Roger Williams 2016-2017 Preview

RWU HawkTeam: Roger Williams University
Head Coach: Jon Egan
Years at School as Head Coach: 6
Career Record at Current School: 89-17
Assistant Coaches: Scott Pellerin, Tim Ferreira, Corey Brown, John Clark, Arthur Pellerin, Chris Cornwell

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2015-2016 Dual Meet Record: 23-3

2016 NCAA Qualifiers: David Welch (197, 1st), Danny Downes (149), Ty Herzog (157), Alec Golner (165), Danny Ressler (174), Kyle Foster (285)

Returning NCAA Qualifiers (any year): Downes, Herzog, Golner, Foster

Top Returning Starters:
Nicholas Barbaria – 125 – 6th Northeast Region 2015
Justin Cochran – 141 – 5th Northeast Region
Danny Downes – 149 – Northeast Region Champion, Quarterfinalist NCAA Tournament
157 – Ty Herzog – 3rd Northeast Region, 2x NCAA Qualifier
Alec Golner – 165 – Northeast Region Finalist
Joe Albina – 184 – 4th Northeast Region
Kyle Foster – 285 – 3rd Northeast Region, 2x NCAA Qualifier

Top Incoming Wrestlers:
Chris Gural (Roselle Park, N.J.) – Projected weight class – 125 lbs. – 4th in New Jersey State Tournament, 2x NJ State Qualifier
Sean Wieck (East Northport, N.Y.) – Projected weight class – 133 lbs. – 4th in NY Section 11 Tournament
Jason Jacobi (Effort, Pa.) – Projected weight class – 141 lbs. – 5th in PA Northeast Region Devlin Carroll (Stoughton, Mass.) – Projected weight class – 149 lbs.
Patrick Scally (Centereach, N.Y.) – Projected weight class – 141 lbs.
Blake Stamas (Exeter, R.I.) – Projected weight class – 141 lbs. – RI State Champion
Owen Bachelder (Woodmere, N.Y.) – Projected weight class – 141 lbs. – 4x NY D1 State Qualifier
Brayson Haas (Schnecksville, Pa.) – Projected weight class – 141 lbs. – 5th in PA Northeast Region
Nathaniel Lindsay (Brookline, N.H.) – Projected weight class – 149 lbs. – NH State Finalist
Tyler Gazaway (New Providence, N.J.) – Projected weight class – 149 lbs. – 3rd at Senior Nationals
Deven Schuko (Norton, MA) – Projected weight class – 157 lbs. – 3rd In MA
Cam Altobelli (Atkinson, N.H.) – Projected weight class – 157 lbs. – NH State Champion
Mike DiBella (Park Ridge, N.J.) – Projected weight class – 165 lbs.
Brett Leonard (New Milford, Conn.) – Projected weight class – 165lbs. – New England Champion
Taylor Shay (New Fairfield, Conn.) – Projected weight class – 174 lbs. – New England Finalist, 7th in New Jersey State Tournament
Devin Pietz (Bridgewater, N.J.) – Projected weight class – 174 lbs.
Justin Garden (New Fairfield, Conn.) – Projected weight class – 184lbs.
Christopher Francis (Bristol, R.I.) – Projected weight class – 197 lbs. – 2x RI State Champion
Saverio Salcfas (Springfield, N.J.) – Projected weight class – 197 lbs. – 3x New Jersey State Qualifier
Will Farparan (Whiting, N.J.) – Projected weight class – 197 lbs. – New Jersey State Qualifier
Dylan Booth (Concord, MA) – Projected weight class – 285 lbs.

Season Outlook:
The Hawks look to have another strong year under Coach Egan as they return 4 NCAA qualifiers in Downes, Herzog, Golner and Foster. The team looks to win its fourth straight New England Championship, its fifth straight Pilgrim League Title and a Regional title. Nicholas Barbaria, Justin Cochran and Joe Albina are also returning placers in the region, taking 6th, 5th and 4th. With the Hawks graduating nine seniors this year, the goals are set high. The Hawks also return a number Academic All-Americans who look to repeat in the 2016-17 season – Nicholas Barbaria, Daniel Downes, Ty Herzog and Kyle Foster.

There have been some strong additions to the roster as New England Champion, Brett Leonard looks to make a splash at 165. New England finalist and NJ State Placer, Taylor Shay, will also look to start at 174. Chris Gural was 4th in New Jersey and will push Barbaria at 125 and Tyler Gazaway looks to do some damage at 149 as he was 3rd at Senior Nationals last year. Owen Bachelder is a 4x big school NY State Qualifier and had his senior year cut short due to injury. He will certainly help at 133 or 141 pounds. Jason Jacobi and Brayson Haas were both 5th in the PA Northeast Region and look to help at 133 and 141 pounds. Cam Altobelli was the New Hampshire state champion at 160 pounds and looks to drop to 157. Deven Shuko was 3rd in MA in only his third year of wrestling and will also add at 157. The Hawks have made some significant additions to the upper weights after the graduation of National Champion, David Welch. Saverio Salcfas (3x NJ State Qualifier) and Chris Francis (2x RI State Champion) will vie for a spot at 197 pounds and Will Farparan (NJ State Qualifier) will add depth for Kyle Foster at heavyweight.