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Pacific SportsBlogOkinawa-based sports reporter Dave Ornauer on military-related sports in the Far East. |
Former Pacific star wrestlers; where are they now?
Posted November 21st, 2007 by Dave OrnauerInto my e-mail inbox came a missive from David Geiger, dad to former Seoul American and Brent International school superstar Ryland Geiger, with some updates on former Pacific high school star matmen.
-- Former two-time Far East tournament Outstanding Wrestler Zolboo Enhkbayar (Brent International, Philippines) now competes at 157 pounds for Southwest Oregon Community College at Coos Bay, Ore.
-- 2006 Far East tournament Outstanding Wrestler Steve Courtney (Kubasaki, Okinawa) wrestles at 165 for George Mason University.
-- Former Nile C. Kinnick stars John and Eric Olanowski (2001) are at the University of Missouri and Michigan State University respectively.
-- And Geiger, of Scappoose High in Oregon, is about to sign a national letter of intent to wrestle at Minnesota. Geiger burst onto the scene as a freshman, winning gold in the 2005 Nile C. Kinnick Invitational "Beast of the Far East" tournament.
"I would say the Far East is being well-represented in CONUS," said the elder Geiger.
Can't argue with that.
Anybody else out there know some ex-Pacific stars and "where are they now?"
Carlos Albaladejo (Osan American '07)
I know that Carlos is currently attending St. Leo University in Florida(located in St. Leo, Fl about 30 mins N of Tampa). They compete in NCAA Div II. He is an amazing natural athlete, as anyone who knows him can attest, and has dabbled in rugby of all things of late. I've even heard rumors of him possibly entering the ring in a UFC style bout, not sure I'd like to see him do that, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Carlos. I know that soccer is his first love, however, and I understand that he is lining up a tryout in the near future. I'll try to keep folks posted.
Yokota Wrestlers
Jason Rodriguez is now in San Antonio as a senior at Reagan High. He had some difficulty transitioning last year to collegiate but should be a state contender this year. Zach Dopslaf had a scholarship to a small JuCo feeder for a bigger program, but the last I heard he is not wrestling anymore. Speaking of collegiate wrestling, it's kind of dumb that the States is the only place that uses this format. If we only wrestled freestyle or greco, I wonder how much better we would be at the olympics. However, don't forget this is one of three countries that still uses the English Measuring System (Liberia and Myanmar are the other two). Wrestling begins this weekend at Misawa, I wonder what kind of drama we'll have this year? My sources say there will definitely be some!
Drama
You and Yokota...never:) Congrats on the success you had since your tenure. It looks like your off to another great start this year, taking first at Misawa. It looks like everyone will be short stacked this year, coaching and player desire will be the key to success.
Best of luck to the McDonalds
John: Sure wish Kevin and Josh were staying. Coach Edmonds and his staff have done such a fine job of building over the past few years. Just imagine the difference it would make if your boys were staying? It might mean Edgren's first Far East team championships, and perhaps another pair of gold medals! :)
Best of luck in your journey and new assignment. The Seattle area is gaining quite the pair of good athletes.
Drama? From me? The pay
Drama? From me? The pay stinks, so I have to do something to make it fun!
It's very interesting that you made those comments about being short stacked and desire. We had that very talk today before practice began. Most teams got hurt pretty bad by the PCS bug and it's going to be on the shoulders of the few returning kids. As I tell them, it doesn't matter how bad I want it, they have to want it more. We'll see what happens over the next few months, but Kadena sounds like the favorite. Too many high caliber wrestlers return.
Your boys will be missed...great athletes, great people.
re: carlos albaladejo
usa vball coach got it pretty much all right except for he isn't doing ufc haha
mcdonalds
Kevin might have won, but not at 215 ;)...and josh, i don't even know what weight he would have wrestled this year, there's no way he would have taken the radfords' or blakenship's spot on the varsity squad...
Wrestling
Zolboo Enkhbayar attained All-American status by recently placing 7th at the National Junior College Wrestling Championships. Pretty remarkable for a guy who never wrestled folkstyle before this year.
Link to Article:
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/03/12/sports/doc47d8166fd39f21...
Ryland Geiger ends his H.S. career as a 2X Oregon State Champion. He recently won the NHSCA Sr. National Championship at 189 lbs.
http://www.flocasts.org/flowrestling/coverage.php?c=231&w=states&v=OR&id... (finals)
http://www.flocasts.org/flowrestling/coverage.php?c=231&w=states&v=OR&id... (semis)