Sanderson headlines wrestling clinic
By Steven Allspach Journal sports writer
Cruising around Iowa State’s campus on a recruiting visit, shoulder to shoulder with Cael Sanderson, had a sort of ethereal affect on Joe Curran.
“There I was, hanging around with maybe the greatest wrestler ever and he’s asking me questions about wrestling,” recalls the recent Bishop Heelan grad. “That was pretty cool.
“Cael was the Iowa State coach who recruited me all along, so I’m looking forward to having the honor of practicing with him when I get to school.”
Curran, who went 50-0 with 40 pins to win Iowa’s Class 2A state title at 189 pounds in February, may get to roll around the mat with one of his idols today and Saturday when the 2004 Olympic champion headlines a wrestling clinic at Heelan.
Cyclone Coach Bobby Douglas also will work the Saturday session of the camp. Former Iowa State national runner-up at 197 pounds, Zach Thompson, will also be a clinician, along with Tony DeAnda, a former Heelan state prep champ who recently defeated Zach Roberson in the finals at 132 pounds in the RealProWrestling championships in Los Angeles.
DeAnda, competing for the New York Outrage, edged Roberson, also an ex-ISU standout, 8-7. The clinic runs each day from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Charlie Curran, the director, says almost 120 youngsters are registered.
“We hoped from anywhere from 75 to 150 so we’re pretty satisfied,” said Charlie Curran, Joe’s older brother. “We had Chris Bono coming, too, but he had a family emergency and won’t be here.”
Joe Curran would like to redshirt his freshman year at ISU.
“Personally, that would be my choice, practicing a year with Cael Sanderson, but right now Iowa State doesn’t have a veteran guy at 197 pounds so I don’t know what will happen,” said Curran, who scored a whopping 340.5 team points for the Crusaders as a senior. “I could get to 184, but 197 would probably be better for me.”
Sanderson was a four-time unbeaten national champ at Iowa State, finishing his career with an astonishing 159-0 record.
Curran will return to competition in the U.S. Junior Freestyle Nationals in Fargo, N.D., later this month.
Since he lives in South Dakota, though, he’ll be on the Team South Dakota squad along with Elk Point heavyweight Justin Kyte, who will be a senior. Representing Team Iowa in both freestyle and Greco-Roman will be Robert Kellogg, who will be a junior at North High.
Despite his 50-0 record, including the 40 wins by pin, Curran was left off the Asics All-America High School team (three squads), nor was he even accorded honorable mention status by Asics.
The Cyclone recruit wasn’t listed, either, in the final top 20 national prep rankings at 189 pounds compiled by Wrestling International Newsmagazine, a Newton-based publication in which Rocik Valley native Bryan Van Kley serves as publisher.
In Fargo, though, Curran may get a shot at some nationally ranked matmen, including No. 15 Levi Wofford of Aurora, Neb., and No. 16 Levi Bullerman of Adrian, Minn.
Mike Pucillo of West Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, was considered the No. 1 prep 189-pounder and will be freshman at Hofstra in the fall.
Another Iowa State recruit, Jake Varner of Bakersfield, Calif., was ranked second nationally at 189, but quite likely will be at 184 pounds for the Cyclones.
Varner, too, may compete in Fargo.
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