There's a new era of Linfield University athletics in 2022-23, and a lot of hype surrounds the revival of Wildcat wrestling.
 
Linfield men's and women's wrestling are taking the mat for their inaugural NCAA seasons. Men's wrestling returns for the first time since the Wildcats competed at the NAIA level until 1986. The women's team will be the first of its kind at Linfield.
 
FROM CLUB TO PROGRAM
The University had a student-run wrestling club that started the buzz on campus. When Chad Hanke was appointed as head coach, he saw the club as an opportunity to jump-start his program.
 
"We started the program. Now we had to fill the roster," Hanke said.
 
Hanke's goal was to field two complete rosters, which consists of 10 weight classes on each side. He an assistant coach Alyssa Lampe certainly accomplished that goal as 21 men and 17 women are set to wrestle for the Wildcats this winter.
 
"I attribute a lot of our recruiting success to my assistant coach, Alyssa," Hanke said. "The excitement in the area and the state of Oregon along with the revival of wrestling have combined to make a successful year of recruiting. Now we can do the fun stuff and start practicing and competing."
 
Building a program from the ground up means a lot of the incoming talent are going to be underclassmen. There are just two seniors and three juniors between the two teams, while three sophomores and 30 freshmen have joined the bunch.
 
While Hanke and Lampe were recruiting, their program's resources were still to be determined. There was no wrestling room. There were also no competition mats, singlets or any other equipment or gear that programs inherit over time. Their sales pitch to the recruits, especially the then-high schoolers, was to trust them and help them make history at Linfield.
 
"It was a leap of faith, honestly. I told them to trust me, trust the process and trust the school. They all did that, and it's coming together. They're eager, hungry and ready to compete."
 
LINFIELD WRESTLING PIONEERS
Hanke grew up in nearby Dayton, Oregon, where he was a three-time state champion for Dayton High School. He grew up in the McMinnville School District and even used to train and go for runs on the Linfield campus. Hanke competed at the collegiate level for Oregon State University, a top-10 team in the country during his time as a Beaver.
 
The Yamhill County native brings coaching experience that includes stops at Oregon State, American University and Cal State-Bakersfield. When Linfield added a wrestling program, it presented him with a chance to continue to coach at a high level while returning to where his journey began.
 
"I have roots here. When Linfield called me, I honestly thought somebody was pulling my leg. I came out here and applied, and it seemed like a perfect fit. I'm excited to get started. To building something from the ground up is special."
 
A four-time U.S. Open individual champion and two-time world bronze medalist, Lampe is still in contention for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team as it gears up for the 2024 Summer Games. While Hanke wasn't sure if she'd agree to join him on the staff at Linfield, his hopes were high.
 
"Women's wrestling is skyrocketing," Hanke said. "The participation numbers every year is going crazy. To get someone who's a pioneer and leader in that area was pie in the sky. You've got to shoot your shot, so I gave her a call."
 
BUILDING A CULTURE
Culture and character are two things that Hanke zones in on when recruiting. He and Lampe are looking for the right type of athletes for the program, not just the most talented.
 
"At this level, you have to be willing to work hard and have a positive attitude."
 
Wrestling is a unique sport with men and women competing in different styles. There's also an emphasis on weight management since the athletes are confined to their weight classes. When the wrestlers arrived for preseason workouts, they had to decide what weight classes they wanted to be in and how they need to adjust their strength training accordingly.
 
Having few upperclassmen in the program means the Wildcats entered the season without a true team culture. Freshmen are being thrown into the deep end and forced to step up sooner than they may have anticipated to become team leaders.
 
"We've had people step up and fill those roles, and I've been pleased with how our team's culture has started to form."
 
ALREADY IN ACTION
Linfield is off and running, ushering in a new era of Wildcat wrestling. Both teams competed at the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association annual convention, where the women topped Big Bend Community College, 9-6, while the men fell 45-6 to North Idaho College, a national powerhouse at the junior college level.
 
Jacob Barnes pinned his opponent in 23 seconds to secure the first men's victory for Linfield in the NCAA era. Lance Van Hoose and Price Pothier lost in close decisions and are expected to be other names to look out for.
 
Jakob Jarvis and his training partner, Micah Worthington, can also make an impact this season. Jarvis was on last year's club team and has been a role model for the freshmen. Hanke expects the two of them to push each other during training sessions since they compete one weight class apart.
 
"If you have a good wrestler, the person next to them, whether it's up or down, is usually pretty good too. Iron sharpens iron."
 
Ayana Medina claimed the first-ever win for Linfield women's wrestling with a pin while Alice Rickett also picked up a win by technical fall. Hanke spoke highly of the women's team. He didn't want to single any individuals out because any one of those athletes can perform well on any given day.
 
"I'm excited about our women's team. They chose Linfield because they wanted to make history. We joke around about it at practice. They get to be the first to do anything. They can get the first takedown, the first win or the first pin, and maybe even be the first All-American or national champ."
 
THE HOUSE OF HUSTLE
Along with volleyball and men's and women's basketball, Ted Wilson Gymnasium will now be the home of Linfield wrestling. The 'Cats will host their first home dual meet on Thursday, Nov. 10, as they welcome the Pacific Boxers to McMinnville. Start time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
"We want to put a good product out there. We want people to get excited about Linfield wrestling. We're not concerned with wins and losses. I want it to be loud and crazy. It's a special and historical moment that we're all looking forward to."