May 14, 2004
UNC Wrestling Squad Signs Grapplers to National Letters-of-Intent For 2004-05 Season
GREELEY, Colo. -- The University of Northern Colorado head wrestling coach Jack Maughan announced the signing of prospective wrestlers to National Letters-of-Intent for the 2004-05 season on Friday.
"We are really excited about the class and we felt like we filled our areas of need well," Maughan said. "We were able to keep the best wrestlers in the state plus be able to go out and get one of the top wrestlers in the state of Kansas. They are a great class to add to our existing team as we go into our first full Division I wrestling schedule. However, this class is not complete and we look to add a couple of more before the fall."
Abraham Alvarado (Westminster, Colo./Lincoln HS) earned three Colorado state championships on the wrestling mat. Alvarado won the state crown at 103 pounds in 2001 and followed that up with a pair of championships at 112 pounds in both 2003 and 2004. He was a state runner-up in 2002 at 112 pounds. Alvarado compiled a career record of 145-2 as a prep wrestler. Alvarado was a high school national All-American wrestler. He earned 13 letters as a prep athlete in wrestling (4), football (3), cross country (3), golf (2) and track (1). Alvarado's high school coach was former UNC wrestler Les Mattocks.
"Abraham is one of Colorado's all-time premier wrestlers," Maughan said. "His overall record of 145-2 is very impressive and he comes from a successful wrestling family."
Andrew Arellano (La Jara, Colo./Centauri HS) was a three-time Colorado state champion at 215 pounds. He won state titles in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Arellano was named the Wrestler of the Year in Class 3A. He compiled a career record of 156-13 at Centauri High School. Arellano was also a stellar football player who twice earned all-state honors. He holds the Centauri HS records for most pins (career & season) and most career wins.
"We are pleased that Andrew is coming to UNC and will eventually grow into the heavyweight class and position," Maughan said. "We are also glad to have someone from the San Juan Valley area coming into our program. Andrew should be a solid contributor for the Bears as the years go along."
Blayze Bahe (Goodland, Kan./Goodland HS) was a four-time state place-winner in Class 4A in the state of Kansas. He won the 119-pound state championship as a senior. Bahe also placed second as sophomore and fourth as both a freshman and junior in the state tournament. Bahe is also a junior national Greco-Roman All-American. Bahe is an honor roll student at Goodland High School. His dad, Randy, served as his high school coach.
"We are happy to get out and start recruiting Kansas and to be able to land one of their top wrestlers," Maughan said. "He is an All-American at the national level, so he is a proven elite competitor."
Kenny Hashimoto (Thornton, Colo./Thornton HS) was a two-time Colorado state champion and a two-time state runner-up in Class 5A. Over the past two seasons, Hashimoto compiled a record of 82-0 in winning the 130-pound championship in 2003 and the 135-pound title in 2004. Hashimoto is also an Elite Judo competitor. He is the No. 1-ranked junior competitor in the nation at 60 kg and is ranked No. 3 on the national ladder at his weight class. He will be competing at the Olympic Trials in June in San Jose, Calif., in judo.
"Kenny has been one of the dominant wrestlers in Colorado over the past couple of years," Maughan said. "We are excited about his ability to compete at the highest level. He wrestled for a two-time national champion Mike Pantoya (UNC graduate), so I think he comes from a great background."
Tim Sexton (Arvada, Colo./Arvada HS) was a state runner-up at the 2004 Colorado State Wrestling Championships at 189 pounds in Class 5A. Sexton was a two-time state qualifier and served as team captain at Arvada High School. Sexton's brother, Tim, was a UNC wrestler from 2000-2001. Sexton was a nine-time letterwinner as a prep athlete in wrestling (4), football (3), baseball (1) and track (1).
"We think Tim is a late bloomer and his best days of wrestling are ahead," Maughan said. "He is a hard worker and a very physical wrestler."
Caleb Van Vorst (Wheatridge, Colo./Wheatridge HS) was a two-time state place winner the state tournament. Van Vorst took third-place honors this year at 160 pounds in Class 5A. As a junior he took fifth place at 152-pounds at the state tournament. Van Vorst tallied a 34-1 record as a senior and a 71-11 career record. He was also a first-team all-state running back and all-conference pick as a senior on the football field.
"Caleb looks to take over when Jared Deaguero graduates," Maughan said. "Another late starter to wrestling, he has made great improvements over his last two years in high school and we look for the same type of improvement in college."
Maughan also announced that
Sam Safken (Grand Junction, Colo./Fruita Monument HS) will wrestle for the Bears in 2004-05. Safken signed earlier this winter to play football for the Bears. Safken captured the 5A heavyweight state championship this past year for Fruita Monument High School.
