Metro Preview 2012

Metro Conference – 20 qualifiers

Sunday, February 26, 2012 at Elizabethtown
Returning Qualifiers/All-Americans:
Herr (TCNJ, 141), Dattolo (Wilkes, 8th, 149), Albright (York, 5th, 141), Andrews (Delaware Valley, 5th, 149), Burdge (Centenary, 8th, 157), Reilly (King’s, 6th, 184), Martocello (York, 4th, 184), Denver (TCNJ, 6th, 184), Lutke (Centenary, 7th, 197), Zitone (Centenary, 285)

There are a number of solid teams that will vie for the Metro title in 2012. York is the top ranked team at #15, and they set a school record with 24 dual meet wins. They return a pair of All-Americans each eyeing the top of the podium. Centenary is the defending champion in the Metro, and they have a pair of All-Americans of their own. Wilkes has their typical strong team with good top to bottom strength. IF Elizabethtown’s best lineup is available, they could make some noise as well, while TCNJ, King’s, and Delaware Valley each have some outstanding individuals.

125 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Fleck (Wilkes, HM), Frankel (Delaware Valley, HM)
Bentley (Elizabethtown) leads the Metro rankings, but does not appear in the d3wrestle.com latest list, showing the depth and parity in this weight. Fleck, Frankel, Parker (Centenary), and Giaccio (York) all appear to have a chance to win here. Fleck, in particular, is good enough on top to break a close match wide open. Albert (Hunter) is a long shot but should not be overlooked.

133 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: McCann (Delaware Valley, Contender), Mendoza (Wilkes, Contender), Gerondal (Hunter, HM), Glatz (York, HM)
More parity here, as none of the top contenders stands out markedly from the rest. McCann has shown flashes this year, while Mendoza is excellent when he is on. Gerondal has come on well in the second half of the year, and there is a possibility that Herr (TCNJ) will get back to 133 and make an appearance to go for another trip to La Crosse. If no Herr, it looks to be Schmidt (TCNJ).

141 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Albright (York, 2nd), Herr (TCNJ, Contender), Messina (Hunter, Contender), Wilson (Wilkes, Contender), Montgomery (Centenary, Contender)
This is a very good weight where the Metro is likely to send multiple qualifiers. After some early season wavering, Albright came back and beat 133 champ Ecker (Ithaca), perhaps encouraging him to drop back to 133. Herr could be here rather than 133, and he is solid along with Wilson and Montgomery. Messina is a bit of a wildcard with big move potential and a recent win over Albright to his credit.

149 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Andrews (Delaware Valley, 2nd), Dattolo (Wilkes, 5th)
The first weight with two top ten wrestlers should be very competitive. Andrews has a fantastic headlock that keeps him within striking distance in any match and he is undefeated against DIII. Dattolo also was an All-American last year and is experienced, technically sound, and 27-0. Gugilotti (York) and Mazzocchi (King’s) have both had excellent seasons and should place.

157 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Burdge (Centenary, 4th), Darling (TCNJ, 10th), Ajagbe (Delaware Valley, Contender)
It looks to be a three man race with Burdge clearly in control. He was a freshman All-American last year and followed that up with a great season so far, losing early only to Sterling (Cortland). Darling has worked his way back into the national rankings with a number of wins against those now ranked just below him like Ajagbe and McGilvray (Springfield). Ajagbe is right there with the top two and could pull an upset or two.

165 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Eno (Elizabethtown, 9th), Bach (Centenary, HM), White (Wilkes, HM)
Eno has had a good second half of the year including a runner up finish at Wheaton and wins over the likes of Plummer (Messiah), Markou (Trine), and Bach. Bach is undefeated since that January loss to Eno and could be peaking at the right time. White has been consistenly solid all year, but he did lose big to Bach way back in November. That top three could be joined by Murphy (TCNJ), Bader (Hunter), or Bond (York) in the top four.

174 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Meaney (Elizabethtown, Contender), Heisey (York, Contender), Stark (King’s, HM), Stough (Wilkes, HM)
It is a deeper weight, and a lot of what happens may depend on the health of Julian Meaney. He is definitely the most talented and athletic wrestler at this weight, but he has trouble staying on the mat. Heisey has put together a solid career and beaten Stark and Stough. The seeding for the top four should be pretty easy as there haven’t been any surprises and they have all mostly wrestled.

184 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Denver (TCNJ, 1st), Martocello (York, 3rd), Reilly (King’s, 8th)
This is the best weight in the conference and one of the best weights in any conference this year. Three All-Americans all ranked in the top ten with five losses between them. All three should be making the trip to La Crosse, but how they are seeded there will have a lot to do with what happens in the tournament. Denver and Martocello battled to overtime in the York finals, and Martocello decisioned Reilly first week out at King’s. It will be fun.

197 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Lutke (Centenary, 9th), Meaney (Elizabethtown, Contender), De’Reese (Hunter, HM)
Lutke started at 184 before the toughness of both the cut down and the 184 weight class pushed him back up to 197 where he is a clear favorite and hopes to get another shot at the podium. There is a decent amount of talent after him including Meaney, De’Reese who beat him, Oberrender (Wilkes), and Minogue (York). Lutke should win, but he could be pushed.

285 lbs.
d3wrestle.com Ranked Wrestlers: Zitone (Centenary, 5th), Saliba (York, Contender), Gardner (Delaware Valley, HM)
Zitone has had a great season and is currently undefeated with his eye on an All-American award. He has yet to face Saliba who is having a good season of his own with over 30 wins and no losses since December. Gardner is an enigma as he is on his third college team and is only sporadically in the lineup. If the former #1 overall recruit can regain some of what earned him that accolade, he will be dangerous as well, though it seems like a long shot for him to even appear. Others in the weight worth considering include Dwyer (King’s) and Bodden (Hunter).