Wilkes Preview

Wilkes finished third last year in the tough Metropolitan Conference and returns eight starters from a year ago.  Included are five Metro runners-up hoping to take the next step to the top of the podium in 2009.  NCAA wildcard qualifiers Erik Smith and Frank Heffernan are back, and 2x NCAA qualifier and 2006 All-American Felipe Queiroz returns after an abbreviated 2007-2008.  35 match winner Shaun Farnham just missed the NCAA tournament last year after dropping a 3-2 decision to Kyle Flickinger of York to earn the top alternate position for the conference.  The second alternate spot went to Zach Pizarro who also returns at 197.  The team won 19 duals last season, and NJ placewinner Anthony Dattolo, state qualifiers Josh Burman and Buddy Gouger, and the talented Richard Sparks will help reinforce a lineup that only lost two starters to graduation.

Team:  Wilkes University
Head Coach: Jon Laudenslager (Wilkes ’98)
Years at School as head coach: 6th
Career Record at school:  62-40-1
Assistant Coaches: Mitch Marcks, Trevor Hiffa

2007-2008 Dual Meet Record: 19-7-1
2007-2008 National Qualifiers: Erik Smith 149 and Frank Heffernan 165
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Felipe Queiroz (6th/125/2006, NQ/125/2007), Smith, and Heffernan

Top returning starters: 125 Shaun Farnham 2nd Metro 35-16, 133 Josh Pauling 4th Metro 24-12, 149 Erik Smith 2nd Metro (NQ) 31-13, 165 Frank Heffernan 2nd Metro (NQ) 32-12, 197 Zach Pizarro 2nd Metro 27-9, 285 Andrew Feldman 2nd Metro

Top incoming wrestlers: 133 Josh Burman NJ SQ, 141 Anthony Dattolo 5th NJ, 157 Richard Sparks 21-0 before injury NJ, 174 Buddy Gouger PA SQ