Author: Jeff McCall

04/08/2014 by Jeff
Nearly half of the USA Dream Team will feature wrestlers from the Keystone State on Sunday April 13. In it’s 18th season the Cliff Keen/Wrestling USA Magazine Dream Team Classic will feature USA All-Stars vs. Georgia All-Stars. An impressive six (6) wrestlers from Pennsylvania will be making the trip to Georgia representing the USA Dream Team.
The selections are 2014 PIAA Class AAA State runner-up Scott Parker (Pennridge) at 120 lbs.; 2014 PIAA Class AA State Champion Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic) at 126 lbs.; 2013 PIAA Class AAA State Champion Tyler Smith (Franklin Regional) at 132 lbs.; 3x PIAA Class AA State Champion Jason Nolf (Kittanning) at 145 lbs.; 2014 PIAA Class AAA State Champion TC Warner (Cumberland Valley) at 152 lbs.; and 2x PIAA Class AAA State Champion Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin) at 160 lbs.
Parker and Moisey will take on a pair of Collin Hill High School seniors who are each ranked in the top 10 in the Nation at their respective weight-classes. Below is a look at the match-ups for the 18th Annual Cliff Keen/Wrestling USA Magazine Dream Team Classic. Rankings are based on Intermat’s latest National Rankings.
Below are the scheduled match-ups for the Team USA vs. Georgia dual meet.
113: No. 7 Brian Rossi (Lockport, Ill.) vs. Alonzo Allen (Rockdale County)
120: No. 5 Scott Parker (Pennridge, Pa.) vs. No. 3 Sean Russell (Collins Hill)
126: No. 3 Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) vs. No. 7 Ryan Millhof (Collins Hill)
132: No. 11 Tyler Smith (Franklin Regional, Pa.) vs. Tyler Marinelli (Jefferson)
138: No. 6 Seth Gross (Apple Valley, Minn.) vs. No. 12 at 145 Kamaal Abdush-Shakur (Parkview)
145: No. 2 Jason Nolf (Kittanning, Pa.) vs. Jason Alfau (Camden County)
152: No. 3 T.C. Warner (Cumberland Valley, Pa.) vs. Matthew Moody (Lowndes)
160: No. 3 Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin, Pa.) vs. Jake Henson (Pope)
170: No. 6 Chandler Rogers (Stillwater, Okla.) vs. Damarko Dixon (Appling County)
182: No. 2 at 170 Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas) vs. No. 4 at 195 Chip Ness (Buford)
195: No. 3 Nathan Rose (Sibley East, Minn.) vs. No. 3 Chance McClure (Commerce)
220: Sage Hecox (Machesney Park Harlem, Ill.) vs. No. 19 Matthew Moore (Apalachee)
285: No. 11 Billy Miller (Perry, Ohio) vs. M.J. Couzan (Archer)

Six Pennsylvania Wrestlers Selected to USA Dream Team

By Stacie Michaud
Navy Sports Information

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced on Friday that Joel Sharratt has been named Navy’s new head wrestling coach. A former assistant coach at the Naval Academy under Bruce Burnett, Sharratt has spent the last eight years as the head wrestling coach at the Air Force Academy.

“Joel’s leadership, respect by peers, extraordinary accomplishments, and passion for wrestling are reflected in every step of his career,” said Gladchuk. “He returns to the Naval Academy a seasoned professional who is a proven master of his profession. Thirteen years of developing winners and leaders to serve our nation have given him a unique perspective of how to succeed at a service academy. He is a perfect fit for Navy and we have every expectation his tenure in Annapolis will be one of great academic and athletic success for our midshipmen.”

“It’s an honor to be back at the Naval Academy building leaders of character who are ready to serve our country,” said Sharratt. “I want to acknowledge Mr. Gladchuk and the institution for their support of me and the Navy wrestling program. It’s a great honor to take over such a historic program and after meeting with the team and staff today, I feel very excited about the opportunities the program has in the future. I look forward to reconnecting with the Naval Academy alumni base, former wrestlers and fans.”

Sharratt began engineering the turnaround in the Air Force wrestling program when he was introduced as the Falcons’ head coach in the summer of 2006. Although faced with a rebuilding task in his first season as head coach, Sharratt helped lead Air Force to a 3-1 mark in its inaugural season in the Western Wrestling Conference. With the Falcons earning a sixth-place team finish at the NCAA West Regional, Crozier and Devlin led Air Force as third-team all-conference selections.

In 2008, Sharratt was named the Western Wrestling Conference Coach of the Year after leading Air Force to a second-place finish at the 2008 NCAA West Regional, matching the program’s best showing at the tournament (also finishing second in 2003). Jake Kriegbaum, named the Outstanding Wrestler at the West Regional, and Tyler French both won their respective weight classes at the NCAA West Regional/WWC Championships, while three others placed second.

To cap off the season, the Falcons also sent four wrestlers to the NCAA Championship for the third time in the past four seasons. All four won at least one match at the national meet.

In 2010, Sharratt helped guide a young team to six wins and a fifth-place showing at the NCAA West Regional. In addition, he began to develop Cole VonOhlen into a national contender, as the newcomer became the first Air Force freshman since 2005 to earn a spot at the NCAA Championship. VonOhlen, nationally ranked at 141 pounds for most of the 2010 season, was named the Western Wrestling Conference Freshman of the Year and earned a second-place showing at the West Regional.

In 2011, Sharratt led Air Force to a 12-5 dual record. Seven Falcons notched at least 20 wins on the season, including a nation’s-best 44 victories from VonOhlen, while the Falcons captured third place at the NCAA West Regional. VonOhlen, ranked in the top 10 nationally, was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the West Regional and went on to his second NCAA bid in as many years.

In 2012, both VonOhlen and Josh Kreimier advanced to the round of 12 at the NCAA Championship. In addition, Sharratt was named the College Coach of the Year by the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Sharratt guided Air Force to an 11-4 dual record during the 2013 campagin. Four Falcons qualified for the NCAA Championship, including VonOhlen who became just the third four-time NCAA qualifier in program history. VonOhlen, who finished in the top 12 despite battling a significant shoulder injury, was joined at the national tournament by West Regional champions Josh Kreimier and Dylan Hyder and WWC Freshman of the Year Josh Martinez.

This past season, Sharratt led the Falcons to an 11-6-3 record and a third-place finish at the NCAA West Regional. Senior 133-pound Greg Rinker captured the individual title at 133 points, while Josh Martinez (125) and freshman Natrelle Demison (149) finished as the runner-up at their respective weight class. Once again, four Falcons earned NCAA Tournament bids, including Martinez who became just the 12th wrestler in school history to earn an NCAA Tournament bid at least three times.

Sharratt’s influence has been notable off the mat as well. Josh Larson served as the Cadet Wing Commander in the spring of 2011, supporting the team’s leadership role in military development. Academically, the Falcons have been consistently in the top 10 percent of the NCAA APR (Academic Progress Rate) rankings among all Division I wrestling institutions, while earning NWCA All-Academic honors as a team in 2009. In addition, Stephen Crozier was named to the NWCA All-Academic team in 2008 and 2009, and was also a three-time member of the WWC All-Academic team. In 2013, the Falcons had two more wrestlers earn NWCA All-Academic honors.

One of the nation’s most passionate coaches, Sharratt believes in leadership from the front and when given the opportunity to deploy to Balad AB, Iraq, in the spring of 2011, he humbly accepted the chance to go overseas, serving as a part of General Neubauer’s Combatives Mobile Training Team. As combatives instructor at the Air Force Academy, Sharratt worked with the Air Force Center of Excellence, housed here at USAFA to help offer the greater Air Force the best combatives training possible.

Sharratt spent six seasons as an assistant coach at the Naval Academy under the tutelage of former U.S. National Coach Bruce Burnett. In 2005-06, Sharratt helped lead the Midshipmen to a 13-2 dual record, marking the most wins by the program since the 1990-91 season, while also sending five wrestlers to the NCAA Championship. A tenured assistant professor at the Naval Academy, he also served as the faculty chair of the USNA combative courses.

A 1995 graduate of the University of Iowa, Sharratt was a three-time All-American, earning three trips to the NCAA Finals, winning the championship in 1994. Training under the tutelage of legendary coach Dan Gable during his college career, Sharratt was a four-year letterwinner for the Hawkeyes, and was twice selected as the team captain. Sharratt led his team to the 1995 Big Ten Championship and NCAA Championship, winning the Big Ten individual championship that season. Sharratt also competed as a member of the 1993 and 1994 Big Ten Championship teams, as well as the 1992 and 1994 NCAA Championship teams.

