2009-10 PAC Men's Wrestling Preview
THIEL TOMCATS (7-11 Overall, 1-1 PAC)
With nearly every wrestler
returning from last season’s Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship team,
the 2009-10 Thiel Tomcats are poised to continue their winning tradition. Coach
Craig Thurber, however, won’t be content with anything short of further
improvement.
“We have very high expectations for this season,” said Thurber. “We are
returning all but one from last year’s PAC championship team and fifth-place
Midwest Regional qualifier.”
The Tomcats have won ten consecutive conference titles –and 17of the past 19.
Moreover, Thiel wrestlers won six of ten weight classes in winning last year’s
conference crown.
Thurber, a Greenville native, was also named PAC coach of the year last season.
He has coached the Tomcats to six PAC titles since becoming head coach in 2003.
Judging by the end result, it seems last season was a breeze for the Tomcats.
But it was anything but says the coach.
“Last year got off to rough start, losing a couple key guys to injury,” said
Thurber, “but things ended on a very positive note.
“A lot of freshmen were allowed the opportunity to compete. We were young, but
they stepped up and finished strong. Those guys got a taste of the high-level
competition at our regional.”
It was this resilience and gained experience that have the Tomcats aiming for
even greater things in the coming season.
“(They) have their sights set on winning our conference again and winning our
regional,” Thurber noted. “Obviously, there is good competition in our
conference and region, but they believe we can win both events.”
Leading off for the Tomcats, in the 125-pound class is junior Rob Miller.
Miller, a defending conference champion, also finished second at the NCAA
Division III Midwest Regional meet, and quailifed for the NCAA Division III
national championship meet for the second straight year.
“Robbie has been a star performer for us,” said Thurber. “I know he has his
sights set on finishing very high this season.”
There is three-way competition for the 133-pound slot among junior Jeff
Langdon, Kyle Grueninger and Tommy Kozak.
Returning at 141-pounds is sophomore Corey Brown. As a freshman, Brown
accomplished more than most athletes do in a four-year career; a conference
title, second-place in the regionals, and sixth-place at nationals. Added to
that, Brown was honored as the conference’s Most Outstanding Wrestler and a
member of its all-academic team.
“Corey Brown had an outstanding freshmen year,” Thurber said. “He was our first
freshmen All-American in the history of the program.
“He is a tireless worker and is always trying to better himself and his
teammates. He is a natural leader -not real vocal- but definitely leads by
example. His work ethic is going to take him a long way in this sport.”
Sophomore Matt Lowry, a conference champ and all academic honoree last
season, will vie with classmate Jeff Marianetti for time in the 149-pound
slot.
Greg Hogan, who won a conference title and finished fourth at regionals,
returns for his senior season at 157.
Moving up to 165 pounds will be Alec Miller. Last season, at 149, the
sophomore was a PAC champ and placed third at regionals. He is the older brother
of Rob Miller.
Sophomore 174-pounder Brice Mertiff, who finished fourth at regionals,
will be followed up by freshman Isaac Moore at 184. Incoming freshman
Todd Miller – at 197 – and then either Kraig Smith or Nate
Meyer – at 285 – round out the heavyweight classes.
Thurber describes his team as “deep” and “solid from top to bottom”. Naturally,
he is optimistic. However, with tough competition throughout the conference and
region, the Tomcats know they will have their work cut out for them.
The 2009-10 season opens with a Nov. 7 trip to Berea, Ohio in a match against
Baldwin-Wallace. Conference action starts Nov. 14 at Washington & Jefferson.
WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON
PRESIDENTS (4-8 Overall, 1-1 PAC)
The Washington and Jefferson College wrestling team, led by
fourth-year head coach Jay Robison, is hoping to take the next step to
return to the top of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. The Presidents, who
have not won a conference title since 1999, open the season on Saturday,
November 7th, competing at the Clarion Open.
Although the roster features 15 freshman and sophomores, Robison returns a strong nucleus, including two sophomores who were crowned as conference champions last year in 125-pounder Zach Cecchetti and heavyweight Taylor Potts.
