A few things have changed for junior wrestler Jayson Ness since his outstanding 2007-2008 sophomore season in which he posted a 39-2 overall record, tied his former coach’s record for 20 pins in one season, and was ranked No. 1 in the nation all year in the 125-pound weight class.

Ness has had to make some adjustments since last spring. Always a heavier 125-pounder, said assistant coach Brandon Eggum, a move to 133 just seemed to be the better fit this season.

“He’s done a great job this spring, summer and fall of getting in the weight room and making sure he’s putting on any strength that’s necessary. His diligence is something that’s going to make the adjustment easier for him,” head assistant coach Joe Russell said.

There were multiple reasons for the transition, which has gone smoothly so far.

“He was a big 125-pounder last year, there’s no doubt about it and he moved up. Also we had Zach Sanders , who at 125 was a very talented freshman for us,” Eggum said.

Sanders, a redshirt freshman last season , hopes to carry on the reign previously set by Ness in the 125-pound class, he said. He is currently ranked 19th nationally at 125. Sanders has learned his share from his predecessor.

“If you wanted to be like a person on the team, Jayson’s the person you want to be like,” Sanders said. “He does everything right.”

“I just got to keep working on stuff every day, coming with a good attitude and working at my weaknesses,” Sanders said.

Russell said he can see some of Ness in Sanders.

“[Zach] is a superstar like Jayson. He’s a superstar in the making, we should say,” Russell said. “I think [it was a good decision] for our lineup; I think it was a good decision for our team as well,” Russell said.

More than anything, the weight change has allowed Ness to be more comfortable and focus on the essentials. He no longer has to constantly be aware of keeping the weight off, something he’s never really been used to in his wrestling career.

“My weight is sitting really good now. I don’t have to cut too much [weight], I feel strong when I’m wrestling, I feel good,” Ness said.

“Last year, a lot of my focus was on making sure that I kept my weight under control, making sure that I ate healthy, ate the right amount, so a little bit more weight management,” he said.

Not only can Ness afford to have a snack once in a while, he can now focus on those essentials of wrestling.

“He can change his focus now, [as he is] getting better technically. He can focus more on the wrestling end of it, and less of ‘I got to lose “X” amount of pounds this week,” Russell said.

Senior Dustin Schlatter agreed.

“He can put most of his energy to wrestling and training, and he’s definitely done that,” Schlatter said.

Ness will be able to do just that next Monday, when he competes at the prestigious NWCA All-Star Classic.

“Last year I went out there and got beat so I’m going out with a new attitude this year. I really just want to win this match just to set the tone for the entire nation, to show them how I’m going to wrestle, show how Minnesota’s going to wrestle this year,” Ness said.

Despite a tough 133 class this year, Ness is ready to show what he’s all about.

“We expect great things. There’s nothing easy about college wrestling but a guy that works as hard as Jayson does, he’s going to put himself in the mix,” Russell said.

Representing, leading, and working hard for this Gophers team is what Ness said he is all about.

“Each match you have to go in and approach it just like it’s a national final,” Ness said. “Every time you go out, you want to go out and dominate and make sure your opponent knows you’re that much better.”