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Stanford wrestling revival provides a landing spot for Lakeville North standout

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 01/26/22, 1:45PM CST

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The college cut the sport, then brought it back, and Zach Hanson took advantage.


Zach Hanson went big with the news on Twitter when he committed to Stanford.

Less than two years ago, wrestling was dead at Stanford.

It had axed its wrestling program, one of 11 sports cut, claiming the financial model to support 36 varsity sports was not sustainable.

Last spring things changed drastically. Stanford reinstated all 11 varsity sports.

That was welcome news to Lakeville North senior 145-pounder Zach Hanson. Hanson, a dedicated scholar as well as an exceptional wrestler, had always been interested in Stanford, but when the school cut the program, he turned his interests elsewhere.

He still had some top-notch schools on his list — Columbia and Princeton in the Ivy League, Northwestern, Minnesota and Wyoming — so options were available. But when Stanford brought back wrestling, Hanson was thrilled.

“When they cut wrestling, that stunk for me because Stanford was one of the schools that was always on my radar,” Hanson said. “When they brought it back, it was immediately right up there again for me.”

Hanson, who is 28-2 at 145 this winter and ranked No. 2 in Class 3A, committed to Stanford in November.

Runner-up at 132 pounds in Class 3A last year, a 16-under champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the U.S. Nationals in Fargo last summer, Hanson consulted with former Anoka wrestler Tyler Eischens, who was wrestling for Stanford when the sport was cut. Eischens went back to Stanford when the school brought the sport back.

Eischens vouched for the program and new head coach Rob Koll, who formerly led Cornell.

“He told me everything was great,” Hanson said. “I think he put in a good word for me.”

Hanson said the turmoil at Stanford appears to be a thing of the past. “They said they’re endowed for a full 36 [sports],” he said. “I’m very excited. The education is great. I had a real fun visit out there, and the guys on the team made it feel like home. And no more cold Minnesota winters.”

 

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