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Pointer wrestling adds locals in 2009 class

by Bryon Graff

STEVENS POINT (WAOW) - The Pointer wrestling team adds several local grapplers with experience at the state tournament.

Online Reporter: Bryon Graff

Press Release Courtesy of UWSP Sports Information Department

Wrestling recruits bring wealth of experience

STEVENS POINT - A group of 19 incoming freshman with extensive state tournament experience highlight the UW-Stevens Point wrestling team's 2009-10 recruiting class.

Pointers' head coach Johnny Johnson, who will begin his 12th season with the program in 2009, welcomes 16 wrestlers who competed in 2009 state tournaments, including 12 place finishers. The group joins a team that finished second at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament and 17th at the NCAA Division III Championships.

"We are very excited about this group of incoming freshmen," said Coach Johnson. "This is overall the largest and most talented group I've seen in my 15 years at UW-Stevens Point."

Among the 2009-10 recruits is three-time state place-finisher Jordan Schulte (Mosinee). A four-year state qualifier, Jordan finished his career at Mosinee with a fifth place finish at state in 2007, and back-to-back runner-up finishes at 160-pounds in both 2008 and 2009. A two-time Oshkosh on the Water champion and three-time conference champion, Jordan was also an all-conference and all-region football player his senior season with the Indians.

State champions Jordan Poirier (125, Bloomer) and CJ Hale (133, Auburndale) will also join the Pointers in 2009, having each won a state title at 112 and 130 respectively. Poirier was a two-time state qualifier, finishing fifth in 2007 and first in 2009. He was a two-time conference champion at Bloomer High School and boasts 130 career wins to his credit. Hale won six tournaments in his senior season, winning regionals and was the division three state champion. He is also a four year honors student.

Cody Stichman (157, Waupaca) and Ben Strobel (149, Neenah) are both two-time place-finishers, placing third in their respective weight classes at the 2009 state tournament. Stichman also posted a second-place finish in 2008 while Strobel finished fourth at the 2008 tournament.

Rounding out the list of two-time state qualifiers are Matt Wallace (197, Kaukauna) and Matt Cuadra (285, Oshkosh/West). Both finished third at this year's state tournament after qualifying for the tournament in 2008. Wallace was a two-time all-conference selection at Kaukauna including a first team selection as a junior. Strobel finished fourth in '08 at state and was also a four-year letterwinnner in football.

Mark Puckhaber (141, DePere/West), Mike Weber (197, Necedah), Dustin Wozniak (197, Stanley), Patrick Sloan (141, Mukwonago) and transfer Hayden Silvers (141, Baraboo) also join the list of incoming student-athletes for the Pointer wrestling team. Four qualified for the 2009 state tournament and finished in the top-five. Puckhaber finished second at the 2009 state tournament at 135 pounds, Weber finished third at 215 pounds while Wozniak and Sloan both finished fourth in their respective weight classes. Silvers was a fifth-place finisher at the 2008 state tournament.

Four other Pointer recruits, Lucas McGann (133, Merrimac/Baraboo), Derek Roosa (184, Mosinee), Tom Jung (149, Clarendon Hills, Ill./Hinsdale Central) and Shane Sweeney (Edgewood/Monona), were state qualifiers in 2009.

Expected to round out the list of newcomers are Ryan Conat (157, New London), Craig Brandvold (174, Merrill) and Jordan Kust (125, Shawano). Conat holds the New London High School win record, boasting over 100 career victories over his four-year career. Brandvold finished his career with a 108-47 varsity record including 41-7 his senior season and was a three-time second team all-conference selection for the Bluejays. Kust set a Shawano HS record for wins, finishing with a 134-17 record over his career and was a four-time first team all-conference performer and a four-time national dual team member and sectional qualifier.