Cecchetti finished the 2008-09 campaign with an overall record of 28-10, including seven falls. He capped off his season by placing third at the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament, winning three out of his four matches. Cecchetti also claimed W&J’s only individual tournament championship last year, winning the 125 pound weight class at the Florida Citrus Wrestling Open.
Potts, who is also a member of the W&J football team, posted a mark of 13-9 last season with two victories by fall. He took fifth place at the NCAA Midwest Regional after notching a pair of wins.
The Presidents also return four other starters from last year’s lineup: juniors 133-pounder Brandon Sansom and 184-pounder Alex Cressley (pictured right) along with sophomores 157-pounder Dominick Demor and 149-pounder Brandon Roshon.
Sansom closed out the season with a record of 20-19 and led the team in pinfalls with eight, while Cressley earned a 14-15 record and collected four falls. Demor went 21-7 last season, including five triumphs by fall, while Roshon recorded 11 victories last season.
The squad will also be bolstered by the return of senior 165-pounder Brandon Foye, who did not compete last season. Foye will look to earn a starting position at 165 pounds, while also serving as a veteran leader for the Presidents.
Robison is also excited about eight freshmen who will suit up for the Red & Black this season. The Presidents open their home schedule at the Henry Memorial Center on Friday, Nov. 13, when hosting WVU Tech and the Fourth Annual W&J Open will take place a day later.
WAYNESBURG
YELLOW JACKETS (10-4 Overall, 2-0 PAC)
After taking over the reins of the Waynesburg University wrestling program prior to last season, head coach Ron Headlee and his primary assistant John Yates turned the Yellow Jackets from a winless team, to a nationally-recognized squad that featured two national qualifiers.
It took the duo just a few months after their hiring in February of 2008 to build the team up from a handful of grapplers, to a team of 25-plus athletes. Last season, Waynesburg finished with a 10-4 mark in dual matches, including flawless records against Division III opponents (7-0) and Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) teams (2-0).
The Jackets were also ranked nationally as a squad by the National Wrestling Coaches Assocation (NWCA) and had several individual grapplers earn rankings from both the NWCA and the national website, d3wrestle.com.
With eight starters expected back from last season’s team, the biggest challenge for the Jackets may be trying to match or surpass all they did last winter.
125 pounds
Waynesburg’s lightest weight class features a nice mix of veteran grapplers and newcomers. Sophomore Rico Borz is back after going 20-12 at the weight last season, and 23-13 overall. He started all 14 dual matches for the Jackets, going 8-6 in the contests, and was named a PAC Wrestler of the Week.
The Bethel Park native’s biggest win of the season came at the PAC championships, where, despite fighting a 100-plus degree temperature, he upset nationally-ranked Robbie Miller of Thiel. He also received honorable mention honors from d3wrestling.com.
Several freshmen should provide good competition for Borz. First-year athletes Chris Mullins and Alex Crown are expected to provide good depth for the Jackets, as will sophomore Josh Klimko, who went 5-4 at 125 last season.
133 pounds
Borz, Mullins, Crown and Klimko are all listed as possibilities at 133, which will be one of the team’s deepest weight classes.
Even more competition is expected out of incoming freshman Brandon Grainy, who comes to Waynesburg from a solid Penn-Trafford program. Sophomore Dan Boring and senior Josh Mollica give Headlee and Yates plenty of options at the weight.
141 pounds
After winning the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional title and going to the NCAA Division III National Championships at 141 pounds, junior Nick Garber (right) is back to take a crack at his first full season at the weight.
After spending most of the season as one of the nation’s top 133-pounders (21-2 at the weight, national top-ten ranking), Garber switched back to the weight he wrestled as a freshman for his postseason work.
The Waynesburg native won his first 19 matches to begin last year and won the 133-pound class at the Messiah Invitational, the Ohio Northern Invitational and the Washington & Lee Invitational by going 10-0 with 10 pins. He was also a two-time PAC Wrestler of the Week and finished in a tie for sixth place in Division III for wins by fall (18).
He went 1-2 at nationals and upset fifth-seeded James Beshada of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy by 15-3 major decision.
