Robert FACKRELL
UNIVERSITY of the OZARKS
Edladin HARMON
2014-2015 Men’s Wrestling Recruiting Guide
University of the Ozarks
Men’s Wrestling Table of Contents General Information 1 Table of Contents Coaching Staff 2 Head Coach Jason Zastrow 2014-2015 Men’s Wrestling Preview 3 Preview 4 Roster 4 Team Picture 2014-2015 Wrestling Profiles 5-7 Wrestling Profiles
NCAA Division III 8 NCAA Division III American Southwest Conference 9 ASC History & Current Members
Location Clarksville, Arkansas (9,251) Founded 1834 Enrollment 585 Nickname Eagles School Colors Purple & Gold Wrestling Facility Mabee Gymnasium National Affiliation NCAA III Conference American Southwest President Richard Dunsworth, JD Athletics Director Jimmy Clark Assistant Athletics Director Shaun Wiseman Web Site www.uofoathletics.edu Team History 2014-15 1st year of program Affiliation NCAA III Independent Coaching Staff Head Coach Jason Zastrow (1st season) Office Phone 479-979-1497 Cell Phone 479-647-2622 E-mail jzastrow@ozarks.edu Alma Mater, Yr. Wartburg College, ‘07 Sports Information Sports Information Director Josh Peppas Email jpeppas@ozarks.edu Office Phone 479-979-1483 Cell Phone 479-746-1264 Director of Social Media Emily Black Director of Video Technology Ryan West Twitter @UofOAthletics
Only NCAA Division III University In Arkansas To Offer Sport | Newly Renovated On-Campus Wrestling Facility |
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Men’s Wrestling Coaching Staff Jason Zastrow Head Coach Former Wartburg College men’s wrestling assistant coach Jason Zastrow was hired May 2014 to begin the wrestling program at the University of the Ozarks Zastrow, a native of Coon Rapids, Minn., brings NCAA Division III championship experience from wrestling powerhouse Wartburg to Ozarks. Wartburg is the most dominant NCAA Division III men’s wrestling program in the country having won 11 national titles, including the last four. Zastrow served as the assistant from 2010-2013 where he helped Wartburg to three consecutive NCAA Division III titles. The Knights also won three National Wrestling Coaches Association dual titles at the national level and three Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. The Knights posted a 56-1 record during his time there. During his tenure, the program produced seven individual NCAA Division III titles, 22 All-Americans and 17 Academic All-Americans. Zastrow thrived at Wartburg wrestling four seasons and qualifying for nationals his senior year. “I want my wrestlers to have the same good experiences I had as an NCAA Division III student-athlete,” said Zastrow. “There is an equal balance between being a student and being an athlete at this level. Students have the chance to receive one-on-one attention academically and athletically. But they need to be students first. I not only want guys that wrestle well, but I want them to be good students and respected citizens. I want student-athletes that we are proud of after graduation.” Prior to Wartburg, he was the assistant coach at NCAA Division III Central College from 2007-2010, where he helped turn the program around. His first season as an assistant, the Dutch went 0-12, but by his third year, the program posted a ten win season. After Central College, he went to Springdale Har-Ber High School, where he served as the assistant coach during the 2013-2014 season. In his one season there, the Wildcats won a conference title and finished third in the state championships. Zastrow believes his first recruiting class has the unique opportunity to be the “first” to establish a championship lifestyle within the program.
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“Our incoming class has the opportunity to be the first group to make an impact on the program,” he said. “We want to build one block at a time, and then eventually produce All-Americans. I want our kids to have a championship lifestyle. I want to see growth in the program each day. If we can be better tomorrow than we were today, then I think the program is heading in the right direction.” Zastrow received his bachelor’s degree in history from Wartburg in 2007. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in athletic administration from Coker College. He and his wife, Jenny, were married in 2011.
