Delaware Valley Preview

Delaware Valley College Aggies
Head Coach: Brandon Totten
Years at School As Head Coach: 8
Career Record at School: 122-30-2
Assistant Coaches: Steve Flavell, Elliott Spence, Mike Foligno, Justin Barowski, Matt Lindsay

2009-10 Dual Meet Record: 13-2

2009-10 National Qualifiers and All-Americans:
Terrance Clendenin (125 pounds – 7th place)
Emmanuel Ajagbe (149 pounds – did not place)
Jesse Harrington (157 pounds – 5th place)
Justin Barowski (165 pounds – 6th place)
Dan Daddino (174 pounds – did not place)
Martin Porter (197 pounds – 6th place)
Kyle Bilquist (285 pounds – 4th place)

Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Emmanuel Ajagbe (149 – 2010 national qualifier), Jesse Harrington (157 – 2010 All-American 5th place, 2008 national qualifier), Dan Daddino 174 – 2010 national qualifier), Dale Fava (149 – 2009 national qualifier)

Number of returning wrestlers who competed in 2010 national qualifier:  6

Top returning starters:
133 – Zac Haynes (So): 12-13, 6th at Midwest Regional
141 – Zak Andrews (Jr): 32-15 (22 pins), 5th at Midwest Regional
149 – Emmanuel Ajagbe (So): 28-9, 2nd at Midwest Regional, NCAA Qualifier
157 – Jesse Harrington (Sr): 25-6, Midwest Regional Champion, All-American (5th place), was ranked first in his weight class heading into the NCAAs, Was also a national qualifier in 2008. Missed all of 2008-09 season with an injury
174 – Dan Daddino (Sr): 29-13, Midwest Regional Champion, NCAA Qualifier

Top Incoming wrestlers:
125 – Bobby Stevely – Freshman – A New Jersey state placewinner (2nd)
125 – Chris Alexander – Freshman – A Pennsylvania state placewinner (8th)
141 – Matt Ulrich – Senior – Transfer from University of Southern Maine. 2010 All-American (6th)
165 – Dustin Deckard – Sophomore – Transfer from Wilmington University. A two-time New Jersey state placewinner (4th and 6th)
133 – Juan Vega – Junior – Transfer from Iowa Central Community College. A three-time New Jersey state qualifier
165/174 – Mike Hafke – Freshman – A New Jersey state placewinner (8th)
197 – Aaron Karns – Freshman – A two-time Pennsylvania state placewinner (2nd and 6th)

Season Outlook:
Delaware Valley is coming off a season that saw the squad notch a 13-2 record in dual meets, capture the Midwest Regional Championship for a fourth straight year and place fifth at the NCAA Championships for the third year in a row. The Aggies sent seven wrestlers to the national tournament and a school-record tying five came back as All-Americans.

This year will have a different look as the Aggies have left the Midwest Region after four years (winning the team title all four times) to compete in the more local Metropolitan Conference. Four of the five All-Amercans from last year graduated, but head coach Brandon Totten has reloaded his roster with wrestlers with impressive resumes. The daily competition in the wrestling room will result in a strong and battle-tested lineup for its matches.

Heading the cast of returnees is two-time national qualifier and 2010 All-American Jesse Harrington (157 pounds). Harrington, a senior, bounced back from missing the entire 2008-09 season with an injury and posted a 25-6 record, a Midwest Regional title and a fifth-place finish at the NCAAs. Harrington was ranked first in Division III for a good part of the season and took that ranking into his second trip to the national tournament where he reached the semifinals.

2010 national qualifiers Emmanuel Ajagbe (149 pounds) and Dan Daddino (174 pounds) also return. Ajagbe, a sophomore, had a successful rookie camphin as he went 28-9, placed second at the Midwest Regional Championships (behind eventual national champion Isaac Dukes) and earned a wild-card berth to the NCAAs. Daddino, a senior, won 29 of 42 matches and took top honors in his weight class at the Midwest Regionals.

Zak Andrews (141 pounds) and Zac Haynes (133) are back after placing at regionals a season ago. Andrews, a junior, tied for the team lead in wins with 32 (32-15), including a team-best 22 by fall. He finished in fifth place at the Midwest Regional. Haynes’ rookie campaign saw him post a 12-13 record and place sixth at regionals.

Senior Eric McCann (141 pounds) and junior Zeke Pyle (285 pounds) are two other returnees to watch in 2010-11. McCann, a regional placewinner in 2009, won 12 of 18 matches last season. Pyle notched a 12-8 record a season ago.