FROM OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

ATHLETICS COMMUNICATION OFFICE

TELEPHONE: (541) 737-3720 / (785) 218-8349                                

CONTACT: MATT FRANZBLAU                                                          

WWW.OSUBEAVERS.COM     
                                                     

Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012

Zalesky Announces 2012 Incoming Wrestling Class

A total of five freshmen and one junior college transfer highlight Coach Zalesky’s newcomers

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Some fresh faces are coming to the mats inside Gill Coliseum this fall for Head Coach Jim Zalesky and the Oregon State wrestling team. Zalesky officially unveiled the details of his 2012 incoming class Thursday.

In all, six student-athletes will be putting on the orange and black singlets for the first time this fall including five freshmen and one junior college transfer. The upperclassman is junior Austin Moreland, who comes to Corvallis from Clackamas Community College. The Sutter, Calif., native will wrestle in the 174/84 weight class.

“Austin has had two years of junior college experience so he may be more ready to start,” Zalesky said. “He is one of those guys who we will probably take more of a look at and see if he is even a guy who can start right away for us.”

Morehead was a two-time region champion as well as a national runner up on two occasions while wrestling for Clackamas Head Coach Josh Rhoden. To go along with Morehead, the OSU staff will also welcome in a crop of talented freshmen.  Those include a two-time Washington-state champion in Joey Palmer, a four-time Oregon state champion in Joey Delgado as well as a Colorado-state champion in Jordan Henrickson. Along with that trio comes a three-time Oregon-state champ in Jared Reis (pronounced RICE) as well as Oregon-state champion and All-Star heavyweight Mick Dougherty. Below is a quick rundown of the group.

JOEY PALMER (125-33 lbs.)
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Covington, Wash.
High School: Tahoma
Career Highlights: Won two state titles … named 4A region 3 wrestler of the year.
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qL1ulG2f3w

JOEY DELGADO (141 lbs.)
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Hermiston, Ore.
High School: Hermiston
Career Highlights: Was first in Oregon history to become four-time state champion … Finished career with 193-3 record.
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-ga49rd-kQ

JORDAN HENRICKSON (149-57 lbs.)
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Loveland, Colo.
High School: Loveland
Career Highlights: 2012 State Champion in the 145-weight class.
VIDEO: http://www.flowrestling.org/coverage/237588-2010-Old-Chicago-Northern-Colorado-Holiday-Tournament-Flonationals-Major/video/395133-135-lbs-Joseph-Martinez-Greeley-West-HS-vs-Jordan-Henrickson-Loveland-HS

JARED REIS (141-49 lbs.)
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Napoleon, S.D.
High School: Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter
Career Highlights: Thee-Time state champion … Also played football where he gained 1,000 yards as a running back for school’s football team.
VIDEO: http://www.kqcd.com/Video_News.asp?news=52998

MICK DOUGHARITY (Heavyweight)
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Demascus, Ore.
High School: Sam Barlow
Career Highlights: 2012 OSAA 6A State champion in the 220 pound weight class … Competed in the 2012 ORCA Senior All-Star Dual in the 220 weight class.
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAwldrIG5_c

“I think it will be a good class coming in for us,” Zalesky said. “Their work ethic and style they wrestle fits into the program with the way we coach.”

Morehead’s vitals are below…

AUSTIN MOREHEAD (174-84 lbs.)
Class: Junior
Hometown: Sutter, Calif.
High School: Sutter
Previous College: Clackamas Community College
Career Highlights: Two-time region champion and two-time national runner up while at Clackamas …Took sixth place at the Junior Greco National Championships and earned All-American honors in high school … Played football while at Sutter.
VIDEO: http://www.flowrestling.org/coverage/236005-2009-Reno-TOC-High-School/video/239600-215lbs-Ben-Holmes-Vacaville-vs-Austin-Morehead-Sutter-

The six newcomers along with the rest of the OSU team will hit the mats for their first practice in mid-September.

FULL RELEASE: http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/083012aaa.html

Matt Franzblau
Communications Assistant
Oregon State University Athletics
209 Gill Coliseum
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
matt.franzblau@oregonstate.edu
O: (541) 737.3720
C: (785) 218-8349
F: (541) 737-3072