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Ron Engel, a graduate student and member of the wrestling club, graples with fellow club member Jose Pinel, a freshman, during a practice in the Aerobics Room at the Sports Club on Oct. 2.

Wrestling team finds new home at Sport Club

New coaches Redman and Serrano restructured team after former coach stepped down

By: Mandie Mohsenzadegan

Posted: 10/9/07

The SJSU wrestling club's home page depicts a picture of Uncle Sam pointing at the viewer, while the line below it reads: "Here's your chance to have some sweaty, exhausting, body-building fun, fun, fun."

Club president Hanno Murphy echoed the club's convivial statement and explained his vision for this group, which is open to both men and women and has had a long history on campus.

Murphy said he felt proud to be part of the club and that it had been an active part of SJSU sports.

"Back in the '60s and'70s, it was one of the most desirable NCAA Division 1 schools on the West Coast to attend," he said.

He added that the wrestling team was cut in the '80s, and the wrestling club began in its place.

Murphy, who had formerly practiced judo in high school, became involved with the wrestling club for the past two years when a friend of his mentioned the wrestling program, and Murphy stopped by practice to give it a try.

"I was instantly hooked. My life became focused around wrestling," he said.

In 2006 he took the leadership position despite the stressful responsibilities that he knew would be involved, he said.

"It became apparent that the club needed new leadership to be able to cope with the new Club Sports administration," he said, "so I stepped up."

The wrestling club originally held its practices in Yoshihiro Uchida Hall, but Murphy said the club was "adapting to a completely new system of club sports administration" at the time, and the club decided to leave campus in Fall 2006 and hold practices at Los Gatos High School.

When Jim Lucas stepped down as head coach, the new coach Rob Redman, alongside assistant coach Dave Serrano, helped restructure the team, Murphy said. The club moved back on campus this fall and practices in SJSU's Sports Club aerobics studio.

SJSU wrestler Daniel Calver said he is feeling excited about this season and is happy about the relocation back to campus.

"Having practices on campus is awesome since more people show up, and finding good training partners is the key to being competitive," he said.

He also added that this season Coach Redman has arranged for the club to train with the Stanford wrestling team on Sundays, which he believes "will benefit the team as a whole."

Murphy said he is pleased with Redman's coaching.

"He has been very active, scheduling tournaments, dual meets and technique clinics for our club," he said.

Practices run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 to 10 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Stevie Ratto, an undeclared freshman and the club representative, said, "I've been wrestling for seven years, I love the challenge and I like beating up people."

She is currently the only active female member on the team.

"The team is very strong, we have a lot of people coming out and wanting to be a part of this," she said. She said she hopes to get better with her "style and technique."

The team is currently active in dual meets with other universities, along with tournaments.

"Last year we were scheduled for three tournaments. We got a huge range of talent, varying from people who just got out from high school to NCAA athletes from Stanford," Murphy said. "It's a lot of fun."