Post by Earl on Oct 4, 2007 19:07:18 GMT -5
2007-08 Weight-by-Weight Preview
125 Junior Troy Nickerson, 2006 NCAA Runner-up and 3rd in the NCAA last season, will return to the mat at the 125 pound weight class. The five-time New York state champion and 2005 high school national champion lost a heartbreaking semi-final match to Nebraska’s Paul Donahoe in double-overtime at last year’s NCAA tournament. Using the close loss as motivation, Troy is poised to win his an NCAA title this upcoming March.
Providing significant depth at this weight will be two-time Washington high school state champion and Greco-Roman Jr. National Champion Mike Rodriguez of Kammakian, WA, and freshman Frank Perrelli, a 4th place finisher at the high school nationals as well as placing 1st and 5th at the New Jersey state championships.
133 Senior Nick Bridge, a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finisher at the N.J. High School Championships, aims to take control of this weight class. Also in the mix will be high school sensation Mike Grey of Delbarton, NJ. During his prep career, Mike was the first four-time New Jersey state champion, and also was a freestyle Junior National champion. Also challenging for the starting job is California junior college state champion Corey Hamabata.
141 Moving up a weight class for his second year in a Cornell singlet is sophomore Adam Frey. The Blair Academy alum won three national prep championships as well as a high
school national championship. He highlighted his prep career by winning a double Junior National title in Fargo, ND. Also fighting for the spot is senior Evan Schiedel (N.Y.), along with freshmen Peter Weiss, and three-time Indiana state champion Eric McGill. Corey Manson, last year’s starting 141 pound wrestling is taking this off to pursue a business internship
149 This weight looks like one of the few weights that are up for grabs. Brain Alves, two-time 5th in California and D.J. Meagher, a two-time New England champion and sixth at the high school nationals look like the early favorites. Charlie Agozzino and Matt Easter return to campus in the second semester. Plagued by injuries throughout their careers, both wrestlers are eager to finally get a chance to display his wrestling talent.
157 NCAA All-American Jordan Leen (TN) has gained significant size and strength in off season in his quest for a national title. Depending upon his ability to keep his size he might drop to 149 pounds for the second semester. Last year’s 157 pound starter, Drake Hovis, will also look to contend for the 157 position. Others to watch are John Basting and Tim Ironman.
165 For the first semester freshman Mack Lewnes, a four-time Maryland state champion and two-time national prep champion, appears to be the front-runner at this weight. Two-time NCAA qualifier Joey Hooker returns to campus for the second semester and plans to come down to 165 pounds after wrestling at 174 pounds for the past two seasons. Also at this weight is senior Mike Mackie. Mike has a great deal of experience and will push both of these wrestlers for the starting position.
174 Steve Anceravage, two-time NCAA qualifier and Eastern champion is one of the most physically gifted athletes on the squad. This year anything less then All-American honor will be a disappointment for Steve. Backing up Anceravage is freshman Colin McDonald. Colin is a two-time NY state champ from Waverly, NY.
184 All-American Josh Arnone will miss the first half of the season due to shoulder surgery. When he returns he may go up to 197 pounds. In his place are a host of highly competitive grapplers. Michael Moore, Missouri state champion and high school national runner-up and freshman Justin Kerber, a two-time Iowa state champion and high school All-American, appear to be the favorites at this weight class. Also in the mix are sophomore, Nate Holley, a two-time state place winner from Illinois, Jason Winckle, a Missouri state champion and Indiana runner-up Travis Dale.
197 Replacing two-time All-American Jerry Rinaldi will be a difficult task. The leading contender is Missouri state champion and Jr. World Team member Taylor Moore. Doug Weidner is dropping down from 285 pounds and should be more competitive at his natural weight. Also competing at 197 is sophomores Carl Landers and Matt Panasevich. Landers saw limited starting time last year while Panasevich moves up from 184 pounds.
285 Eastern finalist returning and returning NCAA qualifier Zach Hammond had a break out year last season despite struggling with injuries. Zach will be immediately tested by Maciej Jochym, a New York state champion and high school All-American.
