Wilkes Preview

Wilkes University Colonels
Head Coach: Jon Laudenslager
Years at School as head coach: 7th
Career Record at school: 79-46-3
Assistant Coaches: Mitch Marcks, Trevor Hiffa, Al Wilson, Erik Smith, Shaun Farnham, Rubin Prophete

2008-2009 Dual Meet Record: 17-6-2
2008-2009 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Frank Heffernan (7th@174), Shaun Farnham (NQ@125), Josh Pauling (NQ@133), Erik Smith (NQ@149), Zach Pizarro (NQ@197)
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Frank Heffernan (174) and Zach Pizarro (197)

Number of returning wrestlers who competed in your 2009 national qualifier:  7

Top returning starters with accomplishments:
141 Anthony Dattolo 2nd Metro Conference
149 Robert Griffith  Competed in Metro Tournament @157
157 James Histed  Competed in Metro Tournament @165
165 Richard Sparks  Injured before conferences
174 Frank Heffernan NCAA 7th
184 Buddy Gouger 2nd Metro Conference
197 Zach Pizarro NCAA NQ, 1st Metro
285 Andrew Feldman 2nd Metro Conference

Top incoming wrestlers (including transfers) with accomplishments:
AJ Fisher (St. Augustine, NJ) 6th NJ; Kris Krawchuk (Northern Lehigh, PA) 4th PA; Scott Mantua (River Hill, MD) 2x MD Champ; Dustin Stough (Northern Garrett, MD) 2x MD placer; Jesse Villella (chenango Forks, NY) NY Champ; Nathan White (River Hill, MD) 4x MD placer

Wilkes hopes to repeat as Metro Conference Champions.  The team will be younger in the lower weights, as they graduated national qualifiers at 125, 133, and 149.  All-American Heffernan returns at 174 as does national qualifier Pizarro.  Pizarro may drop from 197 to 184 this year.  Wilkes put together an outstanding recruiting class and features good experience in the upper weights.