Wrestling: 2010-11 Season Begins in Maryland
November 04, 2010 04:31 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (Nov. 4, 2010) – In deep anticipation to begin a new season and face off against new wrestlers after months of preparation, the West Virginia University wrestling team begins the 2010-11 campaign at the Terrapin Duals on Saturday morning in College Park, Md.
The earliest start in the history of the program, the Mountaineers are eager to make amends for a 3-10 2010 finish and prove to be among the nation’s premier wrestling programs as they will face Maryland at 10 a.m., Liberty at 11:30 a.m. and McDaniel at 1 p.m.
“It’s going to be interesting to evaluate starting this early,” says WVU coach Craig Turnbull. “Generally, we start with a few open tournaments and ease into the initial dual meets after getting experience from wrestling people from other schools. We’re putting it all on the line.”
The Terrapins return several strong grapplers from last season in John Asper (165) and Mike Letts (174) as Maryland coach Kerry McCoy is 29-12 over two seasons. WVU 165-lb wrestler Donnie Jones will have his hands full as he will also compete against Liberty’s Chad Porter in the class division.
“Liberty and Maryland present very good challenges,” Turnbull says. “Liberty is a smaller school but has a fully supported wrestling program; both schools will allow us to evaluate where we are at this time of year.”
Liberty wrestler Joe Pantaleo is expected to be a challenge for WVU sophomore Nathan Pennesi while Scott Clymer (Liberty) will challenge Brandon Rader at 149 lbs.
“The preparation has been good,” Turnbull says. “That’s why you look forward to the first tournaments and dual meets because there is an evaluation of our team and we get to see our strong points and what areas we’re deficient in. We think we know what those are but the reality comes out when you’re out there with a referee and an opposing team. It will be good to have a watermark to see where we’re at and where we need to improve.”
The projected starting lineup for the Mountaineers will be:
125 lb: Shane Young, So.
133 lb: Nathan Pennesi, So.
141 lb: Michael Morales, Fr.
149 lb: Brandon Rader, r-Sr.
157 lb: Ryan Goodman, r-Jr.
165 lb: Donnie Jones, r-Sr.
174 lb: Matt Weston, r-Jr.
184 lb: Matt Ryan, r-Jr.
197 lb: Kyle Rooney, r-Jr.
HWT: Philip Mandzik
The earliest start in the history of the program, the Mountaineers are eager to make amends for a 3-10 2010 finish and prove to be among the nation’s premier wrestling programs as they will face Maryland at 10 a.m., Liberty at 11:30 a.m. and McDaniel at 1 p.m.
“It’s going to be interesting to evaluate starting this early,” says WVU coach Craig Turnbull. “Generally, we start with a few open tournaments and ease into the initial dual meets after getting experience from wrestling people from other schools. We’re putting it all on the line.”
The Terrapins return several strong grapplers from last season in John Asper (165) and Mike Letts (174) as Maryland coach Kerry McCoy is 29-12 over two seasons. WVU 165-lb wrestler Donnie Jones will have his hands full as he will also compete against Liberty’s Chad Porter in the class division.
“Liberty and Maryland present very good challenges,” Turnbull says. “Liberty is a smaller school but has a fully supported wrestling program; both schools will allow us to evaluate where we are at this time of year.”
Liberty wrestler Joe Pantaleo is expected to be a challenge for WVU sophomore Nathan Pennesi while Scott Clymer (Liberty) will challenge Brandon Rader at 149 lbs.
“The preparation has been good,” Turnbull says. “That’s why you look forward to the first tournaments and dual meets because there is an evaluation of our team and we get to see our strong points and what areas we’re deficient in. We think we know what those are but the reality comes out when you’re out there with a referee and an opposing team. It will be good to have a watermark to see where we’re at and where we need to improve.”
The projected starting lineup for the Mountaineers will be:
125 lb: Shane Young, So.
133 lb: Nathan Pennesi, So.
141 lb: Michael Morales, Fr.
149 lb: Brandon Rader, r-Sr.
157 lb: Ryan Goodman, r-Jr.
165 lb: Donnie Jones, r-Sr.
174 lb: Matt Weston, r-Jr.
184 lb: Matt Ryan, r-Jr.
197 lb: Kyle Rooney, r-Jr.
HWT: Philip Mandzik
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