Diplomats’ Matmen Ready to Roll
With four seniors and a strong incoming class, Franklin & Marshall’s wrestlers will open their 82nd season of competition this weekend in East Lansing at the Michigan State Open. The first tournament is part of a bulked up schedule designed for the new NCAA Championship allocation system.
"We have great leaders on our team and we are going to count on them to lead us through one of the toughest schedules we've had in many years,” says Head Coach, Pete Schuyler. The Diplomats are indeed going to be challenged this season with three very strong tournaments and a rigorous dual schedule that includes eight Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) rival schools.
"We were thinking about our top senior wrestlers when we lined up our schedule last spring,” Shcuyler noted. “We are hoping to prepare them for our post season tournaments. We also hope our younger guys will grow and in time, adjust to the higher level of competition.”
The squad’s captains have been at the core of F&M’s recent successes as the program continues to build back towards national prominence. According to Schuyler, Jake Bucha, Al Gianforti, Justin Herbert, and Nico Somers are great examples for others to follow in practice, with their preparation, intensity and diligence.
Herbert was the Diplomats’ headliner a season ago, posting a 27-5 mark, setting a single-season record for pins at F&M with 17. He was ranked as high as 18th in the nation last year, and placed sixth in the EIWA Championships at 174. He enters the 2008-2009 season ranked fifth in the EIWA at 174.
"Justin has, and continues to put forth the effort necessary to achieve his goals and he is a great competitor once he steps on the mat,” Schuyler notes. “He is not the most talented guy I have ever coached, but he is the most prepared. I believe he I capable of reaching his goals."
Those goals include an EIWA title and crack at the NCAA
Tournament in St. Louis.
Senior captain and three-year letterwinner, Al Gianforti, will be
the likely starter at 141 lbs. Gianforti's career record stands at
54-24, a mark he is intent on improving according to the
Diplomats’ mentor, "Albert has worked very hard this summer
and is down to his fighting weight of 141 lbs.. He has his
sights set on NCAA's and I think he is capable of qualifying."
Another senior Captain, Nico Somers, has bulked up to 250 lbs. and looks forward to breakout season this year. Somers is a three-year letter winner and has a career record of 44-25.
“Nico is more confident this year and has grown into a formidable competitor at Heavyweight. He, along with Albert and Justin, have been great examples for our young team to follow thus far. We expect Nico to be competing St. Louis, and are encouraged by the fact that he has the same feeling."
In addition to the seniors, Schuyler’s underclassmen, including eight freshmen, are motivated and anxious to run the gauntlet of the new slate.
“Our team was very conscientious with their pre-season strength and conditioning training over the first month of the school year. The training they did was critical as we had a relatively short preparation time prior to this weekend’s Michigan State Open.
“Our practice schedule has been intense and difficult over the recent weeks but I am confident that our team will be prepared for the season.”
The Diplomat line up for the season is almost set with a few weight classes yet to be determined. At 125 lbs. sophomore Steve Sabreen will be leading the way for the Dips. The Pittsburgh native posted five wins – three via fall as a frosh.
"Steve has matured and gained a lot of strength since last season. He also worked hard this summer and hopes to make a big jump this year."
At 133 lbs. freshmen Matt Murray and Frank Higgins will battle for the starting spot. Higgins may move up to 141 lbs. if 133 lbs. is too tough a cut to make. Junior Captain Jake Bucha, who went 18-11 last year, is recovering from shoulder surgery may be sitting out the duration of the season.
Several freshmen will challenge for the spot at 149 lbs. including James DeNicola, and Dave Pucci. DeNicola may also challenge up at 157 lbs. Junior Matt Gittleman will also challenge at 157 lbs.
Sophomore Anthony Bongazone, the 157-pounder a year ago, moves up a weight class from last year to 165 lbs. The New Jersey native recorded nine wins in his first year on the collegiate mats.
"Anthony has grown and gained strength over the summer and I think he will be very competitive at 165 lbs,” according to Schuyler.
Another former New Jersey star, freshman Matt Fullowan, defeated another tough freshman, Matt Latessa, to earn the right to challenge senior captain, Justin Herbert at 174 lbs. Herbert defeated Fullowan 20-6 in the final wrestle off, but Schuyler is pleased with his newfound depth in the upper-middlewights. Fullowan and Latessa may also challenge senior Jimmy Schulz at 184 lbs.
"Having young, motivated and talented guys like Fullowan and Latessa makes our practice room so much stronger and also bodes well for the long-term health of the program."
Dan Canfield has grown into the 197 lbs. weight class and will face a challenge from freshman Colin Ely. "I'm excited to have some depth at 197 lbs and also to have such hard working wrestles battling for a spot on the line-up at that weight," said Schuyler.
On paper, the 2008-2009 Diplomats are shaping up nicely for Schuyler. He will get the chance to evaluate the tangible product this Sunday in Michigan. F&M wrestling fans will have the chance to see the Diplomats for themselves on December 2nd, when F&M hosts Bucknell in an EIWA dual. Fans that cannot make their way to the Mayser Center can watch the action live on B2 Networks, the Diplomats broadband partner on the web.