When a coach reviews his roster before the start of a season and sees more FR's (freshman) than SR's (seniors) behind the names of his athletes, it typically is not a good sign. However, Bloomsburg University wrestling coach John Stutzman doesn't see it that way. For Stutzman, those FR's means a bright future with lots of potential.

The Huskies, who lost five key starters from last year, including former two-time All-American Matt Moley (Phoenixville/Spring-Ford), are probably the youngest they have been in quite some time. But according to Stutzman, that could be a good thing.

“We will be a youthful team, no doubt about that,” said the veteran coach. “But that youth has a lot of potential. Our guys have been working extremely hard in practice from day one, and we don't even know what the expectations for the group are. By working hard, our guys are putting themselves in a position to be successful wrestlers.”

Leading the Huskies in 2010-11 will be 174-pounder, senior Nate Graham (Selkirk, NY/Ravena). An NCAA qualifier last year after being an EWL runner-up, Graham will lead the Huskies youthful group by his quiet example.
The strength of the Huskies will be in the lower weights where the team will have some talented guys battling for mat time.

“We need our returning wrestlers to be vocal leaders and help our young guys,” said Stutzman. “If they can learn early on what it takes to be a successful wrestler at this level, we will see positive results.”

WEIGHT BY WEIGHT

125—There are three solid guys at this weight led by Sean Boylan (Seaville, NJ/St. Marks) who has shown great technique. Also look for Matt Malfaro and Craig Barker (Lecanto, FL/Citrus) to be in the mix at this weight.

133—The Huskies expect to score points this weight class. Nick Wilcox (Greene, NY/Greene Central) leads another solid group that also includes Jeremiah Biddle (Slate Hill, NY/Minisik Valley), a three-year letterwinner, and Ryan Toussaint (Arundel, ME/Deering), a red-shirt freshman. Elliot Zackoski (Scranton/West Scranton) will also be in the mix.

141—Lots of options for the coaching staff at this weight give the staff reason for optimism. Derek Shingara (Shamokin/Shamokin), another true freshman, and Dan Gaylord (Vestal, NY/Vestal), a spot starter last season, headline this weight. In addition, Matt Hicks (Allentown (Annapolis, MD)/St. Mary's, MD) and Tim Santry (Hatboro/Upper Moreland) both add depth to the class.

149—Returning starter Josh Roosa (Mountaintop/Crestwood) leads the group at this weight class. Roosa should be someone challenging for an EWL title and a trip to NCAA's. Mike Testen (Sayre/Athens), Ian De Sol (Schenectady, NY/Guilderland), Brian Smith and Alex Lincoln (Easton/Notre Dame) make this another deep weight class for the Huskies.

157—The Huskies lost one of their all-time greats at this weight with the graduation of Matt Moley (Phoenixville/Spring-Ford). Trying to the fill the shoes of the former two-time All-American will be Frank Hickman (Castle Hayne, NC/E.A. Laney), bumping up from 149 pounds, and Bryce Busler (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley), who posted 19 wins a year ago. Also look for Kevin Hartnett (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell), who has been added to the mix, as a transfer from the Merchant Marine Academy.

165—Bloomsburg lost another all-time great in Ricky Schmelyun at this weight class. Leading the group there this season is Mike Dessino (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex), a 20-match winner last season. Also competing hard for mat time will be Josh Veltre (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia), who won his weight class at the Clarion Open last season, and Sam Shirey (Beaver Springs/Midd-West).

174—At this weight class will be senior Nate Graham (Selkirk, NY/Ravena). A quiet leader, Graham, who will start the season at 184 and move down later in the year, was an EWL-runner-up and NCAA-qualifier a year ago. He hopes to make it to the national podium and earn All-American honors this season. Behind Graham will be Chris Smith (Mineral, Va./Chancelor), moving up three weight classes from a year ago, and Luke Etter (Newville/Big Spring), a true-freshman.

184—This is another wide open weight class for the Huskies. Look for Nate Ronan (Christiana/Octorara) and Luke DeLuise (Mt. Bethel/Pius X) to battle it out for the starting spot here. Both wrestlers are former PIAA state qualifiers.

197—While the Huskies are not deep at this weight, Richard Perry (Meriden, CT/Middletown) has the potential to be very good for the team. Perry won a lot of matches during his red-shirt year, and the coaching staff expects him to win a high level this season. Behind Perry is Lycoming College transfer Ed Klock (Shamokin/Line Mountain), who played football at the Division III level.

285—The biggest weight class turns out to be the thinnest for the coaching staff with just Zac Walsh (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) available at this weight. Walsh, fourth at EWL's last year, has progressed each of his two previous seasons, and the coaching staff expects more of the same this year.

OVERALL

“This group of wrestlers trains as hard as any group I have had here at Bloomsburg,” said Stutzman. “They are giving themselves a chance to be successful by their hard work. We are benefitting as a team from our new wrestling room. We are now settled into our new home, and the team is taking advantage of its new space.”

“There is no pressure on this group,” Stutzman continued. “We are giving them a tough schedule, but as a wrestler you can only get better by wrestling the best. This will help when we get to the EWL championships for sure.”