Two grapplers become All-Americans at championships

The BVU wrestling season came to an end with two Beaver wrestlers becoming All-Americans at the 2008 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on March 8. Senior and three-time All-American Jestin Hulegaard (133 lbs.) finished in eighth and has become the program's first ever four-time All-American.

"I'm not sure being the program's first is as big of a deal as just being a four-time (All-American) itself," Hulegaard said. "I hope I won't be the last to be a four-time. It feels more like it's about time someone did it."

This marks the end of Hulegaard's career at BVU. This season he finished 29-9 overall. Junior Aaron Cook (149 lbs.) has become an All-American for the first time, finishing in fourth. Cook felt he partially accomplished his goal of doing well at nationals.

"It was good to be a fairly high All-American but being a competitor, seeing people do better than you is kind of hard especially when you're on the podium," Cook said.

Cook's season ends with a 35-6 record. Sophomore Julian Mancha, who also advanced to the national championships saw his bid to become an All-American fall short in day one of action. He ends his season at 24-14.

The national championships also mark the end of current Head Coach Mark Schwab's career at BVU. Schwab was left with mixed feelings after the national championships.

"I guess overall I would say there were some good things and there were some stones left unturned," Schwab said.

Schwab felt despite a difficult year, Hulegaard has still earned a major accomplishment.

"It's huge," he said. "I mean how many four-time All-Americans do you know? How many four-time All-Americans does anybody know? It's a tough year for him injury-wise, illness-wise…he basically was running uphill."

Coach Schwab feels Cook's fourth place finish was more than earned for a wrestler he feels can still contend for a national title and has a word of advice to his opponents.

"Cook just out-toughs guys," Schwab said. "You better bring a cooler with several meals because you're going to be there for a while."

In other post-season honors, juniors Joey Verschoor and Brian Stueve were both named members of the 2007-2008 NWCA Division III Scholar All-American Team.

In terms of the season overall, Coach Schwab felt the team "underachieved big time," but that the team had potential to advance even more wrestlers on to Nationals but just did not capitalize on the opportunity. Schwab feels the program is left in the right hands in BVU alumnus and current assistant coach Sevond Cole, as does Hulegaard.

"The future all depends on Sevond," Hulegaard said. "He's going to go through a learning phase of how to be the main guy and deal with all the responsibilities, but I think he's more than ready and should do a good job."