Washington & Jefferson Preview

Washington and Jefferson College Presidents
Head Coach: Tommy Prairie
Years at School as head coach: 1st Season
Assistant Coache: Ryan Wade

2010-2011 Dual Meet Record: 6-3-1

Top returning starters:
125 – SR – Zach Cecchetti – 2x Placer @ Midwest Regional (65-32 Career)
141 – SO – Josh Etzel – 2nd @ Midwest Regional, d3wrestle.com All-Freshman team (7-1 Career)
165 – SO – Dave DiBenedetto – 3rd @ Midwest Regional (24-14 Career)
197 – JR – Robbie Mies – 3rd @ Midwest Regional (40-15 Career)
285 – SR – Taylor Potts – 5th @ Midwest Regional (47-35 Career)

Top incoming wrestlers:
Chuck Baugher – Eastern Tech HS, MD
Josh Tropp – Upper St Clair HS, PA
Sammy Lapcevic – Bentworth HS, PA
Mike Mahramas – Garden City HS, NY
Matt Barton – Edison HS, OH
Theron Mitchell – Lancaster Catholic HS, PA
Karl Hiss – Copley HS, OH
Steve Thornton – Elizabeth Forward, PA

Season outlook:
Tommy Prairie moved from Plymouth State to Washington and Jefferson this offseason, and he inherits a team with five returning regional placewinners and a decent sized recruiting class. It will take some time to establish the new regime, but seniors at the top and bottom of the lineup will help the transition. Cecchetti has had a good career and just missed getting to the national tournament a few times. He will either stay at 125 or move up to 133 for his final season. Etzel put together a good partial season in which he beat a pair of former NCAA qualifiers before his runner-up finish in the regional. Mies and DiBenedetto both had very good seasons and should be in the running for regional titles in 2012. With as many as 8 returning wrestlers in the starting lineup, the experience of the team should pay off as the Presidents attempt to topple Waynesburg in the PAC and increase their performance in the Midwest Region.