2011-12 Season Outlook New Era and Coaching Staff for Mustangs Senior Boris Novachkov is a threetime NCAA qualifier, two-time NCAA All-American (second place in 2011, seventh place in 2010) and a two-time Pacific-12 Conference champion (2010-11).
First-year Cal Poly wrestling coach Brendan Buckley feels his 165 and will move up to 174 for his senior season. three seniors will be the key to a successful 2011-12 campaign. Smith was 22-11 a year ago with three falls and placed fifth in a When practice opened in October, Buckley greeted national runvery competitive weight class at 197 pounds in the Pac-12 finals, ner-up Boris Novachkov and two other national qualifiers – Ryan good enough to qualify for the nationals. DesRoches and Ryan Smith – to the mat. Five other wrestlers who competed in more than half of Cal "The three seniors are really going to be the key to a successful Poly's 11 dual meets return as well, including Britain Longmire at season," said Buckley, head coach at Columbia for 11 years before 125 pounds, Brandan Rocha at 133, Steven Vasquez at 165, Kelan accepting the job at Cal Poly in June. "They Bragg at 184 and Atticus Disney at 285. know how to push themselves and, in our sport, Following the Nov. 13 Green vs. Gold Meet at 2011-12 it's an easier transition because of that. 1 p.m. in Mott Gym, Cal Poly will host five dual Returning Lettermen "We're relying on those guys not just on the meets and compete in a total of six tournaments mat, but in the practice room to help the younger prior to the Pac-12 Championship on Feb. 26 at Kelan Bragg . . . . . . . . .184 guys," Buckley added. "There are going to be a Boise State. The NCAA Championships are lot of them on the mat this year." scheduled for March 15-17 in St. Louis, Mo. Ryan DesRoches . . . . .174 Nine lettermen return, including seven starters The Mustangs' five home duals are against Atticus Disney . . . . . . . .285 off last year's team which produced a 9-2 dual Oregon State on Dec. 11 (at Cuesta College), Britain Longmire . . . . . .125 meet record but finished sixth in the Pacific-10 American on Jan. 6, Boise State on Jan. 8, (now Pac-12) Championship. They were joined Stanford on Jan. 15 and Arizona State on Jan. 27. Boris Novachkov . . . . . .141 in the practice room by five redshirts and 14 Cal Poly was ranked as high as No. 23 in the Brandan Rocha . . . . . . .133 newcomers. preseason national polls. Individually, Ryan Smith . . . . . . . . . .197 "We will be working hard to develop our Novachkov was No. 2 at 141, DesRoches No. 15 young guys over the course of the season," said at 165, Vasquez No. 24 at 174, Smith No. 13 at Jake Tanenbaum . . . . .133 Buckley. "I see us as a strong tournament team, 197 and Disney No. 26 at 285. Steven Vasquez . . . . . .165 but on the dual meet front we will have some A look at the Mustangs by weight class: new guys in the lineup." 125 – Longmire is a redshirt sophomore who Novachkov posted a 31-2 record with four pins as a junior en posted a 12-12 mark last year and was 3-4 in duals. "He is in posiroute to a second-place national finish. Both of his losses were to tion to step up and be competitive in conference," said Buckley. "He NCAA 141-pound champion Kellen Russell by 3-2 decisions. is an incredible athlete, has good skill sets and is very athletic." Novachkov was a perfect 11-0 in duals and captured his second 133 – Rocha compiled a 14-12 mark as a redshirt freshman a year Pac-12 title last February. ago and finished fourth in the Pac-12 finals. Four of his wins were DesRoches was 33-8 with a team-leading 14 falls in his junior by fall. "Brandan is already competitive and has a lot of potential," season. He was 10-1 in duals, finished third in the Pac-12 finals at said Buckley. "He is explosive and pretty strong." 2011-12 Cal Poly Wrestling Media Guide -- Page 4