Nittany Lion Open Preview Part I

Today we're previewing 125 through 157.  Tomorrow we'll post the 165-HWT preview.  (Note: # of registered wrestlers is as of November 29)

125 Pounds (49 Registered Wrestlers)

NCSU Wrestlers Competing:  None

Other Top Competition:  Nico Megaludis (PSU – NCAA Finalist), Shane Gentry (Maryland – NCAA Qualifier), Nathan Kraisser (UNC – Nationally Ranked), Max Soria (Buffalo – NCAA Qualifier), Joe Langel (Rutgers – Nationally Ranked), Robert Rehm (Lock Haven – Nationally Ranked), David White (Binghamton – 2012 ESU Open Champ), Kevin Devoy (Drexel – 2012 ESU Open Runner-Up), Rob Deutsch (ODU – 2012 Mat Town Open Champ), & Eric Montoya (Campbell – 2012 Citadel Open Champ)

133 Pounds (62 Registered Wrestlers)

NCSU Wrestlers Competing:  Sam Speno & Patrick Hutton (unattached)

Other Top Competition:  Zach Horan (CMU – Top 12 NCAA’s), Mason Beckman (Lehigh – NCAA Qualifier), Geoff Alexander (Maryland – NCAA Qualifier), Johnni DiJulius (Ohio State – NCAA Qualifier), Scott Festejo (ODU – NCAA Qualifier), Anthony Abidin (Nassau – NJCAA National Champ), Joey Ward (UNC – Nationally Ranked), Jordan Conaway (PSU – Nationally Ranked), Vinny Dellafave (Rutgers – Nationally Ranked), & Mark Grey (Finger Lakes – 2012 Binghamton Open Runner-Up)

141 Pounds (75 Registered Wrestlers)

NCSU Wrestlers Competing:  Tyler Hunt (unattached), Mike Avelar, & Gabe LaVey

Other Top Competition:  Devin Carter (Va Tech – NCAA All-American), Undrakhbayar Khishignyam (Citadel – Nationally Ranked), Evan Henderson (UNC – NCAA Qualifier), Matt Nelson (UVA – NCAA Qualifier), Tyler Small (Kent – NCAA Qualifier), Trevor Melde (Rutgers – NCAA Qualifier), Dan Neff (Lock Haven – Nationally Ranked), Andrew Schutt (Buffalo – NCAA Qualifier), Bryan Pearsall (PSU – Nationally Ranked), Chris Mecate (ODU – 2012 Clarion & Mat Town Open Champ), & Brent Jorge (Campbell – Citadel & Pembroke Open Champ)

149 Pounds (87 Registered Wrestlers)

NCSU Wrestlers Competing:  Cohl Fulk (unattached)

Other Top Competition:  Andrew Alton (PSU – Top 12 NCAA’s), Gus Sako (UVA – NCAA Qualifier), Mario Mason (Rutgers – NCAA Qualifier), Christian Barber (UNC – Nationally Ranked), Chad Strube (Va Tech – 2012 National Collegiate Open Champ), Mac Maldarelli (Lock Haven – NJCAA National Runner-Up), Mitch Minotti (Lehigh – 2012 Clarion and Binghamton Open 3^rd), Blake Roulo (Buffalo – 2012 MAC Runner-Up), Matt Stephens (Va Tech – 2012 Mat Town Open Runner-Up), & Louis Mascola (Maryland – 2012 Oklahoma Gold 3^rd)

157 Pounds (69 Registered Wrestlers)

NCSU Wrestlers Competing:  Matt Nereim

Other Top Competition:  Dylan Alton (PSU – NCAA All-American), James Fleming (Clarion – NCAA All-American), Scott Winston (Rutgers – NCAA Qualifier), Ian Miller (Kent – NCAA Qualifier), Nestor Taffur (Boston – Nationally Ranked), Jake Kemerer (Lock Haven – Nationally Ranked), Bryce Busler (Bloomsburg – NCAA Qualifier), Blaise Butler (UVA – 2012 Wolfpack Open Champ), Ben Dorsay (Maryland – 2012 Wolfpack Open Runner-Up), & Lex Ozias (Va Tech – 2012 National Collegiate Runner-Up)

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Keystone Classic Preview

The following NCSU Wrestlers are expected to compete on Sunday at the Keystone Classic:  Sam Speno (133 pounds), Mike Avelar (141 pounds), Gabe LaVey (141 pounds), Matt Nereim (157 pounds), Mardel Gabriel (157 pounds), Nijel Jones (165 pounds), Patrick Davis (174 pounds), Josh Lackey (197 pounds), and Mike Kosoy (285 pounds).  This will be Speno’s collegiate debut.  Nereim and Avelar will be competing for the first time this season.

