Men's Wrestling 10/31/2014 4:28:00 PM

OCU aim to make mark with young talent

Skates will contend for third all-American nod

OCU boasts of seven individuals with national tournament experience.

Oklahoma City University's wrestling team expects to continue its growth from last season and be a top program this season.
The Stars retain a promising nucleus of wrestlers who exceeded expectations as freshmen. In 2013-14, OCU went 8-9 in duals and advanced seven individuals to the NAIA Championships.
OCU starts its season with a set of duals at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla. The Stars take on Baker (Kan.), Oklahoma and Shorter (Ga.) with action starting at 9 a.m.
"Our expectation for the men's team is to be a top-five team," OCU coach Archie Randall said. "This year's team is relatively young, but we have a tremendous amount of experience from last year. Everybody is back. They're all a little bigger, stronger and more experienced."
Zach Skates headlines the Stars after becoming a two-time all-American last season. Skates, a junior from Broken Arrow, Okla., went 38-13 with a sixth-place finish at 157 pounds in the NAIA Championships. Skates enters the season as one of the contenders for the national title.
"We expected him to be a national champion," Randall said of last year.
Cody Sivertsen has made the national tournament the past two seasons. Sivertsen, a senior from Moore, Okla., posted a 30-19 record with 13 falls as a junior. He will sit out this season as a redshirt.
A closer look at the Stars:

125 pounds

Adrian Gaines provides the Stars with an experienced national-tournament qualifier at 125 pounds. Gaines, a sophomore from Lawton, Okla., went 31-20 with eight falls as a freshman.
OCU brought in Aaron LaFarge, who became an all-American for Montana State-Northern in 2012-13. LaFarge, a senior from La Habra Heights, Calif., is set to be a competitor for national honors once again.
Coulton Parker, a freshman from Piedmont, Okla., and Robert Turrentine, a senior from Tulsa, Okla., provide quality depth for OCU.
"You can never have enough 125-pounders," Randall said.

133

Michael Stamp has been a part of the OCU program for two years. Stamp is a junior from Norman, Okla.
Brandon Thompson joins the Stars after a fine prep career and experience at Newberry (S.C.). Thompson, a redshirt freshman from Solon, Ohio, follows his brother Kevin Hardy to OCU. Hardy is OCU's only national champion. Randall on Thompson: "He could be the wrestler to watch at 133."
Alvie Killingsworth, a senior from Vian, Okla., is redshirting.

141

James Landoll earned action throughout his freshman year. Landoll, a sophomore from Marysville, Kan., went 18-23 with four pins in 2013-14.
Lino Gomez will provide Landoll competition for mat time. Gomez, a sophomore from El Paso, Texas, posted an 8-14 record with three falls last season.
"We're confident in both," Randall said of Gomez and Landoll. "They placed in tournaments."
Travon Smith, a senior from Shreveport, La., will sit out this season as a redshirt.

149

The Stars will employ a pair of newcomers at 149 – Parker Bohanon, a freshman from Yukon, Okla., and Brok Williams, a freshman from Lawton, Okla.
"Both are talented," Randall said. "Our goal is to rotate them. It's such a hard adjustment to go from high school to college wrestling."

157

Aaron Guery, a freshman from Lancaster, Texas, will benefit from competing against a two-time all-American. "He will push Zach," Randall said of Guery.

165

Ricky McCarty has moved to this weight after qualifying for the national tournament as a 149-pounder. McCarty, a sophomore from Lawton, Okla., went 32-17 and pinned seven opponents. Randall on McCarty: "He worked really hard in the off-season."
Jamie Shawver competed for a national-tournament berth in the NAIA Central Qualifying Group Tournament. Shawver, a junior from Del City, Okla., was 12-13 last season. "He had a really good season," Randall said.

174

Jared Bass made a deep run in the national tournament. Bass, a senior from Cushing, Okla., recorded a 22-20 ledger while pinning three opponents.

184

Derek Sivertsen made his mark while going 26-22 with 12 falls. Sivertsen, a sophomore from Moore, Okla., and brother to Cody, could be used at multiple spots.
Jacob King saw limited action, but it set to expand that this season. King, a sophomore from Rio Rancho, N.M., has a 7-10 career record.

197

Freshman Riley Fielder comes to OCU after winning a state championship for tradition-rich Tuttle (Okla.).
Miguel Tovar, a sophomore from El Paso, Texas, lends experience after transferring from Wayland Baptist (Texas).

285

Destin Theus, a junior from River Ridge, La., is the team's lone experienced heavyweight.

With the experience returning to the team plus the talented newcomers OCU boasts of, Randall will challenge the Stars to ready themselves for a postseason push.
"Our schedule is upgraded to prepare ourselves better for nationals," Randall said. "We return all the starters. With the addition of the new kids, we've made the team stronger. We recruited all quality kids."

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Players Mentioned

Jared Bass: 174; 6' 1"; Senior

Adrian Gaines: 125; 5' 5"; Sophomore

Lino Gomez: 133; 5' 8"; Sophomore

Alvie Killingsworth: 125; 5' 8"; Senior

Jacob King: 184; 6' 1"; Sophomore

James Landoll: 141; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Ricky McCarty: 165; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Jamie Shawver: 157; 6' 0"; Junior

Cody Sivertsen: 184; 6' 0"; Senior

Derek Sivertsen: 174; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Zach Skates: 157; 5' 9"; Junior

Travon Smith: 133; 5' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Jared Bass
: 6' 1"; Senior
: 174

Adrian Gaines
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: 125

Lino Gomez
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: 133

Alvie Killingsworth
: 5' 8"; Senior
: 125

Jacob King
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: 184

James Landoll
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: 141

Ricky McCarty
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: 165

Jamie Shawver
: 6' 0"; Junior
: 157

Cody Sivertsen
: 6' 0"; Senior
: 184

Derek Sivertsen
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: 174

Zach Skates
: 5' 9"; Junior
: 157

Travon Smith
: 5' 8"; Senior
: 133