Messiah College Falcons
Head Coach: Bryan Brunk
Years at School as head coach: 8th
Assistant Coaches: Derek Ricker, Ben Stum, Jamie Thomas
2009-2010 Dual Meet Record: 12-10
2009-2010 National Qualifier: Trent Zempel NQ 165
Number of returning wrestlers who competed in your 2010 national qualifier: 6
Top returning starters:
Matt Cross 165 (3rd Empire@174)
Dave Jones 174 (3rd Empire ’09, 4th ’08)
Mike Bressler 157 (3rd Empire ’09, 2nd ’08)
Tim Stewart 184 (5th Empire, 3rd Empire ’09)
Top incoming wrestlers:
125 Matt Del Gallo (4X Maine Champ)
125 Kyle Coblentz (PA State Q)
133 Victor Bracey (PA State Q)
149 Dave Standridge (3X NJ State Q)
157 Stephen Cannon (2X MD State Q)
174 Ricardo Plummer (PA State Q)
Season outlook:
Messiah looks to continue to improve with a mix of returning starters, veterens and newcomers. The return of starters Ty Kanouff, Dave Jones, and Mike Bressler from season ending injuries last year should give the Falcons needed experience throughout the lineup. Several newcomers should push to make the starting lineup and it appears that almost every weight class will be seriously contested this year. Matt Cross will try to fill the shoes left by two time national qualifier Trent Zempel at 165, and he is set up to do well there after finishing third at 174 int he Empire championships last season. There should be some freshman starters in the lineup or at least challenging very seriously to start, and a significant portion of the Falcons’ success may be determined on both how they fit in the lineup and whether or not they can get full seasons out of those wrestlers who missed significant time last year.