Williams Preview

Williams College EphsRMalo380x260
Head Coach:  Dan DiCenzo
Years at School as Head Coach: 3rd Season, (Career Record 30-13-1)
Assistant Coach:  Ben Hektoen (Simpson ’09)

2008-2009 Dual Meet Record: 19-4-1
2008-2009 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Corey Paulish (4th/141), Ryan Malo (2nd/197)
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Paulish, Malo, Dylan Rittenburg (NQ, 141 ’08)
Number of returning wrestlers who competed in 2009 National Qualifier: 8

Top Returning Starters:
125 – Josh Mattana – Junior – All NEWA @ 133 ’09
141 – Dylan Rittenburg – Senior – 3X All NEWA, was at 149 in ’09, 91 career wins
149 – Corey Paulish – Junior – NEWA Champion, 4th at NCAA’s, moving up to 149
157 – Carl Breitenstein – Senior – 3X All NEWA, 88 career wins
165 – Jon Foster – Junior – All NEWA ’09
174 – Drew Gatewood – Senior
184 – Nate Shippee – Senior
197 – Ryan Malo – Junior – NEWA Champion, 2nd at NCAA’s,

Top Incoming Wrestlers
Ces Antista – 133 – NJ State Qualifier
Kaison Tanabe – 125/133 – 2X MD Prep State Finalist
Sam Brinkley – 149/157 – 3X NC Prep State Placer
Scott Sanderson – 157 – 2X Prep NE Placer
Rob Brackup – 165 – Prep All-American
Tom Foote – 285 – 2X NH State Finalist, 3rd in NE

The Ephs return All-Americans Malo and Paulish and have 6 all conference wrestlers back on this years team.  Seniors Breitenstein and Rittenburg have been very good wrestling strong competition, having been three year starters and three year All-Conference wrestlers for their first three seasons.  Williams won their National Qualifier last year for only the second time in school history and with 8 returning starters, a strong nucleus of upperclassmen, and a talented freshman group the Ephs are hoping to repeat as NEWA champions.  With 8 starters and both All-Americans returning, Williams has a chance to better last year’s 10th place finish, but they will need to bring more than two wrestlers to the tournament to do so.