Cortland 2016-2017 Preview
Team: SUNY-Cortland
Head Coach: Brad Bruhn
Years at School as Head Coach: 14
Career Record at Current School: 190-69-1
Assistant Coaches: Deral Brown, Paul Fields, Alexis Blanco
2015-2016 Dual Meet Record: 12-3
2016 NCAA Qualifiers: Andrew Rhoden (125), Bobby Dierna (157, 1st), Lou Puca (174), Joey Giaramita (197, 3rd)
Returning NCAA Qualifiers (any year): Rhoden, Bobby Dierna (2nd semester), Adrian Berry (141, 2015), Alec Dierna (133, 2013), Duely Espinal (NJCAA 5th, 2016), Josh Antoine (NJCAA 8th, 2016)
Top Returning Starters:
125 (SR) Andrew Roden 2016 National Qualifier, NE Regional Runner-up, ECWC placer
133 (SO) Alex D’Angelo
141 (JR) Derak Heyman RWU Champ, 4th at NE Regional
149 (SO) Austin Whitney 4th at NE Regional, ECWC and NYS placer, won 2 tournaments, D3 freshman 149er of the year
157 (SR) Bobby Dierna National champ 2016, 3x AA(1,2,3), 3x NYS placer(2,3,3)
165 (SR) Colin Barber 2x NE palcer, 2x ECWC placer, NYS placer
Top Incoming Wrestlers:
125 Josh Antoine Nassau CC JUCO AA
125 Austin O’Reilly Mexico HS 2x State placer 2nd & 3rd
125/33 Travis Passaro Hofstra/ESM HS State Champ & 3rd place
133/41 Maverick Passaro Hofstra/ESM HS State Champ & 3rd place
165 Zach Zupan Binghamton/Canastota HS 2x State Champ & 4x placer multiple time HS AA
174 JP Puca Huntington HS State placer
165 Josh Farrar Morrisville HS State Qualifier
174 Travis Edwards Port Jervis HS State Placer
165/74 Zach Lugo Deer Park HS State Placer
184 Duely Espinal Nassau CC JUCO AA 5th
197 Ricado Dawkins General Brown HS State Champ & 5th
184 Paul Brachfeld Massapequa HS State Qualifier
197 Kevin Morgans Liberty HS 2x State Qualifier
HWT Zach Gifford Deposit Hancock HS State placer
197 Zach Spears Olean HS State placer
Season Outlook:
Cortland brings back a solid group including a few wrestlers who are returning from injury to contribute to the lineup. A group of talented transfers and freshmen will fill spots vacated by some talented graduated seniors, as Cortland will have new starters from 174-285. With NCAA champion Bobby Dierna returning in January, the Red Dragons should have a very tough team.