Pacific Index

An insider preview to the upcoming wrestling season

With fall sports coming to an end, a new batch of sports teams ready to start their seasons this winter, including the Pacific University Boxer men’s and women’s wrestling teams. Coming off last year’s combined 4-6 record and now senior TJ Turner’s visit to the NCAA DIII National Wrestling Championship last year, the squad is reenergized and hungry for another go on the mats. 

“I’m feeling excited and confident in the squad for this upcoming season,” says Spyre Nelson, a senior wrestler from Grande Ronde, Ore. who has been a part of the Pacific University wrestling team since his freshman year. “There is a good mix of returners and new teammates,” he adds. “Though the men’s team has lighter numbers, the group we have is looking promising,” Nelson states before continuing. “Coach has a lot of confidence in us for this season. We should be making a good impact at our tournaments. This season is bittersweet for me, as it is my senior year. But we’re all going to make the most of the time we have on the mat.” 

The goal of every athletic program from year to year is to improve and make a more positive impact than the year before. “There is a big focus on team camaraderie this year, along with a focus on having fun. Sometimes the pressure and intensity of wrestling can get to guys, so the coach is making sure that we find that love in wrestling day in and day out,” comments Nelson.  

It’s also important to remember what worked well for your squad and continue those methods and ideologies that have set the foundation for your program. “Practice flow is staying relatively the same, with some minor adjustments made. Supporting each other across the teams, men’s and women’s, is another big emphasis for this year. Coach has been cooking up some exciting things for all of us,” Nelson explains. 

Last year the men’s wrestling team sent their first wrestler in ten years to the National Wrestling Championship. Building on that momentum, it’s fair to say that the program will have more goals for this upcoming season. “One of our main goals is the same every year; be better than last year. There is a large emphasis on improvement when it comes to wrestling. Figuring out what worked well last year, along with building on things that didn’t. Sending as many wrestlers as we can to Nationals is another goal too,” says Nelson. 

Boxer wrestling teams begin their season with the Mike Clock Open on the weekend of November 8 and 9 in the Stoller center, with the women’s team competing the first day followed by the men’s the next day. “I’m excited to see what the season has in store for us!,” Nelson states.