Bucknell Wrestling Opens up 2007-08 Season on Tuesday with Wrestle-Offs
Oct. 29, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Before kicking off a challenging 2007-08 schedule on Nov. 17, at the Navy Classic, the Bucknell wrestling team will hold intrasquad wrestle-offs, this Tuesday Oct. 29, in Davis Gym. The exhibition slate, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., is open to the public with no charge for admission. Following a successful 2006-07 campaign that saw the squad post a school-record 12 dual-meet wins with an all freshman roster and send three individuals to the NCAA Championships, the Bison will look to continue the program's resurrection in 2007-08 as head coach Dan Wirnsberger has brought another nationally ranked recruiting class into the fold, his second in two years a the frontman for the Orange and Blue. This group is expected to add to what is already a strong corps of returning sophomores. 125 - Projected Starter: Greg Hart Wirnsberger expects sophomore Greg Hart (Bedminster, N.J./Bernards) to once again receive the starting nod at this weight and looks for Hart to be much improved with a year of experience under his belt. Hart went 16-15 overall as a freshman and 11-11 in duals. The Bison will welcome two talented newcomers at this weight, as well, in José Matos (Williamstown, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) and Kevin Carrillo (Belen, N.M./Belen). Wirnsberger feels that this duo will challenge Hart for the starting position and projects that this spot could be a battle throughout the season as Matos and Carrillo gain experience.
"I am really looking to get more production out of this weight class as the year unfolds," Wirnsberger explains. 133 - Starter: David Marble After an impressive freshman campaign, NCAA qualifier David Marble (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville Central) will start for the Bison at 133 pounds. In 2006-07, he posted a record of 16-6 in duals, 24-13 overall and took sixth at the EIWA Championships to earn a wild card berth into the NCAA Tournament. In the 2007-08 preseason rankings, Marble was tabbed 15th at his weight by InterMat and was selected No. 17 by Amateur Wrestling News. "With his work ethic and year of experience, Marble will undoubtedly contend to be an All-American or NCAA Champion this season," predicts Wirnsberger. 141 - Projected Starter: Zach Galligan or Luke Chohany Due to a large number of potential contenders, this weight class is, according to Wirnsberger, "very up in the air." Sophomores Zach Galligan (Boonville, N.Y./Adirondack) and Jack Conroy (Westport, Conn./Green Farms Academy) both spent the bulk of 2006-07 in starting roles as freshman, Galligan at 141, and Conroy, who will move down a weight this season, at 149. The duo will also be challenged by returning sophomore Luke Chohany (Duncannon, Pa./Susquenita) and freshman Eric Harris (Green River, Wyo./Green River) who was a three-time all-state selection in high school. "In order to compete at a high level, we need more production at 141 pounds. We are looking for one of these individuals to step up and perform," Wirnsberger comments. 149 - Projected Starter: Kevin LeValley "Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo./Limon) is a very highly-touted recruit that we are expecting to step up and make an immediate impact on the national level," says Wirnsberger. LeValley, Bucknell's projected starter at 149, is coming off an impressive high school career that saw him capture four high school state titles in his native Colorado. This past summer, LeValley became a dual-style All-American in Fargo, N.D., which included a Junior National Greco-Roman championship. 157 - Projected Starter: Brantley Hooks Brantley Hooks (Spartanburg, S.C./James F. Byrnes) is the returning starter for the Bison at 157 and Wirnsberger looks for him to build off his year of experience as a freshman and perform at a higher level as a sophomore. In 2006-07, Hooks went 16-12 overall and 11-9 in dual meet competition. Wirnsberger projects that freshmen Chris Bailes (Middletown, Pa./Middletown), Scott Sechler (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh), and Ryan Ochalek (Oil City, Pa./Oil City) could also see starting time at this weight and believes that the trio will provide much needed depth in the middle weight classes. "We feel very comfortable with any of these athletes stepping up into this weight class," Wirnsberger states. 165 - Starter: Andy Rendos Returning NCAA qualifier Andy Rendos (Brockway, Pa./Brockway Area) will once again start for the Bison at 165. As a freshman, Rendos set a program record for dual meet victories, finishing with a record of 19-2 in duals, while leading the squad with an overall record of 27-6 and taking third at the EIWA Championships to earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Heading into 2007-08, Rendos appears in InterMat and Amateur Wrestling News' preseason rankings as he is No. 15 on both lists. "We will look for Rendos to move up the ranks as the year progresses and contend for All-America status and an NCAA individual title." says Wirnsberger. "He has progressed well in the off-season and will be looking to make a national statement in the upcoming season." 174 - Projected Starter: Shane Riccio Sophomore Shane Riccio (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) is the returning starter at this weight after posting a 12-7 dual-meet record as a freshman and going 17-11 overall. "Riccio has added size and strength during his off-season training which will benefit him greatly," explains Wirnsberger. Freshman Rob Waltko (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) enters his collegiate career with substantial high school credentials after winning a PIAA AAA state title as a senior and finishing as the runner-up at his weight as a junior. "We will go with the best wrestler in the program at this weight," Wirnsberger says. 184 - Projected Starter: David Thompson or Charlie Wonsettler Two newcomers will vie for the starting role at 184 for the Bison as Wirnsberger feels that David Thompson (West Liberty, Ohio/Graham Local) and Charlie Wonsettler (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth) are the most likely candidates to fill this vacant spot in the lineup. Thompson was a four-time high school state placewinner in Ohio and was a runner-up in freestyle at USA Nationals to earn All-America status. Wonsettler was a two-time placewinner at the PIAA tournament and took fifth as a senior in 2007. "This weight class has two wrestlers that could step in and perform at a high level for us right away," Wirnsberger projects. 197 - Projected Starter: Sean LoCurto Sophomore Sean LoCurto (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) will be stepping into a new role this year as the everyday starter at 197 after seeing limited action as a freshman. "This is a key weight class for the program, so we will be looking for him to perform well," says Wirnsberger. HWT - Projected Starter: George Hingson The returning heavyweight starter for the Orange and Blue is George Hingson (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area), who went 14-12 overall as a freshman in 2006-07 and 11-8 in duals. "Hingson has put on much needed size and strength to be competitive at this weight class," states Wirnsberger. "We will be looking to him to become a leader and win a lot of matches for us this year." |
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