University of Arkansas, Little Rock Trojans Preview
University of Arkansas, Little Rock, with the help of a $1.4 million gift given by Greg Hatcher, will start up a Division 1 wrestling program for the 2019-20 season. Hatcher has been at the forefront of wrestling in the state of Arkansas for over ten years now, shepherding the development of youth, high school and now collegiate wrestling in the state. The team trains in the Greg Hatcher Wrestling Center.
The team will compete in the PAC 12 conference, will compete in 9 duals this year, including five home duals, which will be contested in the Jack Stephens Center, a 5,600 seat arena on the campus of UALR. They will also compete in 3 tournaments, including the Oklahoma City Open, the SIU Edwardsville Invite and the Southern Scuffle.
Coaching Staff:
Neil Erisman, Javier Maldonado
Roster/Likely Starters
I'll be honest, these are based strictly off of the last guy to make changes to Wrestlestat. In their inaugural season, with so many unknowns, who knows who the actual starters will be.
125
Paul Bianchi (JR) <Two Rivers, WI>
Bianchi is a transfer from NDSU, where he was a National Qualifier in 2018, but he went 0-2. Bianchi also has wins over NQs Brock Hudkins, NIU; LJ Bentley, Pitt and Kyle Akins, Buffalo. He is 42-27 for his career, but didn’t see much action last year, sitting behind Brent Fleetwood.
133
Hasan Krigger (SR) <Atlanta, GA>
Krigger spent two seasons at Iowa Lakes Community College, going 2-0. Krigger was also a Georgia State Champion, posting a 95-20 career, including 23-1 as a senior. And, he won cadet nationals in Fargo.
141
Conner Ward (FR) <Shawnee, KS>
Ward is a four-time finalist in Kansas, capturing the championship in his senior year. His HS record was 153-16.
149
Thomas Lisher (JR) <Baldwin City, KS>
Another Juco transfer, Lisher was an NJCAA qualifier for Iowa Western, and a Kansas state champion. Additionally, he was a two-time Fargo All-American.
157
Jose Champagne (JR) <Griffith, IN>
Champagne is a Gopher transfer, where he had an overall record of 22-11. He had a 103-3 record in high school, winning the Indiana state title for Marian Catholic. Additionally, he was an eleven-time Fargo All-American. He has one win over an NQ, Minnesota’s Carson Brolsma.
165: Braeden Redlin (FR) <Allen, TX>
Redlin is an Ohio State transfer from the hometown of some other pretty good wrestler. In his redshirt year at anOSU, he went 11-4, with seven pins, although none of them came at the expense of an NQ. At Allen HS, Redlin posted a 165-10 record, four Texas state championships, four Fargo AAs and an Ironman AA. He also looks as Texan as they come.
174
Cash Jones (FR) <Bentonville, AR>
Finally, a hometowner. Jones is a three time Arkansas state champ, with an impressive 227-11 career record.
184
Steve Elwell (FR) <Knob Noster, MO>
Elwell, hailing from Knob Noster, MO, was a two-time Missouri State Champion for Knob Noster HS. While at Knob Noster HS, he competed with Eierman Elite Wrestling Club, where he was a national champion and six-time finalist. Knob Noster, Knob Noster, Knob Noster.
197
Dylan Johnson (JR) <Pine Bluff, AR>
Two-time NJCAA qualifier and two-time Arkansas state champion.
285
Gunner Cash (JR) <Shawnee, OK>
I can’t square the info in his bio with the info on Wrestlestat, but apparently is 6-8 overall, and is a NJCAA All-American from Iowa Central CC.
Future trivia: Another dedicated Arkansas wrestling advocate is none other than Pat Smith. He has been coaching a youth team in Little Rock called the Mighty Bluebirds for some time now, as well as the Arkansas Wrestling Academy. Don’t be surprised if a Pat Smith-coached wrestler becomes UALR’s first-anything.