While Headlee doesn’t expect anyone to unseat Garber at the weight, he will have an experienced veteran to back him up and train with in senior Abdul Yusuff, who went 7-7 overall last year, including a 6-5 mark at 141. Sophomore Stefan Chaussard moves up to 141 this season and adds further depth.
149 pounds
As one of the biggest names of Headlee and Yates’ first recruiting class, much was expected out of then-freshman Jesse Byerly.
Things started out well for the former Pennsylvania state champion and Pittsburgh transfer, as he won his first 10 bouts of the season and went 12-2 in dual matches, all at 149.
Unfortunately, injuries put something of a damper on Byerly’s season, but he still managed to finish the year with a 14-3 overall record and the Jackets are looking for big things from a healthy Byerly at 149.
Waynesburg should also feature plenty of depth at the weight class with sophomore Chris Pihiou is back after seeing plenty of mat time as freshmen. He posted a 4-5 overall record, with a 4-2 mark at 149.
Freshman Chris McBride adds another body at the class.
157 pounds
Like many of the Jackets’ lower and middle weights, Waynesburg returns last year’s primary starter at this particular weight. Sophomore Jared Roberts is back as the leader for the job this season.
The Washington, Pa. native compiled a 12-17 overall record, with a 12-16 mark at 157 and a 4-6 dual record at the weight. He also established himself as an effective pinner by going 8-1 in contests decided by fall.
The Jackets boast two more experienced returners at the weight in the sophomores Garrett Johnston and Jon Sanko. Johnston went 8-11 overall last year and Sanko posted a 7-7 overall mark.
Further depth should be added with transfer David Wills joining the team. Wills is a graduate of tradition-rich Burrell High School.
165 Pounds
Another weight, another returning starter for the Yellow Jackets as sophomore Alex Evanoff is expected to pick up where he left off after winning the PAC title at 165 last season.
After winning the starting job partway through last season, Evanoff proved to be one of the team’s top tilters and finished with a 9-9 overall record, including a 7-5 mark at 165. The Butler native was 4-1 at the weight in dual matches.
Freshman Robert Schultz gives them further depth at the weight.
174 Pounds
The 174-pound weight class is one of the very few on the team that has a job up for grabs after the graduation of senior Jake Benczo.
The lone veteran at the class is junior Matt Zimmerman, who went 4-11 overall last year and posted a 1-2 mark at 174, including starting a dual match at the weight.
184
Pounds
Though sophomore Chuck Thomas is expected to return after starting all 14 dual matches at 184 last season, 2008-09 PAC champion, NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Champion and national qualifier Corbin Semple (left) is expected to drop down from 197 to handle the starting job at 184.
Last year, Semple was one of the biggest stories for the Jackets. After three years away from the sport, the Waynesburg native transferred from Penn State and went on to lead the team in wins (36-6) and major-decision victories (8-0), post the second-most falls (14-0) and be the only member of the team to go a perfect 14-0 in dual contests.
He also added individual 197-pound titles at the John Summa and Washington & Lee invitationals. Semple posted a 1-2 record at nationals and upset the fifth-seeded grappler at 197.
The former Pa. state champion also finished fourth in Division III in wins at 197, led all D-III 197-pounders in wins by major decision and ranked 29th in wins for all weight classes.
A trio of newcomers, Roscoe Bright, Travis Kuhn and Troy Cree, are all expected to compete for time in their first years .
197 pounds
Bright, Kuhn and Cree are all expected to compete for the starting job once football season ends on Nov. 14. If all goes as planned, the trio would join the team in time to compete in the home quad-match against Messiah, York and Baldwin-Wallace.
285 pounds
In the final weight class, Waynesburg features a pair of veterans battling it out for the starting job.
Both Melvin Warrick and Rich Janicki saw starting time on the mat for the Jackets, with Warrick posting a 6-6 overall mark and a 2-2 dual record. Janicki finished out the year as the starter, and went 10-20 overall, with a 2-8 dual mark.
Freshman Steven Ramey also joins the heavyweight ranks in 2009-10.
###