Empire Conference Preview
contributed by Bryan Brunk, Messiah College
Empire Conference Championships – 15 qualifiers
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at Ithaca
Returning Qualifiers/AA: Dave Colagiovanni (Cortland 125), Seth Ecker (Ithaca, 6th, 133), Mike McInally (RIT, 2nd, 133), Jeremy Stierly (Ithaca, 2nd, 141), Aljamain Sterling (Cortland, 4th, 141), Blaine Woszczak (Ithaca, 4th, 149), Isaiah Britton (Lycoming, 149), David Priest (Ithaca, 174)
Just like last year, Ithaca is the overwhelming favorite in the ever competitive Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference, but upset minded Cortland is the defending champion. Ithaca currently has five wrestlers ranked in the top 10 by d3wrestle.com and could have as many as 6 top seeds at the tournament. In addition to Cortland, Brockport always seems to give a strong performance at the conference tournament, although some losses to the roster throughout this season could make it tough. Messiah, Lycoming, and Oneonta all look to be in the mix to finish in the top three, while RIT and Oswego boast some of the top individuals.
125
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers – Cohen (Ithaca, Contender), Colagiovanni (Cortland, HM), Gentilcore (Oswego, HM)
While this doesn’t look to be the strongest weight in the conference it certainly should be on of the most hotly contested. Although he’s only wrestled in twelve matches, an overtime win over Cohen in a late season dual could make Colagiovanni the top seed. Still Gentilcore has had a great rookie season posting a 23-7 record and may have something to say about this. Hinton (Lycoming), Lethbridge (Messiah), and Delamothe (Morrisville) are all solid wrestlers that could prove spoiler for one of the favorites. No matter the outcome this looks to be a win it all or go home weight class.
133
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers – Ecker (Ithaca, 3rd), McInally (RIT, 4th), Santiago (Oswego, HM)
The 133lb finals should be a highly anticipated rematch of former All Americans. In the regular season matchup, Ecker pulled the mild upset and will be the top seed. It would be a shock if either of these wrestlers weren’t in the conference finals and if either of these wrestlers didn’t make the trip to Lacrosse. After the favorites it could be a tight battle for third between Santiago, Bistis (Cortland) and Mikac (Oneonta)
141
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers – Stierly (Ithaca, 2nd), Sterling (Cortland, 3rd)
Stierly surprised a lot of people last season with an NCAA performance that saw him take runner up honors and while he has struggled with some injuries throughout the year, when he’s wrestled he has been dominant this season. Fellow All American Aljamain Sterling looks to mount a challenge for the title of Empire Champion, but few other conference wrestlers are expected to contend for the title or for a wildcard. Still, Mike Maurer (Lycoming) is a proven gamer and shook off a subpar regular season in 2010 to become the Empire runner up. He along with Payne (Oswego) could be darkhorse contenders.
149
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers – Woszczak (Ithaca, 2nd), Britton (Lycoming, 9th), Golding (Brockport, HM), Berry (Cortland, HM)
Defending champ and All American Blaine Woszczak is the heavy favorite to repeat and a contender for the national crown with wins over many of the top wrestlers in the country. Britton is looking forward to earning a rematch of last year’s conference finals and hopes to earn another trip to the NCAA tournament. The rest of the field looking to earn All Conference honors include Golding, Berry, Fisher (Oswego), Graff (Oneonta), and Hardenberg (Messiah)
157
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers – Brenon (Ithaca, 1st), Rispoli (Brockport, Contender), Sterling (Cortland, HM)
Brenon is the nation’s top ranked wrestler and the clear favorite here. Still, he has wrestled sparsely in the second semester and a late season win in overtime against Kristopher Krawchuk from Wilkes may give the other contenders some hope. Rispoli is the defending Empire runner up and his only D.III loss is by 3 points to Brenon. A lot of wrestlers should be vying for All Conference placement including Sterling, Sercu (RIT), Bressler (Messiah), Rodgers (Oswego), and Sala (Oneonta)
165
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers – Conroy (Cortland, Contender), James (Brockport, Contender), Jones (Messiah, HM)
This weight looks to be a wide open battle of four fairly even wrestlers for the conference crown and a trip to the national tournament. While three wrestlers are listed in the d3wrestle.com rankings, a late season weight change and victory over Conroy has Nick Sanko of Ithaca in contention as well. This matchup is the only time that any of the top four have wrestled one another this season and seeding could be dicey. Jones is the only one of these wrestlers to wrestle in the conference tournament in the past placing 4th and 3rd in ’08 and ’09. James is a former JUCO All American but has lost to opponents that both Conroy and Jones have beaten. By any measure things will be interesting. In a weight so evenly matched, don’t count out Collins (Oswego) or Cross (Morrisville) either.
174
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers – Priest (Ithaca, 9th), Mills (Oswego, Contender), Plummer (Messiah, HM)
After narrowly missing All American honors as a freshman, Priest has not come as close since, and now enters the post season of his senior year with unfinished business. He is the clear favorite, but will have considerable challenges at the conference tournament. Cam Mills has wrestled to a 22-5 mark and should contend for a spot in the finals, if he gets there he certainly has a shot at a wild card bid to the national tournament. A young wrestler with a chance to make some noise is freshman Ricardo Plummer. While he has experienced some growing pains in his first year, he also has shown an ability to win big matches. He could pose problems for the favorites. Others in the mix will be Bosco (Brockport) and Brent (RIT).
184
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers – Hayre (Lycoming, Contender), Stewart (Messiah, Contender)
This weight looks to be a two person race for the title between Hayre and Stewart. Both wrestlers are having fine seasons and they have met twice in their careers with Hayre taking the match this season 6-2. Outside of the favorites it could be an open battle for All Conference honors among Kramer (Oneonta), Dickey (Ithaca), Parks (Cortland), and Brunschmid (Morrisville)
197
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers – Myhrberg (Cortland, 5th), Voorhis (Brockport, Contender), Korbul (Lycoming, HM)
After finishing fourth in the Empire at 184 last season, Jared Myhrberg found his niche at 197 in 2010-11. He came out of the gates very quickly and has never looked back. He is a clear cut favorite and it would be a surprise if a wild card came out of this weight. Korbul and Voorhis have had some success in the past and wrestled in the consolation finals at this weight last year. Korbul was able to win the match last year. A darkhorse at the weight is Tim Hopkins of Messiah. Hopkins has big wins out of the conference and should at least contend to be in the top four.
285
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers – James (Cortland, Contender), Mahon (Ithaca, Contender)
Mahon spent most of the season in the rankings but faltered late, including dropping a decision to James. James is a former JUCO All American and is very tough to score on. A darkhorse at this weight is Messiah’s Pat Hogan who has a 17-13 record, but also has recorded some key out of conference wins that could put him as the third seed at the weight.