He barely registers triple digits on the scale, but Riverside soon-to-be-freshman Hans Rockwell makes opponents feel like they’ve just wrestled a heavyweight.
Rockwell, who wrestles at 98 pounds, recently returned from a 10-0 weekend at the Western States Junior Duals in Pocatello, Idaho to help lead Team Oregon to both freestyle and Greco-Roman championships.
He was the youngest wrestler in the entire tournament. In fact, he was the only wrestler that will begin high school this coming fall. Everyone else was entering their sophomore, junior or senior years.
The way Hans was able to make the trip is a true sign of the times and how the information age has evolved.
“The team was looking for a 98-pounder, so they posted it on OregonLive.com,” his father, Richard, explained. OregonLive.com is the website The Oregonian newspaper runs and has message boards and forums for high school athletics, which was where the message was posted. “I called them up and asked if he could fill the spot. It was kind of by accident how he got on the team.”
Richard brought up the point that Hans hasn’t began high school yet, but the coaches said that wouldn’t be a problem, perhaps knowing that Hans could hold his own with some of the region’s best talent.
During his perfect tournament run in both disciplines, Hans was one of four wrestlers not to lose a match. Also, he was one of three not to lose a single round.
And what he didn’t know before he wrestled a couple wrestlers, and beat them of course, made the run of wins even more impressive.
“He wrestled a kid from Utah that was a returning all-American,” Richard said. “And one of the kids from Colorado he beat was a 3-time state champion.”
Hans and Team Oregon competed against teams from Idaho, Arizona, Montana, Utah, California and Colorado.
Not too bad for a wiry kid that is definitely stronger than he looks.
“I was kind of leery to let see how he would do,” Richard said. “Hans hadn’t wrestled Greco since the fourth grade.”
