Dillingham wrestler makes major mat move

MATT NEVALA

May 15, 2008 at 2:21PM AKST

Wes Richard’s next wrestling move could be his most daunting. But the people who watched him flourish in four years wearing a Dillingham High singlet expect more of the same once he moves on to the University of Minnesota.

Richard, a two-time Alaska state champion, recently signed an Acceptance of Admission form to attend Minnesota and wrestle for the NCAA Division I Gophers.
“I’m pretty stoked,” said Richard, 18. “It’s going to be cool to be able to wrestle with the best in country.”

Longtime Dillingham coach John Johnson said he believes Richard, 18, is the first Wolverines athlete to join a Division I program, the top level of collegiate athletics.
Minnesota isn’t just any old D1 wrestling school, either. The Gophers won the NCAA national championship in 2007, 2002 and 2001 and own 12 Big Ten Conference championships.

“I’ve tried to prepare him, and Wes will have a lot of adjusting to do,” Johnson said. “But he’ll figure out how to get to the point, how to do what it takes to be the No. 1 starter on the team.

“Wes will figure out how to win. Nothing will stop him.”

Richard joined Thane Antczak of Prairie Farm, Wis., and Zach Loppnow of Lake City, Minn., as Minnesota’s final three recruits for the 2007-08 class.

Richard won two 125-pound weight class state titles for Dillingham as a sophomore and junior. The Wolverines won Class 1A-2A-3A team championships in those years, 2005 and 2006.

Richard’s ended his senior season finishing second at state in the 135-pound class, but it didn’t diminish his superlative career.

He finished 35-1 in Alaska as a senior – 40-4 including Outside tournaments. He was 72-1 in his last two seasons, won 79 straight matches from November 2005 to December 2007 and accumulated a 148-14 overall record in four seasons at Dillingham.

Those accomplishments, along with strong performances at Outside tournaments and camps, caught the eye of collegiate coaches around the country. Richard placed eighth in his weight class in December at the prestigious Reno (Nev.) Tournament of Champions.

Richard said he started receiving letters of interest from colleges more than a year ago, and phone calls soon followed. Always strong-willed, he knew he wanted to compete at college’s top level. Now that’s he’s getting the chance, he’s trying to keep his wits about him.

“Sometimes, I’ll just be sitting around and (the fact I’m going to Minnesota) will hit me and I get real excited,” Richard said. “Then I can’t take my mind off it.
“At the same time, I’m trying to stay kind of mellow.”

Richard hopes to eventual wrestle for Minnesota at 149 pounds or “anywhere between 141 and 157.”

But both he and Johnson know the transition won’t be easy. Richard said he’ll likely redshirt – practice, but not compete – during his first year at Minnesota.

“Someone like Wes has always been top dog wherever he’s been,” Johnson said. “But he needs to know that when he goes in there he’s going to get hammered on - that’s the way it is.

“He understands that about 90 percent, especially at Division 1, of freshmen redshirt and gain experience through going to open tournaments. I’m trying to make everything very clear to him so he does not have some illusion. He’s going to have to battle very hard. It may take a couple of years to get up there, maybe three.”

It is unlikely Richard will earn any scholarships or tuition money from Minnesota during his first year at the Minneapolis-based school.

“But we’ll make it happen no matter what,” said Kathy McLinn, Richard’s mother.
Richard will need to enlist the same will and dedication he displayed on the mat in securing money for college. McLinn said her son, a member of Dillingham High’s honor roll in the third quarter, has already applied for federal student loans and numerous local scholarships. He’ll also soon begin his summer gig as a commercial fisherman.

“His work ethic as a commercial fisherman is the same as it was on the mat,” Johnson said. “You’re not going to find a harder worker.”

Richard is months away from heading to Minneapolis. Before he goes, news of his next move will spread throughout Dillingham, where his Wolverines career as already made him something of a legend.

He will soon represent his entire community, and in some respect, small-town Alaska at the highest level of his beloved sport.

He’s the first Dillingham athlete to go D1. He’s attempting to take that in stride.
“I try not to think about it like that,” he said. “For some, maybe they’ll look at me like a steppingstone. People will think they can go as big as they can go.”

Johnson said Richard’s wrestling exploits and those of the Wolverines have transformed Dillingham from a basketball town to a wrestling town. Richard’s journey to Minnesota can only help future Dillingham wrestlers.

“It just helps add to the foundation already built here,” Johnson said. “We run a Pee Wee program here and will get some 100 kids out who may start to think they all can do what Wes is doing. They will all get to meet Wes and be coached by him and our other champions.

“Wes helps make us all realize that someone from a small town, from the Bush area of Alaska, can make it all the way to the top of their game.”
For more information on the University of Minnesota wrestling program, visit www.gophersports.com.

Matt Nevala can be reached at (907) 348-2438 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 438.