Here is a look at the other 14 teams competing at the Keystone Classic this weekend and some of the top performers from each team…

Northwestern – Northwestern is led two All-Americans, Jason Welch at 157 pounds and Mike McMullan at heavyweight.  They have three other top fifteen ranked wrestlers in their line-up in Levi Mele (133 pounds), Pierce Harger (165 pounds), and Lee Munster (174 pounds).  Northwestern is the team to beat this weekend and are ranked #13 in the country.  125 pound wrestler, Dominick Malone is a high impact freshman.  They won the Keystone Classic Title last season.

Pennsylvania – Has two highly ranked wrestlers in 125 pound Mark Rappo and returning All-American Micah Burak at 197 pounds.  Burak is a returning two-time Keystone Classic Champion and Rappo is a two-time Keystone Classic place winner.  Kyle Cowan is a former Keystone Classic Champion at heavyweight.  Casey Kent at 165 pounds made the finals of the Binghamton Open last week.  Ian Korb at 174 pounds is a retuning EIWA place winner.

Bloomsburg – Has two top twenty wrestlers in Frank Hickman at 157 pounds and Justin Grant at heavyweight.  They have five other wrestlers to watch:  Sean Boylan (125 pounds), Nick Wilcox (133 pounds), Josh Roosa (149 pounds), Josh Veltre (165 pounds), and Andre Petroski (184 pounds).  The huskies are 3-0 in dual meets this season.

Indiana – The Hoosiers have three top 20 ranked wrestlers that should wrestle this weekend:  Taylor Walsh (157 pounds), Ryan LeBlanc (165 pounds), and Adam Chalfant (285 pounds).  All three of them wrestled at the NCAA Tournament last season.  Quinton Murphy (133 pounds) is IU’s top freshman and is 8-2 on the young season.  Joe Duca (125 pounds) was 4^th at the Hokie Open and Luke Sheridan (184 pounds) finished 6^th.

American – AU is led by returning NCAA Qualifier, 149 pound, Kevin Tao.  Blake Herrin, a heavyweight, was the top performer for the team last weekend winning the Oklahoma Gold Classic.  David Terao (125 pounds), Phillip Barreiro (165 pounds), and Keithen Cast (174 pounds) were all Oklahoma Gold finalist.  Thomas Barreiro (184 pounds), Esteban Gomez-Rivera (133 pounds), and Marcos Peralta (165 pounds) all finished on the podium last weekend.

Rider – Zac Cibula returns at 157 pounds and is a former CAA Champion.  Ramon Santiago was a champion at the Binghamton Open at 165 pounds last weekend.  174 pound wrestler James Brundage made the finals of the BU Open.  Jimmy Morris (133 pounds), Clint Morrison (184 pounds), and Donald McNeil 9197 pounds) all placed last weekend and will look to do the same again this week.

Boston – The Terriers have three returning NCAA Qualifiers in their line-up:  Kyle Czarnecki (174 pounds), Hunter Meys (197 pounds), and Kevin Innis (285 pounds).  Nestor Taffur was BU’s top performer last weekend, taking 2^nd at the Binghamton Open.  Mitch Wightman finished 3^rd at the Binghamton Open last week.

Harvard – The Crimson had three finalists last season at the Keystone Classic:  Walter Peppelman (157 pounds) was a champion, while both Steven Keith (141 pounds) and Cameron Croy (184 pounds).  Jeff Ott was a Binghamton Open finalist last weekend at 125 pounds.  James Fox (197 pounds) is another wrestler to watch this weekend.

Duke – The Blue Devils have seen early season success coming from Diego Bencomo (184 pounds) and Conner Hartman (197 pounds).  Bencomo finished in the top twelve at the 2011 NCAA Championships.  Hartman is 8-1 and was the ACC Wrestler of the week last week.  Brandon Gambucci (133 pounds), Tanner Hough (141 pounds), and Marcus Cain (149 pounds) anchor the lightweights.

