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Raiders reloaded and ready for a repeat photo by Jim Craven With seven All-Americans back from last year's national championship squad, SOU begins title defense tonight By TIM PYLE Mail Tribune The view from the top of the mountain last March was grand. But the Southern Oregon wrestling team knows another grueling climb begins today. After pinning down the fourth NAIA national championship in program history last season, the Raiders return to the mats starting tonight, when they tangle with Menlo College at 7 at McNeal Pavilion. SOU, ranked No. 4 in the preseason national poll, encounters a formidable test right away in the Oaks, a first-year program that is loaded enough to rank No. 12 in the country. The Raiders continue their opening-weekend trials Saturday, as the annual Pete Belcastro SOU Open gets underway at 9 a.m. and features wrestlers from NCAA Division I teams like Oregon and Oregon State. But with seven All-Americans back from last season's champions and an influx of talented newcomers, the Raiders say they're ready - and eager - to begin title defense. "Without a doubt, we have the talent, and so far, it seems like we have the work ethic as well (to repeat)," says Brian Murphy, a sophomore from Oconomowoc, Wis., who finished sixth in the nation to garner All-American honors at 149 pounds last season. "It was great to be a part of last year, but that's it. It's done. It stopped last year. Something new started right after we won that title." Joining Murphy, who will wrestle at 141 this season, as returning All-Americans are: Abe Haddon, a senior at 184 from Tucson, Ariz.; Devin Parks, a senior from Lowell who is dropping from 197 to 184; Nolan Harris, a junior from Salem in the 125 division; Brian Wilson, a sophomore from Dayton at 165; Wesley Balensifer, a sophomore at 197 from Warrenton; and John Sills, a sophomore from Tigard at 165. Haddon, one of four seniors on the SOU roster, has a chance to do what just one Raider has done before - become a four-time All-American. The only SOU wrestler to accomplish that feat? None other than seventh-year head coach Mike Ritchey, who starred on the McNeal mats from 1985-88. "I'm not even thinking about it," says Haddon, who wrestled at North Salem High, Ritchey's alma mater, for a portion of his prep career. The Raiders' depth is one of their biggest strengths, and it's illustrated by the fact that Haddon is not starting at 184 in tonight's dual match. Parks defeated Haddon in practice this week for the right to represent SOU at 184 against Menlo. Haddon, whose older brother, Jamie, was also a Raider wrestler, has finished sixth in the nation at 184 each of the past two seasons after earning fifth at 174 as a redshirt freshman. More than an individual national title or further All-American recognition, Haddon says he's focused on helping lead SOU to a 32nd consecutive winning season. "A lot of years of hard work seem to come down to the last year," Haddon says. "But you do the best you can every year, and hope you do better next. "Right now, it's early, so we're working on establishing a unity, with guys getting to know the new guys." Jason Chao is another of SOU's four seniors. The 133-pounder from Las Vegas says the Raiders' work ethic is what gives him confidence that they can replace four departed All-Americans and be in the mix for the NAIA throne. "Being a national-championship team, there's that pride," says Chao, who transferred from Southwestern Oregon in Coos Bay before the 2000-2001 campaign. "We're working hard, and we're gonna work hard." Two individual national champions donned SOU red and black last year. One, Jeremy Wynia, has graduated, and the other, Sills, may redshirt depending upon the progress made with an injured knee in the coming weeks. There were also two runner-ups: Dan Sturgell, a three-time All-American who graduated, and Balensifer, a high school teammate of Sturgell's. After considering a move up to 285, Balensifer is staying at 197. Ranked No. 2 in his weight class heading into the season, Balensifer has as good a shot as any Raider to claim the 20th individual crown in SOU history. "I'm just trying to work hard," says Balensifer, who became a Raider after redshirting at Oregon State in 1999-2000. Hard work is precisely what has taken Ritchey's program back to the level to which legendary SOU coach Bob Riehm (1969-94) took it three times. "I had some big shoes to fill coming in," says Ritchey, who wrestled for Riehm, then served as one of his assistants from 1991-94. "(Riehm) obviously set the standard for the school, as far as athletics go. "I pretty well had some pretty good plans laid to follow, as far as what we needed to do. To bring home my own (championship) as a head coach is a nice feeling. I think people now think of the program as on the right track." And the Raiders are determined to take that track right back to the top of the NAIA mountain this winter. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.