Only NCAA Division III University In Arkansas To Offer Sport | Newly Renovated On-Campus Wrestling Facility |
Men’s Wrestling 2014-2015 Outlook Highly Anticipated Men’s Wrestling Team Opens Historic Season In 2014-2015 A new era will begin at the University of the Ozarks with the addition of men’s wrestling. Excitement has been building for the wrestling season, one that will make history on campus. Ozarks has a new on-campus wrestling facility and a new head coach in place for its first year of NCAA Division III competition. Ozarks hired Jason Zastrow to start its program. With Zastrow, Ozarks gets a coach that served as an assistant coach at the most successful NCAA Division III men’s wrestling program in the country. Zastrow was the assistant coach at Wartburg from 2010-2013, where he helped the Knights to three consecutive NCAA Division III titles. “This is an exciting time for the University of the Ozarks and our wrestling program,” said Zastrow. “We are looking forward to the Greg Hatcher Dual. It is an important event because it is our first one. Greg has done a lot for our program and all the programs that will compete there. He has done so much for Arkansas wrestling in general. It is a time for us to go compete and figure out what we need to do to get better. This dual will gauge how our process is going.” From day one, Zastrow has emphasized building the program the proper way, rather than rushing the process. “We are taking it one day at a time,” he said. “The guys are working hard and buying into it. I think it is important for the guys to understand the process of what it takes to compete at this level. I want them to live a championship lifestyle. That means doing well in school, graduating and making the right choices in their personal lives. In terms of wresting, if our guys have competed, improved every day and worked as hard as they can, then it has been a successful year. If they’ve accomplished those things, the wins and losses will take care of themselves.” Zastrow’s roster includes ten wrestlers from five different states. Six of the ten are freshmen. Zastrow expects eight of the available ten different weight classes to be filled at competitions. “I think we will fill eight of the ten weight divisions,” he said. “In a couple of the weight divisions, we won’t have anyone wrestle. We will work through that. Everyone will have the opportunity to gain experience this year.” Zastrow has also focused on doing the small things that make a difference. “If you can do all the little things right, the competition will take care of itself,” he said. “We need every guy to work as hard as possible and do the extra Only NCAA Division III University In Arkansas To Offer Sport | Newly Renovated On-Campus Wrestling Facility |
Edladin Harmon and Robert Fackrell things it takes to get better. It takes every guy buying in and learning how to outfight people every single day. If we have all the guys do that, then we will see huge leaps in this program.” Those ten wrestlers also have the benefit of being on the school’s first-ever wrestling team, according to Zastrow. “This group has a unique opportunity to do something special,” he said. “At some point, there will be a first guy to qualify for the national tournament and the first guy to be an All-American.” Ozarks will compete independently at the NCAA Division III level. The 2014-2015 schedule includes trips to Iowa, Illinois, Texas and Alabama, as well as instate competitions at Ouachita Baptist University and Williams Baptist College.
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Men’s Wrestling 2014-2015 Roster Name Jacob Brown Robert Fackrell Edladin Harmon Jared Keas Eli Garcia JaToris Combs Brad Rupert Zack Hall Samuel Binns Trevor Lister
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Class Junior Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Junior Senior Sophomore Sophomore
Hometown/Previous School Vian, Okla. (Vian HS) Springfield, Mo. (Glendale HS) Irving, Texas (MacArthur HS) Yukon, Okla. (Yukon HS) Amarillo, Texas (Amarillo HS) Shreveport, La. (Northwood HS) Scranton, Ark. (Scranton HS) Story, Ark. (Mt. Ida HS) Hot Springs, Ark. (Hot Springs HS) Waldron, Ark. (Ark. School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts)
Only NCAA Division III University In Arkansas To Offer Sport | Newly Renovated On-Campus Wrestling Facility |
Men’s Wrestling 2014-2015 Wrestling Profiles Zack Hall
Brad Rupert
Jacob Brown
Samuel Binns
Senior Story, Ark. Mt. Ida HS
Junior Vian, Okla. Vian HS
Only NCAA Division III University In Arkansas To Offer Sport | Newly Renovated On-Campus Wrestling Facility |
Junior Scranton, Ark. Scranton HS
Sophomore Hot Springs, Ark. Hot Springs HS
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Men’s Wrestling 2014-2015 Wrestling Profiles Trevor Lister
Eli Garcia
JaToris Combs
Edladin Harmon
Sophomore Waldron, Ark. Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
Freshman Shreveport, La. Northwood HS
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Only NCAA Division III University In Arkansas To Offer Sport | Newly Renovated On-Campus Wrestling Facility |
Freshman Amarillo, Texas Amarillo HS
Freshman Irving, Texas MacAurther HS
Men’s Wrestling 2014-2015 Wrestling Profiles Jared Keas
Freshman Yukon, Okla. Yukon HS
Robert Fackrell
Freshman Springfield, Mo. Glendale HS
Only NCAA Division III University In Arkansas To Offer Sport | Newly Renovated On-Campus Wrestling Facility |
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Men’s Wrestling NCAA Disivion III
Discover University of the Ozarks student-athletes are encouraged to pursue their interests and passions beyond the classroom and field of play...to discover themselves. Develop University of the Ozarks provides an environment that encourages student-athletes to develop into well-rounded adults. Small class sizes, the ability to participate in more than one sport, and an emphasis on participating activities outside of the classroom are all hallmarks of the NCAA Division III experience.