Following his college career, Sharratt was a two-time member of the U.S. National Team, earning the bronze medal at both the 1996 Olympic Trials and 1997 Pan American Championships. While competing on the international level, Sharratt represented the United States around the world including trips to Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Italy, France and Canada. His accomplishments as a coach in the freestyle arena included cadet national champions and junior national champions, as well as multiple national team members and world medalists.

Sharratt also served as a graduate assistant at the University of Minnesota, where he earned his master’s degree in sports administration in 2000, serving a two year position as the Developmental Freestyle Coach for the state of Minnesota. Sharratt also worked as an assistant coach at Lehigh from 1996-98 and as a graduate assistant at his alma mater during the 1995-96 season.

A native of Bloomington, Minn., Sharratt was inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011. Honored as an athlete, Sharratt was recognized for his accomplishments both as a state champion at Bloomington-Kennedy High School and as an All-American and NCAA champion at Iowa.

Sharratt and his wife, Jamie, are the parents of four daughters, Tori (10), Taylor (8), Carly (5) and Trista (4).

By Caleb Miller
Sports Editor
Friday, April 4, 2014

A former Brown coach told Ophir Bernstein ’15 on his campus visit that he could be an All-American. Last weekend, Bernstein proved him right.
A former Brown coach told Ophir Bernstein ’15 on his campus visit that he could be an All-American. Last weekend, Bernstein proved him right.
At the Division 1 National Wrestling Championships last weekend, fans from across the country watched Ophir Bernstein ’15 make University history. The 184-pound captain won three of his first four matches to become the first Brunonian All-American in 16 years. In the process, Bernstein pushed his season win total to 36, the second-highest in program history.

In the match that decided who would claim the coveted All-American label, Bernstein faced off against Ohio State’s Kenny Courts. Despite holding a lower seed and having lost to Courts early in the season, Bernstein dominated his Buckeye opponent 9-4. With the ink still wet in the Brown record books, The Herald has decided to make the All-American our Athlete of the Week.

Herald: How did you get started in wrestling?

Bernstein: My dad was a really successful wrestler, and he actually wrestled in the Olympics for Israel. Wrestling is one of those sports where it’s a family thing, and my brother and I both wrestled. My dad got me into it, but once I started I definitely developed a love.

How did you choose Brown?

I visited Brown, Columbia and Harvard. Going into it, Brown was a far third choice, but seeing the student body and learning more about the open curriculum, the campus, the team, the coach — I just fell in love. Looking back, I can’t imagine going anywhere else, so it was definitely a good pick.

Did you know when you signed to wrestling at Brown that you could be a D-1 All-American?

It’s funny that you say that, because I remember when I was on my recruiting trip, the assistant coach at the time (John Clark) told me, “If you come here and work hard, we think you have a chance to be Brown’s first All-American in a while.” I thought it was a little far-fetched, because at the time of my recruiting trip, I hadn’t even won a state championship in high school. The position I was put in, with the coaches and great teammates, made it a realistic goal, but at the time I was like, “No way.”

Is it difficult to have to switch head coaches halfway through your career?

I didn’t find the transition hard at all. It’s sad to see the old coaches go. I loved them, but the new coaches fit in really great at Brown. They definitely have us headed in the right direction. Everybody on the team is motivated now and shares the same goals.

When you faced Ohio State’s Kenny Courts in the Las Vegas tournament at the beginning of the season, did you ever think you would see him again on such a big stage?

Before I wrestled him, I didn’t really think about that. But after I wrestled him and lost to him, I thought, “I sure hope I see him again.” I didn’t want to end on a loss.

What’s your favorite takedown move?

My signature move is the low single (an attack on the opponent’s near leg, below the knee). I’ve been doing that since high school, and it’s my bread and butter. But I’m trying to work in some more stuff.

Is it ever difficult to perform in an individual sport that puts you all alone on a big stage like nationals?

There’s definitely pros and cons to it. If you lose a match, you have nobody to blame but yourself. You can’t say, “Oh, if our second baseman would have caught that ball, we could have won.” On the other hand, all the glory goes to you when you win. I’ve played team sports also, but it’s a different feeling winning a team sport versus an individual match. You know that it’s you, and your guts and determination that got you there.

Athlete of the Week: Bernstein ’15 caps impressive season with All-American honor

For only the third time in the 20-year history of the Dan Hodge Trophy, college wrestling’s top award will go to same individual more than once in a career. Penn State’s David Taylor dominated the official ballots in the same way he did opponents on the mat, winning 38 of the 43 official votes from the Hodge Trophy Voting Committee.

Taylor joins his coach and three-time winner Cael Sanderson (2000-2002) and Missouri’s Ben Askren (2006-07) as the only multiple-time winners in the two-decade history of the award, given annually to the most dominant college wrestler. He also won the Hodge in 2012.

The award, named after Oklahoma’s three-time (1955-57) NCAA champion Dan Hodge, will be presented to Taylor at the team’s banquet on Saturday, April 26.

The voting committee named Taylor (165 pounds) the 2014 Hodge winner over a pair of outstanding three-time NCAA champs in Ohio State’s junior Logan Stieber (141) and senior teammate Ed Ruth (184).

Another finalist was Oklahoma State’s two-time champ Chris Perry (174), who defeated former NCAA champ Andrew Howe of Oklahoma two times in the last month of the season for the title in what many thought was the toughest weight class.

The fifth finalist for this year’s Hodge was Oklahoma State sophomore Alex Dieringer who won his first national title at 157. Dieringer’s only loss on the year was a January dual-meet loss to 2013 champion Derek St. John of Iowa, 2-1. Dieringer ended up fifth in the final Hodge point standings. For the year, he had 12 pins, 5 technical falls and two majors.

But when the dust settled on a wild year of college wrestling — in which Stieber, Ruth and Perry all suffered one loss — the undefeated Taylor (34-0) was the only one left standing with a resume of dominance.

The final seven first-place votes for this year’s 2014 WIN Magazine/C.H. Dan Hodge winner, presented by ASICS, were spread apart between Stieber (three), Ruth (two) and Perry (two).

The Buckeye received one first-place vote from the committee which is made up of former Hodge winners, select members of the national wrestling media, representatives of national wrestling organizations and retired college coaches from different regions of the country.

Stieber, who will look to become only the fourth four-time NCAA champ in Division I history next year, also won the two official votes which come from the composite on-line poll from WIN’s website the week following the NCAA Championships. Approximately 50 percent of the 17,500 fans chose Stieber. Taylor came in second.

Taylor’s senior-season numbers were outstanding. The Nittany Lion, who with teammate Ed Ruth helped lead their team to a fourth straight NCAA title, had only two of 34 matches end without seeing him win bonus points. Taylor pinned 16 opponents, put up eight technical falls and had eight major decisions. Only NCAA runner-up Tyler Caldwell of Oklahoma State kept a match within seven points of Taylor, once in February (5-2) in the teams’ dual in State College and in the NCAA finals (6-0).

Taylor said his goal in college was the same as it always has been in his storied youth and high school career: domination.

“If I had to pick what people remembered of me, it’s that every time I stepped on the mat I tried to dominate the guys I wrestled,” said the former four-time Ohio state champ from St. Paris Graham High School who added weight to his frame — growing from a 135-pound prep senior to a 165-pound college senior in five years — and points to his attacks.

“I think Ed Ruth and myself we were the start of that change in the guard in wrestling,” Taylor said. “We started to change the sport, to go out and score points. I don’t want to be remembered as the guy who won twice or lost twice (in the NCAA finals in 2011 and ‘13), but as one of the most dominating wrestlers in the history of college wrestling.”

In Taylor’s career, the Nittany Lion finished 134-3 with 50 pins, 42 technical falls and 29 major decisions.

“The way you compete is bigger than if you won or lost,” Sanderson said. “This kid has a passion for wrestling and was an entertainer and was trying to score points the whole seven minutes.

“He wouldn’t be a two-time Hodge winner if he didn’t wrestle to dominate. And you wouldn’t have that amount of success unless you competed the way David did and that was fearlessly.”

Mike Chapman, founder of the Hodge Trophy, agreed.

“For pure wrestling talent, I have seen only five or six wrestlers over the past 50 years who could match David Taylor,” Chapman said. “He was a constant-motion machine and wrestled with an enthusiasm that delighted fans of not only Penn State but from other colleges, as well.

“If everyone competed like David Taylor, wrestling would be one of the most popular sports in America. His graduation leaves a big hole on the college scene but we can all look forward to seeing him turn his vast talents to freestyle.”

Coming into the 2013-2014 season, it appeared it could be one of the tightest Hodge races in history with Stieber putting together an extremely dominating sophomore campaign. The only wrestler who kept the Buckeye from scoring bonus points was Penn State’s Zain Retherford. Stieber, whose only loss came to the Nittany Lion in December, won by a pair of decisions in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.

