Gazette-Times reporter

You’re not going to find many cupcakes on the Oregon State wrestling team’s schedule this year.

You will find plenty of powerhouse programs.

OSU coach Jim Zalesky knows the Beavers need to wrestle the best to become the best.

That’s why they’ll take on Nebraska, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan and Iowa State, among others.

“I think you have to wrestle competition during the year so you know when you go to the NCAA tournament that you’ve already wrestled those guys and you know that you can compete,” Zalesky said

The strength of the competition not only serves as an accurate gauge of the Beavers’ improvement, but builds confidence when they face top wrestlers down the road. It’s a mindset Zalesky is looking for.

“One thing about this program we have to do is change the mentality around,” he said. “When you wrestle somebody with a singlet that has a good tradition, just because they’re wearing that singlet doesn’t mean anything.

“You’ve got to know the way we train here, how we work here that they get prepared and ready to beat them.”

The level of competition is now also part of qualifying for the NCAA Championships. A wrestler can still qualify by winning a Pacific-10 Conference title, but all others are determined by a committee that will consider win percentage, RPI and rankings.

The best way to boost the RPI is to take on top wrestlers.

“There’s a new qualifier system now,” Zalesky said. “Last year in the Pac-10 meet we had 38 guys qualified for the NCAA tournament and now it depends on how you do in the year. So how you do in the year can almost qualify yourself before you get into the Pac-10 tournament if you (meet) a certain standard.”

The Beavers also want to reach the point where they can compete with the top programs. This year’s team seems to be headed in that direction.

The Beavers return a solid core group with senior 184-pounder Kyle Bressler, who won the Pac-10 title at 197 last year; senior NCAA-qualifier and Olympian Heinrich Barnes at 149; senior Jake Gonzales at 125 and junior Keegan Davis at 165.

There’s quite a bit of young talent in the fold. Zalesky said redshirt freshmen Kelly Kubec (133), Chad Hanke (197) and heavyweight Clayton Jack are all ready to step in. Redshirt freshman Garrett Drucker and true freshman Mike Mangrum are in the mix at 141.

The end result is a team with more balance throughout the lineup than last year.

“We had some guys that I think we weren’t competitive at some weights,” in 2007-08, Zalesky said. “We redshirted some guys that could have probably wrestled last year but we just didn’t feel they were ready on a national level. We just (wanted) to get them that year to get physically stronger and just have that year in the room.

“I think that’s really going to help our program out in the long run and especially for this year.”

Zalesky has shifted a few wrestlers to different weight classes to strengthen the lineup. Bressler was dropped back down to 184 to get Hanke in and solidify the upper weights.

Bressler said he changed his workout regimen to accommodate the switch. His work ethic is a main part of his leadership ability.

“I’m not the most vocal leader but I like to lead by example,” Bressler said. “If I work hard then a lot of people will see that. (But) it’s a good group of kids and they all work hard so they don’t need much motivation right now. Everyone’s doing their job.”

The Beavers know NCAA berths often come down to their preparation for the matches. Zalesky preaches putting relentless pressure on the opponents and the Beavers have to be in top shape to do so.

“We all know,” Bressler said. “There’s not a day that we haven’t talked about what we need to do. We’re doing that now. We’re just working hard and you’ve got to put in the time to be the best and we’ve definitely been putting in the time. It’s just how we perform on the mat.”

OSU WRESTLING 2008-09

COACH: Jim Zalesky, third season at OSU and 14th overall (154-44)

STAFF: Assistants Troy Steiner and Kevin Roberts, volunteer coach Travis Pascoe

2007-08 RECORD: 10-8, third at Pacific-10 Conference meet

TOP RETURNERS: Soph. Brice Arand (184, 197), Sr. Heinrich Barnes (149), Jr. Dan Brascetta (174), Soph. Jon Brascetta (157), Sr. Kyle Bressler (184), Jr. Keegan Davis (165), Sr. Jake Gonzales (125), Sr. Ben Harris (174), Soph. Tim Patrick (157), Jr. Clifton Ivanoff (133)

TOP NEWCOMERS: RFr. Alex Reser (157), Fr. Mike Mangrum (141), RFr. Kelly Kubec (125, 133), RFr. Garrett Drucker (141), RFr. Chad Hanke (197), RFr. Clayton Jack (HWT)

SCHEDULE: Nov. 15 at Simon Fraser, Nov. 22 Best of the West Tournament at Ashland, Nov. 28 vs. Augustana at Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 28 at Nebraska, Nov. 30 at Wisconsin, Dec. 6 at Southern Oregon, Dec. 12 at Boise State, Dec. 14 vs. Missouri, Dec. 18 at Reno Invitational, Dec. 29-30 at Midlands Championships, Evanston, Ill., Jan. 2 vs. Michigan at Bozeman, Mont., Jan. 14 vs. Portland State, Jan. 18 vs. Iowa State, Jan. 23 vs. Cal Poly, Jan. 25 vs. Cal State Fullerton, Jan. 30 vs. Princeton at Stanford, Jan. 30 at Stanford, Jan. 30 at UC Davis, Feb. 1 at Cal State Bakersfield, Feb. 8 vs. Arizona State, Feb. 15 vs. Boise State, March 1-2 at Pacific-10 Conference Championships at Fullerton, March 19-21 at NCAA Championships at St. Louis, Mo.