University of the Ozarks is a member of the NCAA Division III and the American Southwest Conference. We are a small, private, nationally acclaimed and accredited university with a “whole-student” focus. We consider athletics a huge part of developing potential for our student-athletes. We’ll offer you the support you need to win, both academically and competitively. At U of O, you’ll play the sport you love while finding the direction you need.
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Dedicate University of the Ozarks expects student-athletes to dedicate themselves to achieving their potential. Student-athletes must manage their busy schedules, keep up with class work and face the same challenges as the rest of the student-body.
Only NCAA Division III University In Arkansas To Offer Sport | Newly Renovated On-Campus Wrestling Facility |
Men’s Wrestling Ozarks Athletics/Conference Affiliation Varsity Sports at Ozarks: Baseball Men's Basketball Women's Basketball Men's Cross Country Women's Cross Country Men's Soccer Women's Soccer Softball Men's Tennis Women's Tennis Men's Wrestling Olympic Sports: Men's Archery Women's Archery Cheerleading/STUNT Men's Clay Target Shooting Women's Clay Target Shooting The men’s wrestling team will compete as an NCAA Division III independent. Ozarks is a member of the American Southwest Conference, which does not sponsor men’s wrestling. The ASC, one of the largest intercollegiate athletic conferences in NCAA Division III, is in its second decade of providing quality athletic experiences for its student-athletes, coaches and administrators. Founded in May 1996 to provide a structure for intercollegiate athletics among member institutions, the American Southwest Conference includes former members of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) and other institutions from outside the Texas borders. From the eight founding institutions to today’s present group of 12 college and universities, the ASC encompasses institutions sharing similar educational and athletic philosophies. ASC championships are conducted in 16 sports (8 men, 8 women). Men’s championships are offered in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and track and field. Women’s championships are offered in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field and volleyball. The American Southwest Conference is headquartered in Richardson, Texas.
Only NCAA Division III University In Arkansas To Offer Sport | Newly Renovated On-Campus Wrestling Facility |
AT H L E T I C S
Concordia University Texas (Austin, TX) East Texas Baptist University (Marshall, TX) Hardin-Simmons University (Abilene, TX) Howard Payne University (Brownwood, TX) LeTourneau University (Longview, TX) Louisiana College (Pineville, LA) University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton, TX) McMurry University (Abilene, TX) University of the Ozarks (Clarksville, AR) Sul Ross State University (Alpine, TX) University of Texas-Dallas (Richardson, TX) University of Texas-Tyler (Tyler, TX)
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2014-2015 Schedule
November 14 Fri
Greg Hatcher Dual at Ouachita Baptist
Arkadelphia, Ark.
December 6 Sat 12 Fri
Simpson College Invite Williams Baptist Dual/Central Baptist Dual
Indianola, La. 9:00 am Walnut Ridge, Ark. 6:00 pm
January 10 13 24
Sat Tues Sat
Knox College Dual Central College Dual Huntingdon College Dual
Galesburg, Ill. 9:00 am Pella, Iowa 7:00 pm Montgomery, Ala. 9:00 am
February 7 14 28
Sat Sat Sat
Texas A&M Open UT-Arlington Open NCAA III Regional
College Station, Texas Arlington, Texas Dubuque, Iowa
March 13 14
Fri Sat
NCAA III National Tournament NCAA III National Tournament
Hershey, Pa. Hershey, Pa.
www.uofoathletics.com
9:00 am
9:00 am 9:00 am