Similarly, Ruth’s junior season last year was worthy of a Hodge Trophy too if it hadn’t happened during Cornell senior Kyle Dake’s historic season which ended with the 2013 Hodge Trophy. Ruth was 34-1 this winter with 11 pins and nine technical falls as he won his third straight NCAA title himself. His only loss came against Cornell’s Gabe Dean in the Southern Scuffle finals. Ruth avenged that loss to Dean in the NCAA semifinals.

Like many great athletes, Taylor made putting on offensive exhibitions and getting pins look so effortless, some in the wrestling community simply came to expect it. Sanderson, also known for his dominance in winning four titles and going undefeated at Iowa State, said he’s going to miss his team leader because of that very perspective on competing.

“We’re going miss him as a program and miss having him compete in Rec Hall, and fans are going to miss him. But it’s about appreciating the time you had with him,” Sanderson said.

“I really appreciate all the support I’ve had in my career,” Taylor said. “Sometimes it was difficult always having the target on your back, but it drove me to do what I did. After I won my fourth Big Ten title, everyone got up and applauded, including the Iowa fans. That meant a lot to me, and I just want to thank everybody. I just appreciate all the support I’ve been given over the years.”

Hodge Trophy Voting Breakdown

The following is a breakdown of the voting from the 43 ballots from members of the Dan Hodge Trophy Voting Committee plus the two official votes from the composite fan poll which was on WIN’s website from March 26-28 (approximately 17,500 fans voted, over 50% voted for Stieber). Voting committee members include all past Hodge winners, select national wrestling media, reps from national wrestling organizations and retired college coaches from different regions of the country.

A first-place vote is worth four points, second place three points, third place two points and fourth place one point.

Wrestler/School/Points/Votes1st/2nd/3rd/4th
1.) David Taylor, Penn State 167 45 38 6 0 1
2.) Logan Stieber Ohio State 107 44 3 18 18 5
3.) Ed Ruth, Penn State 102 42 2 18 18 4
4.) Chris Perry, Oklahoma State 47 32 2 2 5 23
5.) Alex Dieringer, Oklahoma State 20 15 0 1 3 11
6.) Jesse Delgado, Illinois 2 1 0 0 1 0
7.) Tony Ramos, Iowa 1 1 0 0 0 1
8.) Nick Gwiazdowski, NC State 1

http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2014/April/01/David-Taylor-wins-2014-Dan-Hodge-Trophy

By West Virginia Sports Information

West Virginia University Director of Athletics Oliver Luck announced today that Craig Turnbull’s contract as head wrestling coach will not be renewed for next season.

“Craig has spent the last 36 years as the head of the Mountaineer wrestling program, and we appreciate his many years of service to West Virginia University,” Luck said. “He took over at the helm of the WVU wrestling program in 1979 after serving as an assistant coach here under Frank Liechti, coaching hundreds of Mountaineer wrestlers along the way. We wish him the best.”

Turnbull guided the Mountaineers to a 287-214-9 career record. This season, the Mountaineers posted an 11-7 overall record and a 0-3 mark in the Big 12.

A national search for a new wrestling coach at WVU will begin immediately.

Posted on Thursday, March 6, 2014 8:28 am
by Brian Giuffra

Brittany DeLucia is one of the biggest stars in the Bergen County wrestling community.

There are so many great people who get overlooked during the wrestling season: Coaches, referees, announcers, parents, boosters, tournament volunteers, stat girls, average wrestlers, and the list goes on and on.

But one person, who was more than happy to do her job anonymously, always stood out to me: Saddle Brook senior Brittany DeLucia.

In a story I wrote for today’s paper, I detailed how important DeLucia, who was born with a muscle deficiency and walks using two canes for support, is to not only the Glen Rock/Saddle Brook wrestling team but the Bergen County wrestling community in general.

Perhaps surprisingly, the first person I reached out to for this story was Bergen Catholic senior Johnny Sebastian. He dedicated his wins at the Bergen Holiday tournament to her and I wanted to know why. This is what he had to say.

“I’ve seen her around at a lot of different tournaments since my freshman year. I dedicated the BCCA tournament win to her because I know ho much of a wrestling fan she is. I think it’s awesome that she is so involved with the sport and goes to all the big matches and tournaments while being handicapped. It just shows how dedicated she is to the sport.”

Somehow, even that is an understatement.

DeLucia goes to every Glen Rock/Saddle Brook wrestling practice. She does paper work for them, created a team facebook page, distributes team schedules, gives the team occasional pep talks and, according to GR/SB coach Wayne Rogers, keeps the most professional book in Bergen County.

“If we’re lucky she’ll also bake for us,” senior 120 Mike Andreano said.

When asked, DeLucia said Andreano is her favorite wrestler and the guy she’ll be pulling for most in A.C. That makes sense because she’s watched at Boardwalk Hall all four years of his career. But she’s also pulling for fellow GR/SB state qualifier Chris Jacobson and Sebastian.

We also talked about all the great wrestlers she’s seen in her career. The list is incredible.

Four-time undefeated state champ Anthony Ashnault from South Plainfield. Four-time state champ Four-time state champ Andrew Campolattano from Bound Brook. Two time (trying to make it three) state champ Sebastian. Then just name any star from around the area from the last four years.

“She knows the ins and outs of wrestling,” Rogers said. “She’s almost like a coach.”

Rogers and DeLucia clearly have a special relationship, more like brother sister than former teacher-student.

Rogers did teach DeLucia at Franklin Elementary in Saddle Brook and was the one who encouraged DeLucia to be GR/SB’s stat girl. That’s made a world of difference for DeLucia.

“It made her come out of her shell,” Rogers said of DeLucia joining the team. “This was the first thing that she owned by herself and she took it and she went with it.”

She has, becoming one of the more popular people in the BergenCounty wrestling community, which appropriately embraced her as if she was a star wrestler.

What does that mean to DeLucia?

“To walk into a gym and have everyone know you and everyone welcome you and accept you, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” she said. “It’s a huge family to me. They all back me up. It’s like having a bunch of brothers who are never going to leave my side.”
– See more at: http://blog.northjersey.com/varsityaces/31756/wrestling-overlooked-no-more/#more-31756

By NICK GREENE, ngreene@courant.com The Hartford Courant

4:09 p.m. EST, February 25, 2014

Before he ever got on the mat, Bloomsburg University senior wrestler Rich Perry knew about tough and relentless competitors.

Middletown wrestling coach Mark Fong was one, and he constantly tried to get Perry on his team.

Perry is 29-1 this season with five pins wrestling at 197 pounds for Bloomsburg University. And with an eighth-place finish or better in the Division I wrestling championships March 20-22 in Oklahoma City, Perry would become just the fourth Connecticut wrestler to earn Division I All-America honors.

“Did I think he’d be where he is now — no,” said Fong. “It is really rare for a kid from Connecticut or even New England for that matter; it is extremely rare. For Rich to qualify for the [NCAA] tournament is a remarkable feat. I guarantee no one in that tournament has started as late as he did.”

Coming into high school, Fong described Perry as a potential “at risk youth.” Perry joined the Middletown High football team, where his path crossed with an assistant coach named Fong.

Perry and Fong bonded on the football field and Fong saw wrestling as means to continue their relationship. But getting Perry to buy into the idea of wrestling became a match of wills.

“He was very persistent, constantly planting that seed that [I] can be very good and do some really good things in the sport,” Perry said. “Every time I saw him he’d suggest it to me.”

Perry finally gave in.

“I made a deal with him: if you stop asking — I’ll come out my junior year. I came out and never looked back,” Perry said.

Perry went on to finish third at the Class LL tournament as a junior in his first year in the sport, then won the Class LL and State Open titles as a senior. Perry then spent a year at the Hyde School in Woodstock where he placed in the prep nationals.

Despite his fast rise, Perry wasn’t recruited for wrestling coming out of Middletown and Hyde. He became proactive in seeking out schools, stumbling across Bloomsburg. Interested in Sacred Heart University, Perry was checking out the wrestling team’s results when he saw the Pioneers were throttled by the Huskies. He contacted Bloomsburg and 10 minutes later his phone rang; it was Bloomsburg.

“Up until I committed to Bloomsburg, I thought I’d play football in college,” he said. “I thought about it and prayed about it and I was really happy with my wrestling success, but I wasn’t satisfied … it made me really hungry to go after wrestling.”

