Cowboys' Guerrero ruling at 133

Editor's note: This is the second in a 10-part series previewing the 10 weight classes for the NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships beginning Thursday in The Bryce Jordan Center. This story previews the 133-pound class.

By RYAN HOCKENSMITH
Collegian Staff Writer

Talk about this week's NCAA Wrestling Championships and the word toss-up frequents most conversations.

Whether discussing the favorite at a certain weight class or the probable team champion, most replies revolve around the word.

The 133-pound weight class is an exception.

Ask coaches about Oklahoma State's two-time-returning NCAA champion Eric Guerrero and the praise flows like Gatorade after weigh-ins.

"Eric pretty much dominates that weight class," said Tony Purler, an assistant coach at Clarion.

"He's the most well-rounded wrestler at 133," said Dale Bahr, head coach at Michigan.

Guerrero seems to deserve the compliments paid to him.

The undefeated Cowboys senior has run up a career record of 106-13, including a perfect 26-0 mark this season. He's looking for his third NCAA title and fourth All-American showing.

But there are 31 other wrestlers with radar locked on Guerrero's singlet.

Michigan State's No. 5 Pat McNamara, winner of the Big Ten Championships March 6-7, leads the pack of grapplers hoping to blemish Guerrero's loss-column doughnut. Iowa's No. 2 Eric Juergens grabbed third-place honors at Big Tens, rebounding from a loss to Michigan's second-placer at the weight -- No. 6 Joe Warren.

Bahr said his entry should be considered armed and dangerous.

"Joe Warren is a top-five wrestler," the Wolverine coach said. "Hopefully he'll finish up well at nationals. He has as much of a chance as anybody."

Another contender stalking Guerrero is Iowa State's No. 3 Cody Sanderson.

Sanderson, a two-time NCAA qualifier, dropped the Big 12 Championship bout March 6 to Guerrero, 5-3. The Cyclone junior owns a 24-5 tally on the season.

"I have confidence Cody will perform and perform well," Iowa State coach Bobby Douglas said of his 133-pound grappler. "We've done everything we can to prepare him. It's just up to him now."

Penn State freshman Nate Parker, coming off a sixth-place finish at Big Tens, enters his first NCAA Championships with high aspirations. Parker carries a 15-10 mark into the three-day tournament, but has beaten several other qualifiers, including McNamara, Dane Valdez of Oklahoma, Lock Haven's Terry Showalter and Ohio State's Robert Sessley.

"I was pretty impressed with Nate Parker," Purley said of Parker. "Even being a freshman, I can definitely see him being a four-time All-American."

But the consensus favorite echoed over and over again remained Guerrero.

J. Robinson boldly said Guerrero is the most dominant wrestler in any weight class at this year's NCAA Championships.

But despite Guerrero's presence, Oklahoma coach Jack Spates said the Cowboy wrestler shouldn't be penciled in as this year's 133-pound national champion just yet.

"On paper, Guerrero is a notch above everyone else," Spates said. "But that is why they wrestle."