremy Bloom will apply pressure as well.
 Junior Joe Williams | |
"John's got a lot of talent--he's tough, he's gritty, he's really focused and motivated," Minkel said. "He hasn't been a starter before, so that will be a little new, and will be a little bit of a challenge for him."
184
After years of battling injuries, Joe Williams is pimed for a breakout season. Countless setbacks limited him in his first two seasons as a starter, but Williams enters this season ranked No. 14 by W.I.N. Magazine.
197
Nick Palmieri didn't get many matches in during his red-shirt season due to two surgeries, but is very talented despite his lack of experience. Minkel expects him to progress as the season wears on.
285
For possibly the first time in program history, four heavyweights will grace the Spartan wrestling room with their presence in 2006-07. Sophomore Freddie DeRamus and red-shirt Allen O'Donnell will most likely earn the starting role, while newcomers Nick Anurak and Alex Strachan will redshirt.
"This is the first time I can remember us having four legitimate heavyweights," Minkel said. "The most important thing is that we now have some solid training partners, so they can get a partner to work out with everyday."
Schedule Outlook
Once again, Minkel has scheduled the nation's elite programs to take on his Spartans in 2006-07.
"If you look through the schedule, there are not many soft spots," he said. "We wrestle everybody in the final four of last season's final standings, and seven of the top 10 finishers."
In addition to the usual suspects - Central Michigan, Oklahoma and defending national champs Oklahoma State - Missouri will visit Jenison Field House for the first time since 2001. The Tigers are coached by Brian Smith, a former Spartan. Michigan State has additional out-of-conference dates with Pittsburgh and Edinboro.
In conference action, Minkel thinks there will be a bit of a shift in power, as Illinois has graduated some key players and Penn State and Northwestern have accumulated a ton of talent. Two Big Ten programs look to start 2006 with new enthusiasm, as Ohio State with Tom Ryan and Iowa with Tom Brands have new coaches. Brands comes from Virginia Tech, and will be followed to Iowa City by most of the athletes he recruited while there.
"It's just a monster conference," Minkel said. "I don't know that the Big Ten has ever been any tougher then it is right now. And it continues to get tougher and tougher."
Michigan State will again host the MSU Open the second weekend in November, yet some changes have been made to the traditionally massive tournament.
"We converted it to a one day tournament, and with the cut in travel expenses, we've got a whole bunch of teams coming in that we haven't had here before," Minkel said. "All indications are that it's going to be an enormous tournament."
The season will wind down in March with Michigan State hosting the 2007 Big Ten Championships at the Breslin Center, and the University of Michigan hosting the NCAA Championships at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
"If you are into college wrestling, there is no better place to be than the state of Michigan following Michigan State wrestling," Minkel said. "We have eight home duals for the first time in a long time, plus the Big Ten and the NCAA, in addition to our annual MSU Open. It's an unbelievable schedule, especially for those people here at home and in the area."
Players Mentioned