After a redshirt season, Perry looked like a seasoned veteran. He won 77 (12 pins) matches with just 27 losses in his first three seasons, winning three tournament titles as a junior. Perry’s only loss this season was to fifth-ranked Travis Rutt of Oklahoma, a loss he avenged in mid-February. His overall record is 106-28, 14th on the Huskies’ all-time win list.

“As good as an athlete as Rich is and just the way he feels about the sport; it is pretty amazing that he has only been around the sport for seven years versus guys who’ve been wrestling most of their lives,” Bloomsburg coach Jason Mester said.

Perry is determined to not only join John Engel (Stamford, Lehigh), Orville Palmer (Middletown, University of Oklahoma) and Jim Guzzio (Hand-Madison, University of Maryland) as the only Connecticut wrestlers to earn Division I All-America honors, but to join Engel as the state’s only national champions.

“I’m confident, I’m capable,” said Perry. “I’ve wrestled the best in the country, not only this year, but two years ago I wrestled Cael Sanderson [current Penn State coach and Olympic goal medalist)] I had the opportunity to stand across from him, and I walked away and he didn’t kill me. Why can’t I compete with these guys now?”

Said Mester, “He is going to be [a] national champion from Connecticut. His goals are that exactly. He is ready to win that thing, anybody ranked ahead of him can lose. He just needs to keep doing what he does … that’s all he has got to do: keep doing what he is doing.”

And it all started seven years ago with a push from Fong.

“I just think about all the people who’ve supported me and my dream of becoming a national champion,” said Perry. “That’s what I’m pushing for, to get to the top of podium for all the people who’ve helped me, sacrificed with me, my family, I’m engaged now and have a daughter — everyone. I don’t miss a name or a face, they all go through my head. They all motivate me and push me.”

http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-college-wrestling-feature-0226-20140225,0,2640837.story

We’re proud to announce that we’re teaming up with Bellator welterweight Paul “The Gentleman” Bradley. Paul is a 2X All American from the University of Iowa and has a pro a record of 21-5. Paul will be fighting March 14th on the Bellator 112 card against Nathan Coy. These two have faced each other once before with Bradley winning by decision. We wish Paul great success as he works towards his dream of the Bellator Championship.

By NCAA press | Feb. 13, 2014, 4:16 p.m. (ET)
INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA released the second of three coaches’ panel rankings and the first Rating Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2013-14 wrestling season. The final rankings and RPI will be two of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2014 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches’ rankings to earn spots for their respective qualifying tournaments for the 2014 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The coaches’ rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each qualifying tournament. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class.

To be eligible for an RPI ranking, a wrestler must have a minimum of 17 Division I matches at a given weight class. The top 33 wrestlers in the RPI are listed for each weight class.

The top-ranked wrestlers at each weight class in the second coaches’ rankings are: Nahshon Garrett, Cornell University (125 pounds); Joe Colon, University of Northern Iowa (133 pounds); Mitchell Port, Edinboro University (141 pounds); Drake Houdashelt, University of Missouri (149 pounds); James Green, University of Nebraska (157 pounds); David Taylor, Pennsylvania State University (165 pounds); Andrew Howe, University of Oklahoma (174 pounds); Jimmy Sheptock, University of Maryland (184 pounds); Kyven Gadson, Iowa State University (197 pounds) and Michael McMullan, Northwestern University (Heavyweight).

The top-ranked wrestlers at each weight class in the first RPI are: Garrett (125 pounds); Jonathon Morrison, Oklahoma State University (133 pounds); Zain Retherford, Penn State (141 pounds); Christopher Villalonga, Cornell (149 pounds); Green (157 pounds); Taylor (165 pounds); Chris Perry, Oklahoma State (174 pounds); Sheptock (184 pounds); Scott Schiller, University of Minnesota (197 pounds) and Adam Coon, University of Michigan (Heavyweight).

The 2014 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will take place March 20-22 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. For more information and to purchase tickets, head to NCAA.com.

NCAA DIV. I COACHES PANEL RANKING
Wt/Class/Rank/Name/School/conference

125 1 Nahshon Garrett Cornell EIWA
125 2 Nicholas Megaludis Penn State Big Ten
125 3 Jesse Delgado Illinois Big Ten
125 4 Martin(Josh) Martinez Air Force West
125 5 Thomas Gilman Iowa Big Ten
125 6 Dylan Peters Northern Iowa MAC
125 7 Jarrod Patterson Oklahoma Big 12
125 8 Tyler Cox Wyoming West
125 9 Bradley Taylor Wisconsin Big Ten
125 10 David Terao American EIWA
125 11 Tim Lambert Nebraska Big Ten
125 12 Evan Silver Stanford PAC-12
125 13 Robert Deutsch Rider EWL
125 14 Edward Klimara Oklahoma State Big 12
125 15 Corey Keener Central Michigan MAC
125 16 Jamie Franco Hofstra EIWA
125 17 Kory Mines Edinboro EWL
125 18 Conor Youtsey Michigan Big Ten
125 19 Joey Dance Virginia Tech ACC
125 20 Anthony Zanetta Pittsburgh ACC
125 21 Jared Germaine Eastern Michigan MAC
125 22 Nick Roberts Ohio State Big Ten
125 23 Paul Petrov Bucknell EIWA
125 24 Caleb Richardson Pennsylvania EIWA
125 25 Nick Herrmann Virginia ACC
125 26 Brandon Jeske Old Dominion MAC
125 27 Earl Hall Iowa State Big 12
125 28 Darian Cruz Lehigh EIWA
125 29 Nathan Kraisser North Carolina ACC
125 30 Barlow McGhee Missouri MAC
125 31 Dominic Parisi Appalachian State SoCon
125 32 David White Binghamton University EIWA
125 33 Samuel Brancale Minnesota Big Ten

133 1 Joe Colon Northern Iowa MAC
133 2 Aaron (A.J.) Schopp Edinboro EWL
133 3 Tony Ramos Iowa Big Ten
133 4 Jonathon Morrison Oklahoma State Big 12
133 5 Tyler Graff Wisconsin Big Ten
133 6 Mason Beckman Lehigh EIWA
133 7 Cody Brewer Oklahoma Big 12
133 8 David Thorn Minnesota Big Ten
133 9 Johnni DiJulius Ohio State Big Ten
133 9 Cashé Quiroga Purdue Big Ten
133 11 Nick Soto Chattanooga SoCon
133 11 Ryan Mango Stanford PAC-12
133 13 Zane Richards Illinois Big Ten
133 14 Mark Grey Cornell EIWA
133 15 Joe Roth Central Michigan MAC
133 16 James Gulibon Penn State Big Ten
133 17 Rosario Bruno Michigan Big Ten
133 18 Devon Lotito Cal Poly PAC-12
133 19 Shelton Mack Pittsburgh ACC
133 20 Mackenzie McGuire Kent State MAC
133 21 Jamel Hudson Hofstra EIWA
133 22 Nick Wilcox Bloomsburg EWL
133 23 Colton Rasche Navy EIWA
133 24 Nathan Pennesi West Virginia Big 12
133 25 Dennis Gustafson Virginia Tech ACC
133 25 Vincent Pizzuto Eastern Michigan MAC
133 25 Matt Manley Missouri MAC
133 28 Jose Mendoza CSU Bakersfield PAC-12
133 29 Chuck Zeisloft Rider EWL
133 30 Sam Sherlock Clarion EWL
133 31 Vincent Dellefave Rutgers EIWA
133 32 Cody Wheeler Lock Haven EWL
133 33 Dominick Malone Northwestern Big Ten

141 1 Mitchell Port Edinboro EWL
141 2 Zain Retherford Penn State Big Ten
141 3 Logan Stieber Ohio State Big Ten
141 4 Chris Mecate Old Dominion MAC
141 5 Evan Henderson North Carolina ACC
141 5 Christopher Dardanes Minnesota Big Ten
141 7 Michael Nevinger Cornell EIWA
141 8 Zach Horan Central Michigan MAC
141 9 Luke Vaith Hofstra EIWA
141 10 Josh Dziewa Iowa Big Ten
141 11 Richard Durso Franklin & Marshall EIWA
141 12 Joey Lazor Northern Iowa MAC
141 13 Joseph Spisak Virginia ACC
141 14 Steven Rodrigues Illinois Big Ten
141 15 Colin Johnston West Virginia Big 12
141 16 Edgar Bright Pittsburgh ACC
141 17 Anthony Collica Oklahoma State Big 12
141 18 Undrakhbayar Khishignyam The Citadel SoCon
141 19 Lavion Mayes Missouri MAC
141 20 Nick Lester Oklahoma Big 12
141 21 Danny Sabatello Purdue Big Ten
141 22 Laike Gardner Lehigh EIWA
141 23 Tyler Small Kent State MAC
141 23 Stephen Dutton III Michigan Big Ten
141 25 Daniel Neff Lock Haven EWL
141 26 Sam Speno North Carolina State ACC
141 27 Tyson Dippery Rutgers EIWA
141 28 Shyhiem Brown Maryland ACC
141 29 Matt Bystol Columbia EIWA
141 30 Todd Preston Harvard EIWA
141 30 Pasquale Greco Northwestern Big Ten
141 32 Jesse Thielke Wisconsin Big Ten
141 33 Noah Forrider Ohio MAC
141 33 Avery Garner Utah Valley University West

