Johnson & Wales Preview

Johnson & Wales University
Head Coach: Lonnie Morris
Years at School as head coach: 18th
Career Record at school: 248-118-4
Assistant Coaches: Brian Allen (16th), James Gilbert (13th), Colin Lenhardt (1st) and Joe Pronk (1st)

Facebook | @JWUWrestling

2013-2014 Dual Meet Record: 17-5
2014 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Michael Ferinde 141lbs. (5th), Joey Gaccione 149 lbs. (NQ), Everet Desilets 157 lbs. (5th), Colin Lenhardt 174 lbs. (8th)
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Michael Ferinde 141 lbs., Joey Gaccione 149 lbs.

Top returning starters:
141 Michael Ferinde (All-American)
149 Joey Gaccione (National Qualifier)

Top incoming wrestlers:
125 Cody Beaudette, RI State place winner
125 Robert Jordan, NJ State place winner
133 Jao Vicente, RI State champ / New England Finalist (Transfer from William Penn)
133 DJ Tirrelli, NJ Region champ
141 Jamiel Stapelton, NY Sectional Champ
141 Jimmy Capone, CT
149 Damian Duffy, NY
149 Nick Senuk, PA
149 Nicko Grello, NJ
149 Watna Cunha, MA
149 Michael Stewart, MA New England Champ (Transfer from Ellsworth)
157 Frankie Hernandez, NY 5th Eastern states
157 Brandon Fleming, MA 3rd in New England
157 Miguel Henriques, NJ
157 Zach Kessler, MA
165 Jonah Swett, CT
174 Ryan Schaal, NY
174 Peter Hailer, MA State Champ (Transfer Brockport)
184 Elijah Cash, VA
197 Andrew Cavanna, CT New England Champ
197 Michael Anderson, MA

Season outlook:
The 2014 season ended with JWU recording a school record best 8th place finish at the NCAA Nationals. The Wildcats recorded (3) All Americans (another school record). What was even more impressive was that JWU was 1st in the Largest Seed to Place Differential (Meaning,“The Most Underrated team at the NCAA’s”) and had the most pins (6) in the tournament, but that was last year….

Graduated is 2x All-American Colin Lenhardt. His presence will still be felt though as he has moved into a coaching position. All-American Everet Desilets, who has won World and Pan Am tournaments in Judo, will be taking the year off as he prepares for a Team USA Olympic birth. Returning are Senior All-American Michael Ferinde and Junior National Qualifier Joey Gaccione anchoring the Wildcat squad. The JWU team will be looking at no fewer then 7 new faces moving into the starting lineup this year. This will make for an interesting battle in the room. Along with the freshmen and transfers, upper class-men return and are poised to claim their spots. At 285 Jonah Aurelio at 21-10 with 11 falls should be the favorite as he knocked off a few National Qualifiers and All-Americans last year. Michael Labell will return at 174/184 after a season ending injury stopped him from going to the Big Show. Mike was ranked #1 in the NEWA Conference before the injury. Also returning from injury are 2x All-Region wrestler 165 Sean Prell ( 2nd and 5th) and 133/141 Justin Colon who was (17-9). Another returner is Ken Dougherty at 174/184 who was 31-12 a year ago. Things get heated up at 157 where there are plenty of challengers to Senior Andrew Stock. Andrew was 15-9 with 12 pins last year behind Desilets. The depth from 133-174 will be JWU’s strong point, as there will be potential All-Region wrestlers not able to crack the starting line-up.