2008 Woodie Awards
Sherfey takes experience to nationals
TATE CASTLETON
Sports Writer
Issue date: 3/15/07 Section: Sports
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For the second consecutive season Sherfey will compete in the NCAA National Championships in Auburn Hills, Mich., March 15-17.
Last season Sherfey was named the Pac-10 Conference Freshman of the Year after compiling a 30-11 overall record and placing second at the Pac-10 conference tournament.
Sherfey also advanced to his first NCAA Championships. This season Sherfey and freshman teammate Nate Lee finished third at the Pac-10 conference tournament late last month in their respective weight classes to capture an invitation to nationals.
Last month’s conference tournament was personal for Sherfey. In early January the standout sophomore was defeated in a close battle with Cal. Poly’s Chase Pami. Sherfey was able to avenge the loss by pinning Pami at the 2:53 mark of the first round. The win clinched a spot at nationals for Sherfey.
He also walked away with the Pac-10 award for Most Falls at the championships with two.
He now must focus on the task at hand. Sherfey said he hopes to finish in the top eight at nationals and be recognized as an All-American.
“I’ve been training hard these last couple weeks getting ready and getting healthy for the tournament,” Sherfey said. “I’m hoping to go back an All-American there and place in the top eight and represent Boise State at the NCAA tournament.”
Sherfey said he hopes he is peaking at just the right time of the season.
“I started off the season a little shaky,” Sherfey said. “But so far, so good. I’ve been getting better as the year has gone on and I hope that pays off right now.”
Sherfey said he knows that when it comes to the biggest wrestling event of the season, experience counts.
“Hopefully I learned something from last season and being able to wrestle at that level,” Sherfey said. “I just work everyday to prepare myself for it and hope for the best.”
As a freshman Sherfey won his first round match at the NCAA tournament with a 20-4 technical fall over Illinois’s Troy Tirapelle. He went on to win one more match before being knocked out of the tournament by Central Michigan’s Mark Disalvo.
Sherfey is no stranger to winning though. In high school Sherfey went undefeated his senior season boasting a 42-0 record and a career record of 147-12.
Those numbers and a winning percentage of 92.5 for his career made him a two-time Washington State champion.
“You prepare for something like this your whole life and when it comes you hope for the best,” Sherfey said. “I’ve had a goal all along to be an All-American and compete to the best of my ability and I fully intend to do that.”
Boise State wrestling coach Greg Randall is confident in his two underclassmen heading to nationals.
“I think Tyler is going into this with the right state of mind,”
Randall said. “We’d love to see these guys finish in the top eight so they can be named All-Americans and we know they’re capable of doing that.”
Last season Sherfey wrestled in the 149-pound class, but this season he has moved up to wrestle at 157 pounds.
“I’m excited and can’t wait to get out and compete and see what happens,” Sherfey said.
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