149 1 Drake Houdashelt Missouri MAC
149 2 Kendric Maple Oklahoma Big 12
149 3 Nick Dardanes Minnesota Big Ten
149 4 Jake Sueflohn Nebraska Big Ten
149 5 Jason Tsirtsis Northwestern Big Ten
149 6 Christopher Villalonga Cornell EIWA
149 7 Eric Grajales Michigan Big Ten
149 8 Brody Grothus Iowa Big Ten
149 9 Joshua Kindig Oklahoma State Big 12
149 10 Scott Sakaguchi Oregon State PAC-12
149 11 Mitchell Minotti Lehigh EIWA
149 12 Dyllan Cottrell Appalachian State SoCon
149 13 Augustus Sako Virginia ACC
149 14 David Habat Edinboro EWL
149 15 Tywan Claxton Ohio MAC
149 16 Zachary Beitz Penn State Big Ten
149 17 Alexander Richardson Old Dominion MAC
149 17 Zach Neibert Virginia Tech ACC
149 19 Bryce Busler Bloomsburg EWL
149 20 Ian Paddock Ohio State Big Ten
149 20 Mike Racciato Pittsburgh ACC
149 22 Cody Ruggirello Hofstra EIWA
149 23 Michael Depalma Kent State MAC
149 24 Matthew Frisch The Citadel SoCon
149 25 justin arthur Clarion EWL
149 26 Mike Morales West Virginia Big 12
149 27 Christian Barber North Carolina ACC
149 28 Caleb Ervin Illinois Big Ten
149 29 Curt Delia Rider EWL
149 30 Kevin Birmingham Davidson SoCon
149 31 Brian Hamann North Carolina State ACC
149 32 Richard Krop Princeton EIWA
149 33 Alex Kocer South Dakota State West

157 1 James Green Nebraska Big Ten
157 2 Derek St. John Iowa Big Ten
157 3 Alex Dieringer Oklahoma State Big 12
157 4 Ian Miller Kent State MAC
157 5 Nestor Taffur Boston U. EIWA
157 5 Dylan Ness Minnesota Big Ten
157 7 Taylor Walsh Indiana Big Ten
157 7 Isaac Jordan Wisconsin Big Ten
157 9 Brian Realbuto Cornell EIWA
157 10 Dylan Alton Penn State Big Ten
157 11 Roger Pena Oregon State PAC-12
157 12 Joseph Napoli Lehigh EIWA
157 13 Zach Brunson Illinois Big Ten
157 14 Brian Murphy Michigan Big Ten
157 15 Blaise Butler Virginia ACC
157 16 Johnny Greisheimer Edinboro EWL
157 17 Cody Pack South Dakota State West
157 18 Luke Smith Central Michigan MAC
157 19 Thomas Gantt North Carolina State ACC
157 20 Tristan Warner Old Dominion MAC
157 21 Justin DeAngelis Oklahoma Big 12
157 22 Immanuel Kerr-Brown Duke ACC
157 23 Joseph LaVallee Missouri MAC
157 24 austin matthews Clarion EWL
157 24 Bret Baumbach Stanford PAC-12
157 26 Robert Burg Navy EIWA
157 27 Alex Hudson Chattanooga SoCon
157 28 Spartak Chino Ohio MAC
157 29 Paul Hancock Army EIWA
157 30 Aaron Walker The Citadel SoCon
157 31 Brandon Zeerip Eastern Michigan MAC
157 32 Andy McCulley Wyoming West
157 32 Ronnie Garbinsky Pittsburgh ACC

165 1 David Taylor Penn State Big Ten
165 2 Nicholas Sulzer Virginia ACC
165 3 Steven Monk North Dakota State University West
165 4 Nick Moore Iowa Big Ten
165 4 Tyler Caldwell Oklahoma State Big 12
165 6 Daniel Yates Michigan Big Ten
165 7 Pierce Harger Northwestern Big Ten
165 8 Corey Mock Chattanooga SoCon
165 9 Michael Moreno Iowa State Big 12
165 10 Zach Toal Missouri MAC
165 11 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj The Citadel SoCon
165 12 Cooper Moore Northern Iowa MAC
165 13 Jackson Morse Illinois Big Ten
165 14 Dylan Palacio Cornell EIWA
165 15 Joseph Booth Hofstra EIWA
165 16 Jim Wilson Stanford PAC-12
165 17 Josh Veltre Bloomsburg EWL
165 18 Peyton Walsh Navy EIWA
165 19 Casey Kent Pennsylvania EIWA
165 20 Austin Trott Gardner-Webb SoCon
165 21 Austin Wilson Nebraska Big Ten
165 22 Ryan Leblanc Indiana Big Ten
165 23 Chris Moon Virginia Tech ACC
165 24 Harrison Hightower Ohio MAC
165 25 Daniel Zilverberg Minnesota Big Ten
165 26 Dakota Friesth Wyoming West
165 27 Josh Houldsworth Columbia EIWA
165 28 Ramon Santiago Rider EWL
165 29 Judson Ziegler Princeton EIWA
165 30 Jacob Kemerer Lock Haven EWL
165 31 Clark Glass Oklahoma Big 12
165 32 John Staudenmayer North Carolina ACC
165 33 Joseph Brewster South Dakota State West

174 1 Andrew Howe Oklahoma Big 12
174 2 Chris Perry Oklahoma State Big 12
174 3 Robert Kokesh Nebraska Big Ten
174 4 Logan Storley Minnesota Big Ten
174 5 Mathew Brown Penn State Big Ten
174 6 Michael Evans Iowa Big Ten
174 7 Tyler Wilps Pittsburgh ACC
174 8 Tanner Weatherman Iowa State Big 12
174 9 Mike Ottinger Central Michigan MAC
174 10 Stephen Doty Virginia ACC
174 11 Hayden Zillmer North Dakota State University West
174 12 Mark Martin Ohio State Big Ten
174 13 Cody Walters Ohio MAC
174 14 Mathew Miller Navy EIWA
174 15 Leroy Munster Northwestern Big Ten
174 16 Shane Hughes Columbia EIWA
174 17 Elliot Riddick Lehigh EIWA
174 18 Bryce Hammond CSU Bakersfield PAC-12
174 19 Pete Renda North Carolina State ACC
174 20 Cody Caldwell Northern Iowa MAC
174 21 Dominic Kastl Cal Poly PAC-12
174 22 Mike England Missouri MAC
174 23 Billy Curling Old Dominion MAC
174 24 Joe Latham Oregon State PAC-12
174 25 Tony Dallago Illinois Big Ten
174 26 Jakob Scheffel West Virginia Big 12
174 27 Mike Dessino Bloomsburg EWL
174 28 Connor Brennan Rider EWL
174 29 SCOTT LIEGEL Wisconsin Big Ten
174 30 Levi Clemons Chattanooga SoCon
174 31 George Pickett Cornell EIWA
174 32 Caleb Marsh Kent State MAC
174 32 Kyle Meyer Stanford PAC-12

184 1 Jimmy Sheptock Maryland ACC
184 2 Edward Ruth Penn State Big Ten
184 3 Gabriel Dean Cornell EIWA
184 4 Ethen Lofthouse Iowa Big Ten
184 5 Max Thomusseit Pittsburgh ACC
184 6 Ryan Loder Northern Iowa MAC
184 7 Jacob Swartz Boise State PAC-12
184 8 Kevin Steinhaus Minnesota Big Ten
184 9 Timothy Dudley Nebraska Big Ten
184 10 Sam Wheeler Kent State MAC
184 11 Kenny Courts Ohio State Big Ten
184 12 Lawrence Thomas Pennsylvania EIWA
184 13 Ophir Bernstein Brown EIWA
184 14 John Eblen Missouri MAC
184 15 Nick Vetterlein Virginia Tech ACC
184 16 Victor Avery Edinboro EWL
184 17 Benjamin Stroh Wyoming West
184 18 Jonathan Fausey Virginia ACC
184 19 Domenic Abounader Michigan Big Ten
184 20 Blake Stauffer Arizona State PAC-12
184 21 Jack Dechow Old Dominion MAC
184 22 Nolan Boyd Oklahoma State Big 12
184 23 Kurtis Julson North Dakota State University West
184 23 Clint Morrison Rider EWL
184 23 John Rizqallah Michigan State Big Ten
184 26 Jackson Hein Wisconsin Big Ten
184 27 Fred Garcia Lock Haven EWL
184 28 Phillip Joseph Eastern Michigan MAC
184 28 Lucas Sheridan Indiana Big Ten
184 30 Alex Utley North Carolina ACC
184 31 Lazarus Reyes Illinois Big Ten
184 31 Lelund Weatherspoon Iowa State Big 12
184 33 Austin Morehead Oregon State PAC-12
184 33 Ryan Tompkins Army EIWA

