Wilkes Preview

Wilkes University Colonels
Head Coach: Jon Laudenslager
Years at School as head coach: 9th
Career Record: 116-62-5
Assistant Coaches: Mitchell Marcks, Dave Shafer, Alex Wilson, Jamie Miller

2010-2011 Dual Meet Record: 15-10-2
2010-2011 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Anthony Dattolo 8th 149
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Dattolo

Top returning starters:
133 Myzar Mendoza (SO.) 25-7 before season injury; moving up to 133 in 2011-2012
141 Ryan Wilson (SR.) 4th Metro 19-13
149 Anthony Dattolo (SR.) 1st Metro 8th NCAA 29-5
157 Shane Everett (SR.) 22-13
165 Ben Marich (SR.) 4th Metro 18-8
174 Dustin Stough (JR.) 4th Metro 16-14
184 Ray Dungee (JR) 9-8
197 Matt Transue (SO.) 20-7

Top incoming wrestlers:
125 Mike Fleck (FR.) 3rd PA AA
141 Anthony Minotti (FR.) PA Distrixt XI Runner-up
149 John Lynch (FR.) PA AA SQ
149 Nathan Fegley (FR,) PA AA SQ
157 George Simms (FR.) PA NE AAA Regional 4th
174 Chase Martino (FR.) Tennessee State Champion
174 Marlon Duque (FR.) NJ SQ
184 Eric Bach (FR.) Old Dominion transfer
285 William Fletcher (FR.) Cleveland State Transfer

Season outlook:
Wilkes brings back a very experienced team from last year with a big group of returning starters. The top wrestler is All-American senior Anthony Dattolo at 149. Additionally, Metro placewinners Ryan Wilson, Ben Marich, and Dustin Stough return along with 22 match winner Shane Everett. Myzar Mendoza was in the middle of an outstanding freshman season that included multiple tournament titles before an injury ended his year at 25-7. He will move up to 133 for 2011-2012. Buddy Gouger, a Metro runner-up in 2009, could also be in the mix in the upper weights after missing two seasons. This is a deep team, and several of the starting spots will likely be undetermined even into the second semester. Coach Jon Laudenslager has a huge roster with great competition for some weight classes. A nice group of state qualifiers and placers, along with a couple of transfers, will only add to the competition.