Don’t overlook UALR
University of Arkansas, Little Rock, with the help of a $1.4 million gift given by Greg Hatcher, will start up a Division 1 wrestling program for the 2019-20 season. Hatcher has been at the forefront of wrestling in the state of Arkansas for over ten years now, shepherding the development of youth, high school and now collegiate wrestling in the state. The team trains in the Greg Hatcher Wrestling Center.
The team will compete in the PAC 12 conference, will compete in 9 duals this year, including five home duals, which will be contested in the Jack Stephens Center, a 5,600 seat arena on the campus of UALR. They will also compete in 3 tournaments, including the Oklahoma City Open, the SIU Edwardsville Invite and the Southern Scuffle.
Coaching Staff:
Neil Erisman, Javier Maldonado
Roster/Likely Starters
I'll be honest, these are based strictly off of the last guy to make changes to Wrestlestat. In their inaugural season, with so many unknowns, who knows who the actual starters will be.
125
Paul Bianchi (JR) <Two Rivers, WI>
Bianchi is a transfer from NDSU, where he was a National Qualifier in 2018, but he went 0-2. Bianchi also has wins over NQs Brock Hudkins, NIU; LJ Bentley, Pitt and Kyle Akins, Buffalo. He is 42-27 for his career, but didn’t see much action last year, sitting behind Brent Fleetwood.
133
Hasan Krigger (SR) <Atlanta, GA>
Krigger spent two seasons at Iowa Lakes Community College, going 2-0. Krigger was also a Georgia State Champion, posting a 95-20 career, including 23-1 as a senior. And, he won cadet nationals in Fargo.
141
Conner Ward (FR) <Shawnee, KS>
Ward is a four-time finalist in Kansas, capturing the championship in his senior year. His HS record was 153-16.
149
Thomas Lisher (JR) <Baldwin City, KS>
Another Juco transfer, Lisher was an NJCAA qualifier for Iowa Western, and a Kansas state champion. Additionally, he was a two-time Fargo All-American.
157
Jose Champagne (JR) <Griffith, IN>
Champagne is a Gopher transfer, where he had an overall record of 22-11. He had a 103-3 record in high school, winning the Indiana state title for Marian Catholic. Additionally, he was an eleven-time Fargo All-American. He has one win over an NQ, Minnesota’s Carson Brolsma.
165: Braeden Redlin (FR) <Allen, TX>
Redlin is an Ohio State transfer from the hometown of some other pretty good wrestler. In his redshirt year at anOSU, he went 11-4, with seven pins, although none of them came at the expense of an NQ. At Allen HS, Redlin posted a 165-10 record, four Texas state championships, four Fargo AAs and an Ironman AA. He also looks as Texan as they come.
174
Cash Jones (FR) <Bentonville, AR>
Finally, a hometowner. Jones is a three time Arkansas state champ, with an impressive 227-11 career record.
184
Steve Elwell (FR) <Knob Noster, MO>
Elwell, hailing from Knob Noster, MO, was a two-time Missouri State Champion for Knob Noster HS. While at Knob Noster HS, he competed with Eierman Elite Wrestling Club, where he was a national champion and six-time finalist. Knob Noster, Knob Noster, Knob Noster.
197
Dylan Johnson (JR) <Pine Bluff, AR>
Two-time NJCAA qualifier and two-time Arkansas state champion.
285
Gunner Cash (JR) <Shawnee, OK>
I can’t square the info in his bio with the info on Wrestlestat, but apparently is 6-8 overall, and is a NJCAA All-American from Iowa Central CC.
Future trivia: Another dedicated Arkansas wrestling advocate is none other than Pat Smith. He has been coaching a youth team in Little Rock called the Mighty Bluebirds for some time now, as well as the Arkansas Wrestling Academy. Don’t be surprised if a Pat Smith-coached wrestler becomes UALR’s first-anything.
Don’t overlook UALR