197 1 Kyven Gadson Iowa State Big 12
197 2 Scott Schiller Minnesota Big Ten
197 3 J’Den Cox Missouri MAC
197 4 Morgan McIntosh Penn State Big Ten
197 5 Travis Rutt Oklahoma Big 12
197 6 Richard Perry Bloomsburg EWL
197 7 Mario Gonzalez Illinois Big Ten
197 8 Nick Heflin Ohio State Big Ten
197 9 Phillip Wellington Ohio MAC
197 10 Christian Boley Maryland ACC
197 11 Taylor Meeks Oregon State PAC-12
197 12 Braden Atwood Purdue Big Ten
197 13 Nathan Burak Iowa Big Ten
197 14 Daniel Mitchell American EIWA
197 14 Alex Polizzi Northwestern Big Ten
197 16 Brandon Palik Drexel EIWA
197 17 Nick Bonaccorsi Pittsburgh ACC
197 18 Blake Rosholt Oklahoma State Big 12
197 19 Dan Scherer Stanford PAC-12
197 20 Chris Penny Virginia Tech ACC
197 21 Zach Nye Virginia ACC
197 22 Conner Hartmann Duke ACC
197 23 Jace Bennett Cornell EIWA
197 24 Shane Woods Wyoming West
197 25 Cody Reed Binghamton University EIWA
197 26 Kevin Beazley Old Dominion MAC
197 27 John Bolich Lehigh EIWA
197 27 Tyler Lehmann North Dakota State University West
197 29 Vincent Pickett Edinboro EWL
197 30 Caleb Kolb Nebraska Big Ten
197 31 Nick McDiarmid Michigan State Big Ten
197 32 Cole Baxter Kent State MAC
197 33 James Fox Harvard EIWA

285 1 Michael McMullan Northwestern Big Ten
285 2 Adam Coon Michigan Big Ten
285 3 Bobby Telford Iowa Big Ten
285 4 Adam Chalfant Indiana Big Ten
285 5 Anthony Nelson Minnesota Big Ten
285 6 Nick Gwiazdowski North Carolina State ACC
285 7 Mike McClure Michigan State Big Ten
285 8 Spencer Myers Maryland ACC
285 9 J.T Felix Boise State PAC-12
285 9 Connor Medbery Wisconsin Big Ten
285 11 Jeremy Johnson Ohio MAC
285 12 James Lawson Penn State Big Ten
285 13 Adam Fager Utah Valley University West
285 14 Amarveer Dhesi Oregon State PAC-12
285 15 William Smith Rutgers EIWA
285 16 Ernest James Edinboro EWL
285 17 Justin Grant Bloomsburg EWL
285 18 Austin Marsden Oklahoma State Big 12
285 19 Joe Stolfi Bucknell EIWA
285 20 Patrick Tasser Pittsburgh ACC
285 21 Ross Larson Oklahoma Big 12
285 22 Ty Walz Virginia Tech ACC
285 23 Collin Jensen Nebraska Big Ten
285 24 Tyler Deuel Binghamton University EIWA
285 25 Blake Herrin American EIWA
285 26 Evan Knutson North Dakota State University West
285 26 Blaize Cabell Northern Iowa MAC
285 28 Devin Mellon Missouri MAC
285 29 Eloheim Palma Campbell SoCon
285 30 Dawson Peck Chattanooga SoCon
285 31 Maximilian Wessell Lehigh EIWA
285 32 Ethan Hayes Virginia ACC
285 33 Henry Chirino Northern Colorado West

NCAA DIV. I RPI
Weight/Rank/Name/School

125 1 Nahshon Garrett Cornell
125 2 Nicholas Megaludis Penn State
125 3 Dylan Peters Northern Iowa
125 4 Jesse Delgado Illinois
125 5 Josh Martinez Air Force
125 6 David Terao American
125 7 Robert Deutsch Rider
125 8 Kory Mines Edinboro
125 9 Edward Klimara Oklahoma State
125 10 Darian Cruz Lehigh
125 11 Jamie Franco Hofstra
125 11 Anthony Zanetta Pittsburgh
125 13 Evan Silver Stanford
125 14 Paul Petrov Bucknell
125 15 Tyler Cox Wyoming
125 16 Joey Dance Virginia Tech
125 17 Corey Keener Central Michigan
125 18 Conor Youtsey Michigan
125 19 Nick Herrmann Virginia
125 20 Brandon Jeske Old Dominion
125 21 Barlow McGhee Missouri
125 22 Earl Hall Iowa State
125 23 David White Binghamton University
125 24 Ares Carpio Arizona State
125 25 Tim Lambert Nebraska
125 26 Nick Roberts Ohio State
125 27 Camden Eppert Purdue
125 28 Nathan Kraisser North Carolina
125 29 Penn Gottfried Columbia
125 30 Alfredo Gray Kent State
125 31 Micah Perez North Carolina State
125 32 Joaquin Marquez The Citadel
125 33 Garrison White Northwestern

133 1 Jonathon Morrison Oklahoma State
133 2 Aaron (A.J.) Schopp Edinboro
133 3 Joe Colon Northern Iowa
133 4 Tony Ramos Iowa
133 5 Mason Beckman Lehigh
133 6 Tyler Graff Wisconsin
133 7 Cody Brewer Oklahoma
133 8 Johnni DiJulius Ohio State
133 9 Joe Roth Central Michigan
133 10 David Thorn Minnesota
133 11 Nick Soto Chattanooga
133 12 James Gulibon Penn State
133 13 Ryan Mango Stanford
133 14 Mark Grey Cornell
133 15 Jamel Hudson Hofstra
133 16 Mackenzie McGuire Kent State
133 17 Matt Manley Missouri
133 18 Rosario Bruno Michigan
133 19 Nick Wilcox Bloomsburg
133 20 Shelton Mack Pittsburgh
133 21 Colton Rasche Navy
133 22 Jose Mendoza CSU Bakersfield
133 23 Devon Lotito Cal Poly
133 23 Dennis Gustafson Virginia Tech
133 25 Sam Sherlock Clarion
133 26 Vincent Pizzuto Eastern Michigan
133 27 Chuck Zeisloft Rider
133 28 Cody Wheeler Lock Haven
133 29 Joe Martinez Virginia
133 30 Nathan Pennesi West Virginia
133 31 Dominick Malone Northwestern
133 32 Dane Harlowe Boston U.
133 33 Troy Heilmann North Carolina

141 1 Zain Retherford Penn State
141 2 Josh Dziewa Iowa
141 3 Chris Mecate Old Dominion
141 4 Laike Gardner Lehigh
141 5 Christopher Dardanes Minnesota
141 6 Mitchell Port Edinboro
141 7 Zach Horan Central Michigan
141 8 Evan Henderson North Carolina
141 9 Luke Vaith Hofstra
141 10 Richard Durso Franklin & Marshall
141 11 Joseph Spisak Virginia
141 12 Anthony Collica Oklahoma State
141 13 Tyler Small Kent State
141 14 Sam Speno North Carolina State
141 15 Lavion Mayes Missouri
141 16 Todd Preston Harvard
141 17 Edgar Bright Pittsburgh
141 18 Undrakhbayar Khishignyam The Citadel
141 19 Daniel Neff Lock Haven
141 20 Nick Lester Oklahoma
141 21 Danny Sabatello Purdue
141 22 Tyson Dippery Rutgers
141 23 Colin Johnston West Virginia
141 24 Gabe Moreno Iowa State
141 25 Noah Forrider Ohio
141 26 Nick Flannery Buffalo
141 27 Joe Locksmith Navy
141 28 Jesse Thielke Wisconsin
141 29 Matt Bystol Columbia
141 30 Sahid Kargbo George Mason
141 31 Tyler Scotton Boston U.
141 32 Pasquale Greco Northwestern
141 33 Nick Barber Eastern Michigan

