Team: Wilkes University
Head Coach: Jon Laudenslager
Years at School as Head Coach: 14
Career Record at Current School: 222-88-5
Assistant Coaches: Damon Cheek, Andrew Feldman, Guesseppe Rea, Al Wilson
2016-2017 Dual Meet Record: 20-5
2017 NCAA Qualifiers: Nick Racanelli (157)
Returning NCAA Qualifiers: Racanelli (2016 & 2017), Matt Grossmann (2015 NCAA Champ at 133), Josh Evans (2015 at 149)
Top Returning Starters:
125 SO. Denzel Tovar- 16-4…Academic All-American
125 SO. Spencer Reed- 8 wins as freshman
133 SR. Jake Dimarsico- 24-21 Career at 141 and 149
141 SR. Matt Grossmann- National Champ @133 2015
149 JR. Josh Evans- 8-0 before injury last year- NCAA Qualifier 2015
149 SO.Kyle Medrow- 39-13…4th at NCAA Regional
149 SR Morgan Fuller- 6th MAC
157 JR. Ashton Gyenizs- 14-11…7th Messiah Petrofes
157 SO Michael Brown- 9 wins as freshman
165 SR. Nick Racanelli – 35-9 NCAA Qualifier 2016 and 2017
165 SO. Brett McGill- 13 wins as freshman
174 JR. John Ritter – 18-10/4th Messiah Petrofes/3rd Will Abele/2nd MAC
174 SO Justin Morel- 14 wins..4th MAC
184 SO Matthew Judge
197 SO Jake Huling-13-5@ 285/4th Petrofes..before season ending injury ”
Top Incoming Wrestlers:
| 125 Kyle Trout NJ 125/133 Dylan O’Connor 125/133 Patrick Miko CT 133 Brock Horton PA 133 Karl Lindsey MD 133/141 Ezra Neff PA 141 Mason Madden Edwards PA 141 Riley Donovan NY 149 Gage Cannavino PA 157 Brendan Lamey DE |
157/165 Tyler Snyder PA 165 Jason DeBoard PA 174/184 Anthony LaDuca NJ 184 Logan Huling PA 184 Ryan Mortimer PA 174/184 Joey Scalia DE 184 Andrew Lessig PA 197 Moustafa Almeky PA 285 Nick Goff NJ 285 Rich Thompson PA |
Season Outlook:
Excellent Leadership from three guys with NCAA experience will push the Colonels this season. Wilkes is returning to the National Duals as well as making a third straight trip to the Grapple at the Garden. A very competitive room should help mature the freshman class early and the Colonels look to continue to build one their program’s strong wrestling tradition.
