2013-2014 Cortland Preview
SUNY-Cortland Red Dragons
Head Coach: Brad Bruhn
Years at School as head coach: 12th
Career Record at school: 156-58-1
Assistant Coaches: Jared Myhrberg, Jason Reynolds, Troy Sterling, Dale DeBacco, and Will Parks
2012-2013 Dual Meet Record: 18-2
2012-2013 National Qualifiers and All-Americans:
Jared Myhrberg 3rd @ 197
Bobby Dierna 3rd @ 149
Lou Puca 6th @ 174
Troy Sterling-157
Alec Dierna-133
Corey James-HWT
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans:
2013- All Americans Bobby Dierna(SO) and Lou Puca(JR)
2012- All Americans Brian Bistis (SR) and Joe Giaramita (SO)
2013- NQ Alec Dierna(SO)
2012-JUCO All American Lance Moore (JR)
Top returning starters:
125 (JR) Paul Fields Northeast regional placer
133 (SO)Alec Dierna(26-11) 2013 National Qualifier
141 (SR) Brian Bistis(19-8) 2012 All American @ 141 8th
149 (SO)Bobby Dierna(35-3) 2013 All-American @ 149 3rd
174 (JR) Lou Puca(30-7) 2013 All-American @ 174 6th
184 (JR) Tyler Beckwith(9-3) Monarch and NYS Runner-up, ranked 4th when he suffered a season ending injury
Other returners
125/33 (SR) Sean Kempf(65-31) 3rd in ECWC @ 125 in 2010, 2nd in ECWC @ 133 in 2012
133 (SO) Max Miller (7-1) injury ended season
157 (SR) James Ondris 3rd in ECWC @ 174 in 2012
165 (JR) William Maldonado 12-4 when injury ended season
165/74 (SO)Joe Cataldo 19-9, placed in several tournaments
197 (SR)Fransico DeCristo 13-7, placed in several tournaments
197 (SO)Joe Giaramita 2012 All American at HWT
HWT (SO)Andrew Scopino 14-4, Scholar All American
Top incoming wrestlers:
125 Jacob Green Chenango Forks HS 3x State Qualifier, 1x placer 4th
125 Mat Bradice William Floyd HS 4th at Senior Nationals
125 Chris Cataldo MacAurther HS Section 8 runner up
133 Troy Fenniger North Rockland HS 2x section placer
133 Tyler Hall Marathon HS Section placer
141 Dan Gormely BGA HS 5x State Qualifier, 4x placer(2,3,6,5)
149 Brendon Dent Connecqout HS State Placer 4th
149 Matt Dillon Nanuet HS State Placer 5th
149/57 Casey Lanave Chenango Forks HS 6x State Qualifier, 4x placer, 6 time HS All-American
165 Colin Barber Westfield HS(NJ) 2x State Qualifier, 1x placer 6th
184 Nick Bellanza John Glen HS State Champ
184 Brian Bulger Westfield HS(NJ) 2x State Qualifier
184 Jagger Rebozo Half Hollow Hills HS State Qualifier
197 Tyler Lilly New Rochelle HS State Qualifier
HWT Lance Moore Johnson City HS State Champ, Senior National Champ JUCO AA 3rd
HWT Chris Alianakian CHASSA 2x State Qual.
Season outlook:
With four returning NCAA All-Americans and one new NJCAA All-American, Cortland is primed to have another good season and challenge for a trophy at the NCAA Championships. Even with some injuries to key contributors last season, the Red Dragons still finished in the top ten. Bobby Dierna is the top returner after a 3rd place finish at 149, and he will be a contender for the title in 2014. Lou Puca is the other returning 2013 All-American who will be in the mix for the 174 title with 4 of the top 5 finishers last year gone at that weight. A trio of 2012 All-Americans in Bistis, Giaramita (down to 197 from 285), and NJCAA transfer Lance Moore give the team half a lineup worth of All-Americans. That group of five does not even include 184 Tyler Beckwith, who is as talented as any of these guys but had his season ended with a January injury. Add in other returners and their usual large recruiting class, and Cortland is looking good for 2013-2014.