149 1 Christopher Villalonga Cornell
149 2 Nick Dardanes Minnesota
149 3 Drake Houdashelt Missouri
149 4 Joshua Kindig Oklahoma State
149 5 Eric Grajales Michigan
149 6 Dyllan Cottrell Appalachian State
149 7 Mitchell Minotti Lehigh
149 8 Zach Neibert Virginia Tech
149 9 Jake Sueflohn Nebraska
149 10 Brody Grothus Iowa
149 11 Jason Tsirtsis Northwestern
149 12 Alexander Richardson Old Dominion
149 13 Tywan Claxton Ohio
149 14 Scott Sakaguchi Oregon State
149 15 Ian Paddock Ohio State
149 16 Mike Racciato Pittsburgh
149 17 justin arthur Clarion
149 18 Michael Depalma Kent State
149 19 Matthew Frisch The Citadel
149 20 Macaulay Maldarelli Lock Haven
149 21 Alex Kocer South Dakota State
149 22 Cody Ruggirello Hofstra
149 23 Christian Barber North Carolina
149 24 Brian Hamann North Carolina State
149 25 Victor Lopez Bucknell
149 26 Brandon Nelsen Purdue
149 27 Brent Jorge Campbell
149 28 Scott Mattingly Central Michigan
149 29 Eric Roach Indiana
149 30 Andrew Lenzi Pennsylvania
149 31 Curt Delia Rider
149 32 Ken Theobold Rutgers
149 33 Luke Goettl Iowa State

157 1 James Green Nebraska
157 2 Derek St. John Iowa
157 3 Alex Dieringer Oklahoma State
157 4 Roger Pena Oregon State
157 5 Brian Murphy Michigan
157 6 Nestor Taffur Boston U.
157 7 Ian Miller Kent State
157 8 Brian Realbuto Cornell
157 9 Johnny Greisheimer Edinboro
157 10 Blaise Butler Virginia
157 11 Joseph LaVallee Missouri
157 12 Isaac Jordan Wisconsin
157 13 Zach Brunson Illinois
157 14 Taylor Walsh Indiana
157 15 Cody Pack South Dakota State
157 16 Ronnie Garbinsky Pittsburgh
157 17 Andy McCulley Wyoming
157 18 Thomas Gantt North Carolina State
157 19 Luke Smith Central Michigan
157 20 Brandon Zeerip Eastern Michigan
157 21 Robert Burg Navy
157 22 Raamiah Bethea Pennsylvania
157 23 Paul Hancock Army
157 24 Tristan Warner Old Dominion
157 25 Mitchell Polkowske Northern Colorado
157 26 John Nicholson Iowa State
157 27 Alex Hudson Chattanooga
157 28 austin matthews Clarion
157 29 Anthony Perrotti Rutgers
157 30 Bret Baumbach Stanford
157 31 Markus Scheidel Columbia
157 32 Immanuel Kerr-Brown Duke
157 33 Spartak Chino Ohio

165 1 David Taylor Penn State
165 2 Nick Moore Iowa
165 3 Corey Mock Chattanooga
165 4 Tyler Caldwell Oklahoma State
165 5 Cooper Moore Northern Iowa
165 6 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj The Citadel
165 7 Zach Toal Missouri
165 8 Nicholas Sulzer Virginia
165 9 Dylan Palacio Cornell
165 10 Pierce Harger Northwestern
165 11 Steven Monk North Dakota State University
165 12 Michael Moreno Iowa State
165 13 Joseph Booth Hofstra
165 14 Jim Wilson Stanford
165 15 Jackson Morse Illinois
165 16 Daniel Zilverberg Minnesota
165 17 Josh Veltre Bloomsburg
165 18 Austin Wilson Nebraska
165 19 Daniel Yates Michigan
165 20 Peyton Walsh Navy
165 21 Dakota Friesth Wyoming
165 22 Ryan Leblanc Indiana
165 23 Jacob Kemerer Lock Haven
165 24 Harrison Hightower Ohio
165 25 Casey Kent Pennsylvania
165 26 Josh Houldsworth Columbia
165 27 Clark Glass Oklahoma
165 28 Geno Morelli Pittsburgh
165 29 Austin Trott Gardner-Webb
165 30 Joseph Brewster South Dakota State
165 31 Chad Welch Purdue
165 32 Ramon Santiago Rider
165 33 Ross Renzi West Virginia

174 1 Chris Perry Oklahoma State
174 2 Robert Kokesh Nebraska
174 3 Logan Storley Minnesota
174 4 Tanner Weatherman Iowa State
174 5 Mathew Brown Penn State
174 6 Stephen Doty Virginia
174 7 Hayden Zillmer North Dakota State University
174 8 Tyler Wilps Pittsburgh
174 9 Mike Ottinger Central Michigan
174 10 Mark Martin Ohio State
174 11 Cody Caldwell Northern Iowa
174 12 Collin Zeerip Michigan
174 13 Bryce Hammond CSU Bakersfield
174 14 Elliot Riddick Lehigh
174 15 Joe Latham Oregon State
174 16 Connor Brennan Rider
174 17 George Pickett Cornell
174 18 Mike Dessino Bloomsburg
174 19 SCOTT LIEGEL Wisconsin
174 20 Billy Curling Old Dominion
174 21 Brian Harvey Army
174 22 Caleb Marsh Kent State
174 23 Mike England Missouri
174 24 Patrick Kissel Purdue
174 25 Pete Renda North Carolina State
174 26 Jakob Scheffel West Virginia
174 27 Eric Morris Harvard
174 28 Shane Hughes Columbia
174 29 Kyle Meyer Stanford
174 30 John Nething II South Dakota State
174 31 Phillip Bakuckas Rutgers
174 32 Levi Clemons Chattanooga
174 33 Ryan Callahan Princeton

184 1 Jimmy Sheptock Maryland
184 2 Gabriel Dean Cornell
184 3 Edward Ruth Penn State
184 4 Kevin Steinhaus Minnesota
184 5 Kenny Courts Ohio State
184 6 Sam Wheeler Kent State
184 7 Lawrence Thomas Pennsylvania
184 8 Timothy Dudley Nebraska
184 9 Ophir Bernstein Brown
184 10 John Eblen Missouri
184 11 John Rizqallah Michigan State
184 12 Nolan Boyd Oklahoma State
184 13 Alex Utley North Carolina
184 14 Austin Morehead Oregon State
184 15 Nick Vetterlein Virginia Tech
184 16 Lazarus Reyes Illinois
184 17 Jonathan Fausey Virginia
184 18 Fred Garcia Lock Haven
184 19 Clint Morrison Rider
184 20 Blake Stauffer Arizona State
184 21 Zachary Diekel Lehigh
184 22 Kurtis Julson North Dakota State University
184 23 Ryan Tompkins Army
184 24 Lucas Sheridan Indiana
184 25 Phillip Joseph Eastern Michigan
184 26 Mac Mancuso West Virginia
184 27 Michael Macchiavello North Carolina State
184 28 John Lampe Chattanooga
184 29 Benjamin Stroh Wyoming
184 30 Jacob Berkowitz Northwestern
184 31 Cameron Croy Harvard
184 32 Anthony Lock Buffalo
184 33 Caleb Wallace Binghamton University

197 1 Scott Schiller Minnesota
197 2 Morgan McIntosh Penn State
197 3 J’Den Cox Missouri
197 4 Phillip Wellington Ohio
197 5 Taylor Meeks Oregon State
197 6 Travis Rutt Oklahoma
197 7 Kyven Gadson Iowa State
197 8 Nick Bonaccorsi Pittsburgh
197 9 Alex Polizzi Northwestern
197 10 Dan Scherer Stanford
197 11 Chris Penny Virginia Tech
197 12 Jace Bennett Cornell
197 13 Richard Perry Bloomsburg
197 14 Nick Heflin Ohio State
197 15 Braden Atwood Purdue
197 16 John Bolich Lehigh
197 17 Zach Nye Virginia
197 18 Daniel Mitchell American
197 19 Abram Ayala Princeton
197 20 Donald Mcneil Rider
197 21 Brandon Palik Drexel
197 22 Vincent Pickett Edinboro
197 23 Shane Woods Wyoming
197 24 Basil Minto Northern Iowa
197 25 Bryce Barnes Army
197 26 Timothy McCall Wisconsin
197 27 Cole Baxter Kent State
197 28 Conner Hartmann Duke
197 29 Nick McDiarmid Michigan State
197 30 Francis Mattiace Pennsylvania
197 31 Paul Rands Navy
197 32 Kevin Beazley Old Dominion
197 33 Cody Dixon Boise State