Princeton – Garrett Frey (133 pounds), Zach Bintliff (149 pounds), and Dan Santoro (184 pounds) are the team captains.  Frey has been in the national rankings for the last couple of years.  Bintliff was 5^th last weekend at the Binghamton Open, as was Abram Ayala and Judd Ziegler, sharing that place at 165 pounds.  Scott Gibbons is a freshman that placed in the tournament last weekend at 184 pounds.

Cal Poly – The Mustangs had three place winners last weekend at the Roadrunner Open.  141 pounder Brandan Rocha, 184 pounder Sean Dougherty, and 285 pound wrestler Atticus Disney finished 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd at the Roadrunner Open respectively.  Evan McKirdy (125 pounds) and Devon Lotito (133 pounds) both are freshman that have been solid for Cal Poly thus far.

Brown – The team’s top returning performers are Billy Watterson (125 pounds), Ophir Bernstein (184 pounds), and Sterling Hecox (197 pounds).  Giuseppi Lanzi (174 pounds) has been on the verge of a breakout performance in the last few years.  Zach Tannenbaum and Cort Choate have the ability to place high this weekend.

Appalachian State – The Mountaineers are 3-0 so far this season.  They had a break-out season last year with two All-Americans and a top 25 NCAA tournament finish.  However, ASU graduated quite a bit of their line-up and are young but talented.  Dylan Cottrell has impressed at 149 pounds as a freshman.  Dominic Parisi at 125 pounds and Jake Smith at 133 pounds have also placed in tournaments this season for the team.

VMI – The Keydets best wrestlers are heavyweight Jaun Adams and Urayoan Garcia at 197 pounds.  Adams has placed in both the Wolfpack Open and the Hokie Open over the last two weekends.  Garcia finished 3^rd at the Wolfpack Open last weekend.  165 pound wrestler, Mark Darr, has won several matches this season.  Also, watch for Andriy Onufriyenko at 133 pounds.

Here is a link to the University of Pennsylvania release on the Keystone Classic

@packwrestle will be tweeting our results

GoPack Press Release: Wrestling Recruiting Class Ranked Ninth Nationally

A link to the original release is here.

Raleigh, N.C. -

First-year head coach Pat Popolizio announced seven student-athletes have signed with the Pack during the fall signing period. The class has been ranked ninth nationally by theopenmat.com, and the second-best in the ACC.

“Our coaching staff worked extremely hard to bring a very important recruiting class to NC State,” said Popolizio. “This group of guys will pave the way for the future for Wolfpack Wrestling. They have a great attitude and are extremely motivated. That coupled with their talent level makes this a very exciting time for the Wolfpack.”

Here’s a look at each of the Pack’s signees:

• Brenden Calas (Seton Hall Prep School, N.J.)
Ranked No. 10 nationally at 120 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 120 pounds, will wrestle at 125 at NC State … Currently posts an 85-9 high school record … The 2012 New Jersey state champion at 113 pounds … 2010 state champion at 103 pounds, 2010 state qualifier at 103 as well … 2012 Fargo Junior Greco Roman National 8th Place (All-American) at 120 pounds … 2010 Fargo Cadet Greco Roman National 8th Place (All-American) at 105 pounds.

“Brenden is a winner, he wins when it matters most. He will be going for his third state title in one of the toughest states in the country.” - Popolizio

• Scott Del Vecchio (South Plainfield High School, N.J.)
No. 63 overall recruit in the country by flowrestling.org … No. 90 overall by D1collegewrestling.net … Ranked No. 4 at 132 pounds by flowrestling.org, No. 7 by intermatwrestle.com, and No. 11 by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 132 pounds, will wrestle at 133 at NC State … 119-10 career high school record … 2012 undefeated New Jersey state champion at 132 pounds with a 44-0 record … 2011 and 2010 state qualifier … Finished fourth at the 2012 Super 32 at 132 pounds … 2012 Journeyman Classic Champion … 2010 and 2009 Ironhorse Invitational Champion.

