Wrestling: Navy Classic, Sprawl & Brawl Up Next
November 18, 2010 05:19 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Multiple events will keep the West Virginia University wrestling team occupied this weekend as most of the team will compete at the Navy Classic on Saturday, Nov. 20 in Annapolis, Md., while the dual meet starters will compete Sunday, Nov. 21 at the Sprawl & Brawl College Duals in Vestal, N.Y.
The grapplers sent to the Navy Classic will compete in tournament-style brackets to compete within each weight division beginning at 9 a.m. The dual meet starters at the Sprawl & Brawl, hosted by Binghamton University, will face off against Sacred Heart at 9:45 a.m., No. 24 Rutgers at 11:30 a.m. and No. 6 Penn State at 1:15 p.m.
At the Navy tournament, WVU will see wrestlers from traditionally strong programs Bloomsburg, Bucknell, Campbell, Franklin & Marshall, George Mason and Navy.
“We’re using the Navy Classic to keep people involved in the program,” says WVU coach Craig Turnbull. “It’s a good tournament. We used to take our front line there, but we’ll use it this year to keep everyone involved and maintain dynamics for the program. It keeps people excited for wrestling. It will be a good challenge and an opportunity for our guys to go out and wrestle.”
The Navy Classic is being held at the Halsey Field House on the campus of the United States Naval Academy. Visitors who do not have a DoD sticker on their car will not be able to drive onto the Academy grounds. Visitors will be asked to park outside of the main gate (there's a parking garage downtown) and walk onto the grounds. Fans must keep a photo ID as they will be asked for it as they enter through the visitor's gate.
The Mountaineers will compete at the Sprawl & Brawl once again to wrestle against some of the top programs in the country in Rutgers and Penn State and also have a chance to see other quality programs in Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Harvard and Binghamton.
“It’s a very strong tournament and will be valuable to us,” Turnbull says. “I don’t know a lot about Sacred Heart, but Penn State is a top-10 program and has a lineup which every one of our individuals will be challenged to come away with a win. We could wrestle well and have zero wins or wrestle well and get five or six wins. They have a very strong, balanced lineup.”
Several Mountaineers are undefeated thus far in the season and will hope to continue their streaks through the tournaments. Sophomore Nathan Pennesi (7-0) and redshirt junior Matt Ryan (7-0) have the unblemished marks, while the others look to continue to wrestle strong for the program. Sophomore Shane Young (7-1), freshman Michael Morales (6-1), redshirt senior Donnie Jones (5-1) and redshirt freshman Cameron Gallaher (5-1) are also expected to lead the team against the Nittany Lions and Scarlet Knights.
“It will be a good match for us to get a sense of where we are by competing against some of the best in the country,” Turnbull says.
The grapplers sent to the Navy Classic will compete in tournament-style brackets to compete within each weight division beginning at 9 a.m. The dual meet starters at the Sprawl & Brawl, hosted by Binghamton University, will face off against Sacred Heart at 9:45 a.m., No. 24 Rutgers at 11:30 a.m. and No. 6 Penn State at 1:15 p.m.
At the Navy tournament, WVU will see wrestlers from traditionally strong programs Bloomsburg, Bucknell, Campbell, Franklin & Marshall, George Mason and Navy.
“We’re using the Navy Classic to keep people involved in the program,” says WVU coach Craig Turnbull. “It’s a good tournament. We used to take our front line there, but we’ll use it this year to keep everyone involved and maintain dynamics for the program. It keeps people excited for wrestling. It will be a good challenge and an opportunity for our guys to go out and wrestle.”
The Navy Classic is being held at the Halsey Field House on the campus of the United States Naval Academy. Visitors who do not have a DoD sticker on their car will not be able to drive onto the Academy grounds. Visitors will be asked to park outside of the main gate (there's a parking garage downtown) and walk onto the grounds. Fans must keep a photo ID as they will be asked for it as they enter through the visitor's gate.
The Mountaineers will compete at the Sprawl & Brawl once again to wrestle against some of the top programs in the country in Rutgers and Penn State and also have a chance to see other quality programs in Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Harvard and Binghamton.
“It’s a very strong tournament and will be valuable to us,” Turnbull says. “I don’t know a lot about Sacred Heart, but Penn State is a top-10 program and has a lineup which every one of our individuals will be challenged to come away with a win. We could wrestle well and have zero wins or wrestle well and get five or six wins. They have a very strong, balanced lineup.”
Several Mountaineers are undefeated thus far in the season and will hope to continue their streaks through the tournaments. Sophomore Nathan Pennesi (7-0) and redshirt junior Matt Ryan (7-0) have the unblemished marks, while the others look to continue to wrestle strong for the program. Sophomore Shane Young (7-1), freshman Michael Morales (6-1), redshirt senior Donnie Jones (5-1) and redshirt freshman Cameron Gallaher (5-1) are also expected to lead the team against the Nittany Lions and Scarlet Knights.
“It will be a good match for us to get a sense of where we are by competing against some of the best in the country,” Turnbull says.
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