285 1 Adam Coon Michigan
285 2 Adam Chalfant Indiana
285 3 Anthony Nelson Minnesota
285 4 Nick Gwiazdowski North Carolina State
285 5 James Lawson Penn State
285 6 Mike McClure Michigan State
285 7 Spencer Myers Maryland
285 8 Jeremy Johnson Ohio
285 9 Austin Marsden Oklahoma State
285 10 Connor Medbery Wisconsin
285 11 William Smith Rutgers
285 12 Amarveer Dhesi Oregon State
285 13 Ernest James Edinboro
285 14 Adam Fager Utah Valley University
285 15 Patrick Tasser Pittsburgh
285 16 Justin Grant Bloomsburg
285 17 J.T Felix Boise State
285 18 Eloheim Palma Campbell
285 19 Devin Mellon Missouri
285 20 Ty Walz Virginia Tech
285 21 Ethan Hayes Virginia
285 22 Joe Stolfi Bucknell
285 23 Blake Herrin American
285 24 Ross Larson Oklahoma
285 25 Collin Jensen Nebraska
285 26 Blaize Cabell Northern Iowa
285 27 Chris Lopez Illinois
285 28 Tyler Deuel Binghamton University
285 29 Dawson Peck Chattanooga
285 30 Jared Torrence Northern Illinois
285 31 Riley Shaw Cleveland State
285 32 Jacob Aiken-Phillips Cornell
285 33 Nick Tavanello Ohio State

uil-texas

By Pablo DiMaria
High School Correspondent

Class 4A
Teams that should challenge for a state title

Centennial –Centennial qualified nine wrestlers out of Region II with five region champions at 126, 138, 145, 152 and 220 pounds. The right draws and excellent wrestling by all, and they can win the state championship this weekend.

Amarillo – With 10 state qualifiers this season, the Amarillo wrestling team has a chance to finished top 5 in the state tournament this season.

Randall – Defending 4A state champions only qualified four wrestlers out of Region I. Bailer Thomason (113), Jacob Rubio (138), Bray Freeman (152) and Beau Henson (195). They are going to need for Thomason and Freeman to step it up and help Rubio and Henson to win another state team title.

Highland Park –Highland Park qualified six wrestlers to the state tournament out of Region III. Last season they finished in third place in the individual state tournament.

Returning State Champions

Jorge Santos from Carrollton Creekview, who was a runner-up to Roth in both state and region tournaments, won this year’s Region II tournament at 106 pounds for the first time. His overall varsity record for the last two varsity seasons is 60-5.

Adrian Barraza from Austin Vandegrift, who took second in the state tournament last year at 113 pounds, is back to the state tournament at 120 pounds with a 27-0 undefeated record. Last year he beat the state champion, Rogelio Salazar from Beeville A C Jones, in the Region 4 tournament finals, only to lose to Salazar 4-0 in the state finals. He is a junior that has won the Region 4 tournament three times and has placed in the state tournament twice. His overall varsity record is 93-3.

Nate Bridges from Boys Ranch is a junior who was the state runner-up last year at 120 pounds. This year he is back in the same weight class to the state tournament and will look forward to win his first state title this weekend. He is a two-time Region I champion with an overall varsity record of 93-4.

Jonah Ribera had an outstanding weekend last year in the state tournament and won a state title at 126 pounds despite finishing as the Region IV runner-up. This year he is back to the state tournament once again after finishing second in Region IV. His overall varsity record is 20-3.

Michael Gonzales-Jones from Fort Worth Boswell finished as the state runner-up to Jonah Ribera last year at 126 pounds. This season he is back to the state tournament at the same weight class after finishing third in Region II. His overall varsity record is 64-12.

Future University of Oklahoma wrestler Jacob Rubio is up a weight class after winning the state tournament at 132 pounds last year. He is a three-time Region I champion and has been in the finals of the Texas state tournament since his freshman year. He is a multiple USA Wrestling Junior National Freestyle All-American with a career record of 145-18 in scholastic wrestling. This season he was successful at placing third in the always tough Kansas City Stampede tournament.

Defending 4A state champion at 170 pounds, Bradley Rains from Friendswood, returns back to the state tournament after winning his second Region 3 tournament last weekend. A very tough wrestler in the top position, he pinned his final opponent in the region tournament in 2:37 of their match. His overall varsity record is 69-6.

Armando Pallares from Amarillo Caprock was the state runner-up last year at 170 pounds to Rains. This year he is back to the state tournament at a higher weight class. He is a two-time Region I champion with an overall varsity record of 74-3.

Beau Henson from Canyon Randall has been wrestling extremely well this season. He was the runner-up in the tough Kansas City Stampede to Derek White from Edmond North (Okla.), who is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation at 195 pounds. Just before meeting White he had six falls in the tournament. He is one of the team leaders for Randall and will try to win his second state title this weekend. He is a three-time Region I champion and has qualified to the state tournament since his sophomore season. His overall varsity record is 95-16.

Jace LaCaille from Georgetown is back in the state tournament at 220 pounds trying to make history for Georgetown and win his second state title. Last year he won a Region IV title and state as well. This year he comes into the state tournament with just one defeated in 34 matches. He is a two-time Region IV champion with an overall varsity record of 62-5.

Dakota Allen from Humble Summer Creek is back at the state tournament after finishing second to LaCaille in the finals 7-2. He is a two-time Region III champion with an overall varsity record of 47-3. This will be the second year that Allen qualifies to the state tournament with only one blemish in his record.

Class 5A
Teams that should challenge for a state tittle

Allen – Even with the lost of eight starters from last year’s state championship, the Allen wrestling team is still the clear favorite to win their fifth straight title this weekend. They qualified nine wrestlers out of Region II and won seven region titles.

Katy Seven Lakes – Seven Lakes won the Region III tournament and qualified six wrestlers to the state tournament. They should be in the running to finished top three in the state tournament.

Returning State Champions

Last year’s 106-pound state champion, Alex Minor from McKinney Boyd, is back in the state tournament, but this time at 113 pounds. Last year he defeated Howard Smith from Allen 8-7 in the finals. This year he finished third in Region II, behind Smith and undefeated freshman Coltan Williams from Lewisville Hebron. His overall varsity record is 68-4.

Howard Smith from Allen is part of a strong group that will help Allen win its fifth straight team title. Last year he finished second at 106 pounds to Minor in both Region II and the state tournament. He had a great regular season placing in the tough Walsh Ironman tournament, Kansas City Stampede, Texas Outlaw and the Hurricane Classic. His overall varsity record is 62-22.

William Homalon from Katy Morton Ranch is back in the state tournament at 126 pounds, after winning the state tournament last year at 120 pounds. He won his second Region III title last weekend, and will enter the state tournament with a 47-3 record. His three loses have been to Dillon Mouser from Summer Creek, Thayer Atkins from Trinity Christian Academy and Christian Martinez from Katy. His overall record is 104-7.

State runner-up Christian Martinez from Katy looks to be the favorite at this weight class to win a state title this weekend. Last year he finished second in the state tournament at 126 pounds to Dylan Akers from Lewisville Flower Mound. This year he comes into the state tournament as a two-time Region III champion and with a season record of 52-1. His only blemish of the season was to Zak Hensley from St. James Academy, Kansas, in the finals of the Texas Outlaw Tournament. His overall varsity record is 108-5.

Michael Oramas from Klein was the state runner-up last season at 138 pounds to Allen’s Daniel Cartagena. This weekend he will be wrestling in the state tournament at 152 pounds. He is a two-time Region III champion with an overall varsity record of 95-4. This year he owns victories over fellow state qualifiers at his weight class – Malik Pickett from Katy Stevens 3:13, Christian Mata from Clear Lake 6-0, and Marlon Ellis from Allen 4-3.

Rafay Ali from Arlington Bowie had a Cinderella story last year at the state tournament. He finished fourth in Region I, but stilled managed to make the finals of the state tournament where he lost to Oliver Pierce from Allen. This season he took second at Region I, losing in the finals to Braden Urquhart from Amarillo Tascosa who place four in the state last year at 138 pounds.

Future Penn State wrestler Bo Nickal, is the clear favorite in this and in most state brackets around the nation. He is a smart mat wrestler with great technique on his feet as well. He has been the most decorated wrestler in the Longhorn state and for Allen. He is a four-time Region champion, winning two region 3 titles and two region 2 tittles. He is a two-time state champion and three-time state finalist with an overall record of 176-6.

Blake Andrews from Grapevine has looked great all season long after bumping up to the 220 pound weight class from 182 pounds. In the Region tournament he pinned all three opponents in the first period. Last year he took second at the Region II and state tournament to Matt Meyer from Allen High School. This year he will be attending the state tournament as the Region II champion and with a 31-0 record.
http://awn.theopenmat.com/2014/02/tom-h-s-preview-texas-state-championships/