“Scott’s high school is known to produce some of the best talent in the country and Scott is one of those wrestlers. He will be joining former South Plainfield great, Tyler Hunt, at NC State. He has a very flashy style that will be great to watch.” - Popolizio

• Chris Wilkes (Whitfield School, Mo.)
No. 88 overall recruit in the country by D1collegewrestlingnet.com … No. 89 overall by both intermatwrestle.com and flowrestling.org … Ranked No. 10 nationally at 132 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … No. 13 at 138 pounds by intermatwrestle.com … Currently competing at 138 pounds, will wrestle at 133/141 at NC State … Holds a 155-7 career high school record … 2012 Missouri state champion at 126 pounds … Finished third at state championships in 2011 (130 pounds) and 2010 (125 pounds) … USA Wrestling Folkstyle National Champion … 2011 Fargo Cadet Freestyle All-American, finished third at 130 pounds … Outstanding wrestler of the 2011 Granite City “Red Schmitt” memorial Tournament at 126 pounds.

“Chris is a very dynamic wrestler. He has the ability to score a lot of points for NC State. Last season he beat the top recruit in the country in his weight, and we expect him to continue to build on that.” - Popolizio

• Max Rohskopf (West Holmes High School, Ohio)
Ranked No. 28 nationally at 138 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 145/152 pounds, will wrestle at 149/157 at NC State … Holds a 105-19 career high school record … Finished third at the 2012 Ohio state tournament at 138 pounds … Went 44-3 on the year … Was seventh at the 2011 state championships at 130 pounds … Was 31-5 overall … 2012 state qualifier at 119 pounds … 2012 Michigan Grappler Fall Classic champion at 145 pounds.

“Max’s winning attitude will have a big impact on our future at NC State. He is very focused on accomplishing his goals.” - Popolizio

• Chad Pyke (Woodward Academy, Ga.)
Nationally-ranked honorable mention All-American at 138 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 152 pounds, will wrestle at 157 at NC State … Holds a 240-17 career high school record … 2012 Georgia state champion at 138 pounds … Went 86-4 on the year … Finished third at 2011 state championships at 125 pounds, and was fifth in 2010 at 112 pounds … 2012 Clinch Gear Prep Slam champion at 138 pounds … Was fourth at 2011 Clinch Gear Prep Slam at 125 pounds and champion at 112 pounds in 2010 … 2012 USA Wrestling preseason national runner-up at 152 pounds.

“Chad is a perfect fit for what we look for in a recruit. He is a student of the sport and has a huge upside. We are excited to see Chad develop over the next several years.” - Popolizio

• Peter Renda (Brandywine Heights High School, Pa.)
No. 43 overall recruit in the country by flowrestling.org  … Ranked No. 5 nationally at 170 pounds by flowrestling.org … No. 8 at 170 pounds by intermatwrestle.com … Also ranked No. 11 nationally at 160 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 170/182 pounds, will wrestle at 174/184 at NC State … Holds a 120-22 career high school record … 2012 Pennsylvania state finialist at 152 pounds … Finished fifth at state championships at 135 pounds in 2011, and seventh at 119 pounds in 2010 … 2012 Fargo Junior Freestyle All-American, 8th place at 160 pounds … Was third at the 2012 Super 32 … 2012 Journeyman Classic champion.

“We are very excited that Pete is part of the Wolfpack. He will have an immediate impact on our program. He brings a strong work ethic and the ability to compete at a high level right away.” - Popolizio

• Shayne Brady (Carthage High School, N.Y.)
Currently competing at 182 pounds, will wrestle at 184 at NC State … Has 166 high school wins … Took second at the 2012 New York state championships at 170 pounds … Finished the year with a record of 38-2 … 2012 Super 32 eighth place finish at 182 pounds … Was a 2011 state qualifier at 152 pounds.

“Shayne is constantly improving and has a big upside in college. We look for him to be right in the mix to start at 184 pounds.” - Popolizio

Note: We have additional recruits verbally committed but we are not yet able to comment on those athletes. 

The Wolfpacker: Season of Change

 
You can subscribe to The Wolfpacker magazine by calling 1.800.421.7751.

In other news today, the Wolfpack staff has been working hard to recruit the best of the best seniors in the nation.  Currently, the 2013 NC State incoming class is ranked #9 nationally by Amateur Wrestling News.  The complete list is here.