WRESTLING TEAM OPENS SEASON AT EASTERN MICHIGAN OPEN

EDINBORO, PA - After spending countless hours on the practice mats and conditioning, the Edinboro University wrestling team is ready to open the 2004-05 season in Saturday's Eastern Michigan Open. Head coach Tim Flynn is anxious to see his Fighting Scots compete against someone other than themselves. Flynn gained some insight into his squad with last week's wrestleoffs, but he'll get a look at 23 wrestlers headed to Ypsilanti, MI.

"They're ready to wrestle someone different," admitted Flynn. "You get a little bit of a feel from wrestleoffs, but it's important to wrestle someone from outside the program to see where they stand."

Edinboro enters the season ranked 19th in the NWCA/InterMat NCAA Division I Coaches Preseason Poll, is 20th according to W.I.N. Magazine, and 22nd in The Wrestling Mall preseason rankings.

Several individuals are also highly-ranked, led by Nate Yetzer (Mansfield, OH/Madison), who drops down to 165 lbs. after finishing eighth at Nationals at 174 lbs. a year ago. The senior finished the season with a 37-6 record. He is ranked fifth by InterMat, sixth by Amateur Wrestling News, fourth by W.I.N. Magazine, and sixth by The Wrestling Mall, although that is at 174 lbs.

Shawn Bunch (Leavenworth, KS/Leavenworth) was redshirted a year ago after qualifying for Nationals his first two seasons as a Fighting Scot. He is ranked seventh at 133 lbs. by InterMat, tenth by Amateur Wrestling News, seventh by W.I.N. Magazine, and 11th by The Wrestling Mall. He was 30-14 as a sophomore.

Heavyweight Joe Hennis (Mims, FL/Astronaut) made his first appearance at Nationals a year ago and finished with a 27-12 record. He is ranked 18th by InterMat, 19th by Amateur Wrestling News, 17th by W.I.N. Magazine, and 20th by The Wrestling Mall.

Senior Jacob Gray (Essex Junction, VT/Essex) seeks his fourth trip to Nationals, but he has jumped up two weight classes to 149 lbs. Gray has qualified twice at 125 lbs. and a year ago went at 133 lbs. and finished with a 32-9 record. Gray will have his work cut out for him after losing two of three matches to Zach Plerhoples (Wilmington, DE/Salesianum) at wrestleoffs for the right to start at 149 lbs. Both will wrestle this weekend.

Other starters back for Edinboro include Ron Doppelheuer (Connellsville, PA/Connellsville) at 141 lbs.; Eric Ring (Glassboro, NJ/Washington Twp.), who moves up from 157 lbs. to 174 lbs. and is ranked 20th by W.I.N. Magazine at 157 lbs.; and Mike LaBella (Massapequa Park, NY/Massapequa) at 197 lbs. In addition, Jim Gibson (Hermitage, PA/Kennedy Catholic) has settled in at 184 lbs. after sharing time with LaBella at 197 lbs. a year ago. Freshman Greg Sill (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) will start at 125 lbs. Matt Hill (Freedom, PA/Freedom) was impressive at wrestleoffs while winning the 157 lb. job.

A pair of national qualifiers will redshirt this season, Deonte Penn (Solon, OH/Solon), a national qualifier at 149 lbs. who is now up to 165 lbs., and Alex Clemsen (Moberly, MO/Moberly) at 184 lbs. Penn will compete this weekend, but Clemsen is still recovering from offseason surgery.

Following the Eastern Michigan Open, Edinboro will open the dual meet portion of its schedule on Saturday, November 13, hosting the Avalon Duals. Virginia, Appalachian State and Findlay round out the field.

~ Fighting Scots ~

Edinboro Athletic Press Release Index

Created on ... November 3, 2004