TCNJ Preview
The College of New Jersey Lions
Head Coach: David Icenhower
Years at School as head coach: 34
Career Record at School: 499 – 78 – 4
Assistant Coaches: Joe Pollard, Brian Flynn, David Ilaria, Joe Galante, Tom Isaac
2008-2009 Dual Meet Record: 15-1-1
2008-2009 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Tyler Branham (149/NQ), Dan DiColo (6th/157), Justin Bonitatis (165/NQ), Scott Kelley (184/NQ), Ed Broderick (197/NQ)
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: John Barnett (2008), Branham (8th/141/2007), DiColo, Bonitatis (8th/2008), Kelley, Broderick
Number of returning wrestlers who competed in 2009 national qualifier: 9
Top Returning Starters:
Dan Hughes – 2nd Mets 08 – 125
John Barnett – Met champ 08 – will go to 141 this year
Tyler Branham – Nat Qualifier 07, 09 – AA07 – 149
Dan DiColo – Met Champ AA 09 – 157
Justin Bonitatis 2x Nat qualifier , 2x Met champ – AA 08 – 165
Scott Kelley – Nat Qualifier – Met Champ – will move to 174
Mike Denver – Injured last year – 12-1 prior to injury
Ed Broderick – Nat. qualifier – will move to 285
Top Incoming Wrestlers:
Brian Broderick – 165/174 – 3rd NJ States
Anthony D’Amico – 133/141 – 8th NJ states
Mike Kiley – 174 – Regional place winner
James Olivo – 125/133 – Regional place winner
Transfer
Kyle Packer – Newberry – 2X NJ place winner
With 9 of 10 starters returning and addition of quality freshmen and transfers, TCNJ should be strong again with intense competition for starting spots. 141 to 174 should be particularly competitive with multiple solid wrestlers at each weight. The return of Branham and DiColo to use their medical redshirt years is a big boost to the team, as both have national experience. The season starts on November 7th and could be a big day for TCNJ. On that day, they will take on Norwich and will raise a banner celebrating the 600th win in program history, an achievement reached last season. Also, a victory that day would be the 500th of Head Coach Dave Icenhower’s career, making him just the fourth NCAA wrestling coach to reach that milestone after Dale Thomas, Jare Klein, and John Reese.