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Despite losing three All-American wrestlers from last season, Minnesota coach J Robinson said he expects this year's squad to compete with the nation's best.
The Gophers, who held their first practice Monday at the Bierman gymnasium, lost Tim Harris, Brett Colombini and Chad Carlson.
"What we have is important," Robinson said. "What we lost isn't. We have a strong freshman and sophomore class this year that will more than make up for what we lost."
Robinson has reason to be especially optimistic about this year's squad. Entering his 10th season as coach, he recruited the country's best freshman class, he said.
Robinson said Ty Friederichs, a freshman from Osseo high school, is one of several grapplers who will contribute to Minnesota immediately.
Friederichs is the first wrestler in state history to win four individual state championships. He was undefeated his senior year at Osseo.
Friederichs will help fill one hole, but the Gophers have others as well. Besides the three seniors, the Gophers also lost junior Brandon Paulson, who left the team to train for the Olympics.
But Robinson said sophomore Kip Williamson and redshirt-freshman Bart Golyer will both compete for Paulson's spot at 118 pounds. By resdhirting his first year at the University, Golyer was able to practice with the Gophers last year without losing a year of eligibility.
There are only two seniors on this year's team. Billy Pierce, an All-American who wrestles at heavyweight, and Anthony Farina, who wrestles at 158, will lead a team composed of mostly freshman and sophomores.
"I'm looking forward to the season," Pierce said. "We have some talented young guys on the team who can contribute right away to our program."
Robinson is hopeful the Gophers can make it to the NCAA tournament, which they will be hosting in March at the Target Center.
"My focus is to get these guys to wrestle," he said. "Where we (wrestle) is not a big deal to me."