125 Junior Troy Nickerson, 2006 NCAA Runner-up and 3rd in the NCAA last season, will return to the mat at the 125 pound weight class. The five-time New York state champion and 2005 high school national champion lost a heartbreaking semi-final match to Nebraska’s Paul Donahoe in double-overtime at last year’s NCAA tournament. Using the close loss as motivation, Troy is poised to win his an NCAA title this upcoming March.
Providing significant depth at this weight will be two-time Washington high school state champion and Greco-Roman Jr. National Champion Mike Rodriguez of Kammakian, WA, and freshman Frank Perrelli, a 4th place finisher at the high school nationals as well as placing 1st and 5th at the New Jersey state championships.
133 Senior Nick Bridge, a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finisher at the N.J. High School Championships, aims to take control of this weight class. Also in the mix will be high school sensation Mike Grey of Delbarton, NJ. During his prep career, Mike was the first four-time New Jersey state champion, and also was a freestyle Junior National champion. Also challenging for the starting job is California junior college state champion Corey Hamabata.
141 Moving up a weight class for his second year in a Cornell singlet is sophomore Adam Frey. The Blair Academy alum won three national prep championships as well as a high
school national championship. He highlighted his prep career by winning a double Junior National title in Fargo, ND. Also fighting for the spot is senior Evan Schiedel (N.Y.), along with freshmen Peter Weiss, and three-time Indiana state champion Eric McGill. Corey Manson, last year’s starting 141 pound wrestling is taking this off to pursue a business internship
149 This weight looks like one of the few weights that are up for grabs. Brain Alves, two-time 5th in California and D.J. Meagher, a two-time New England champion and sixth at the high school nationals look like the early favorites. Charlie Agozzino and Matt Easter return to campus in the second semester. Plagued by injuries throughout their careers, both wrestlers are eager to finally get a chance to display his wrestling talent.
157 NCAA All-American Jordan Leen (TN) has gained significant size and strength in off season in his quest for a national title. Depending upon his ability to keep his size he might drop to 149 pounds for the second semester. Last year’s 157 pound starter, Drake Hovis, will also look to contend for the 157 position. Others to watch are John Basting and Tim Ironman.
165 For the first semester freshman Mack Lewnes, a four-time Maryland state champion and two-time national prep champion, appears to be the front-runner at this weight. Two-time NCAA qualifier Joey Hooker returns to campus for the second semester and plans to come down to 165 pounds after wrestling at 174 pounds for the past two seasons. Also at this weight is senior Mike Mackie. Mike has a great deal of experience and will push both of these wrestlers for the starting position.
174 Steve Anceravage, two-time NCAA qualifier and Eastern champion is one of the most physically gifted athletes on the squad. This year anything less then All-American honor will be a disappointment for Steve. Backing up Anceravage is freshman Colin McDonald. Colin is a two-time NY state champ from Waverly, NY.
184 All-American Josh Arnone will miss the first half of the season due to shoulder surgery. When he returns he may go up to 197 pounds. In his place are a host of highly competitive grapplers. Michael Moore, Missouri state champion and high school national runner-up and freshman Justin Kerber, a two-time Iowa state champion and high school All-American, appear to be the favorites at this weight class. Also in the mix are sophomore, Nate Holley, a two-time state place winner from Illinois, Jason Winckle, a Missouri state champion and Indiana runner-up Travis Dale.
197 Replacing two-time All-American Jerry Rinaldi will be a difficult task. The leading contender is Missouri state champion and Jr. World Team member Taylor Moore. Doug Weidner is dropping down from 285 pounds and should be more competitive at his natural weight. Also competing at 197 is sophomores Carl Landers and Matt Panasevich. Landers saw limited starting time last year while Panasevich moves up from 184 pounds.
285 Eastern finalist returning and returning NCAA qualifier Zach Hammond had a break out year last season despite struggling with injuries. Zach will be immediately tested by Maciej Jochym, a New York state champion and high school All-American.