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Duke To Begin 2007-08 Season With Blue-White Rankings
10/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
DURHAM, N.C. ? The Blue Devil wrestling team will host its annual Blue-White rankings meet on Saturday in Card Gymnasium at 3 p.m. The meet will feature nine intrasquad exhibition matches spanning across eight weight classes.
Projected match lineup:
141 (pounds): A.J. Guardado vs. Spencer Jasper
149: Mike Bell vs. Colby Johnson
157: Jared Sernoffsky vs. Voris Tejada
165: Willy Mello vs. Addison Nuding
174: Mat Koelling vs. Ben Wales
174: Chase Macer vs. Turner Rooney
197: Dan Fox vs. Jack Richards
HWT: Mike Tunick vs. Wade Van Sickle
Wildcard: John Barone (184) vs. Michael Degli Obizzi (149)
Duke is looking to the 2007-08 season to continue the improvement from their 7-9 record last year and to gain ground in the ACC. With seven starters returning from last year's lineup and another top-quality recruiting class entering the wrestling room, the Blue Devils have high hopes for the upcoming season.
Duke's schedule this year will feature an always tough ACC conference schedule as well as big tournament appearances at the East Stroudsburg Open, the Nittany Lion Open and the Southern Scuffle. The Blue Devils will also travel to Bloomington, Ind., for the Indiana Duals with Indiana, Oregon St., Ohio and Liberty. The season kicks off on Nov. 3 with the Freshmen and Sophomore Open in Charleston, S.C. This year the team will host five home meets in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
“Our team is beginning to mature,” said head coach Clar Anderson. “The coaches have seen a lot of leadership coming from the captains, seniors and juniors. This preseason was our most challenging yet, and the guys responded really well. They have stepped up their effort and performance in all aspects of training--- maintaining weight, mental preparation, technique and just grinding it out in the room. They are working hard in school, coming to practice ready to go and balancing all of the demands that a college student faces at a university like Duke.
This could be a very good year for us--- winning ACC titles, sending guys to NCAA's and excelling in the classroom--- all of the areas that make Duke a special place to be a student-athlete. That's what the coaches are shooting for and that's what our athletes want as well.”
A look at each weight class:
125
Senior captain Kellan McKeon appears to have the position won for the fourth consecutive season. McKeon went 13-18 in 2006-07 and has a career record of 35-53. He defeated the ACC's top 125-pound wrestler in Drew Forshey last season and looks to make a run at the ACC title this year after finishing fourth last year. McKeon will be challenged by freshman Anthony Jorge, who comes to Duke from Lakeland, Fla. Jorge was a two-time state champion and compiled a 170-13 record in four years.
“Kellan McKeon has fully grown into this weight class,” said Anderson. “He showed great promise in beating UNC's ranked wrestler, Drew Forshey, in the ACC tournament and placing fourth. We're hoping to improve on that this year.”
133
Redshirt senior captain Bryan Gibson returns to start at 133 pounds this year, after missing most of the last two seasons due to injury. He was 10-4 last year and a perfect 3-0 in duals before a season-ending injury. At the UPenn Invitational, Gibson placed fourth. He comes into the season 19th on the all-time wins list at Duke with 63. Gibson's 34 wins in 2004-05 is the most by any Duke wrestler in one season in the program's history. Jorge will provide backup at 133 pounds if necessary.
“After two years off due to injury, Bryan Gibson is back stronger than ever,” said Anderson. “He's showing great leadership in the wrestling room. We see him vying for an ACC title and national recognition.”
141
The Blue Devils lose both wrestlers at this weight from last season. Philip Wightman, who was 5-6 in 2006-07, graduated in May and Wes Kuser, who was 15-11 last year, is abroad for the semester. Kuser may return in January, but Duke looks to be deep at this weight with or without him. In the meantime, sophomore Spencer Jasper will move up from 133 pounds and hopes to start. Jasper was 12-10 last season with three falls and a fourth-place finish at The Citadel Open. Freshman A.J. Guardado will challenge Jasper. Guardado is a product of West Covina, Calif., and wrestled to a 179-36 record in high school. Freshman Vince Taweel will redshirt this season due to injury.
“Spencer Jasper is bumping up from 133 this season,” said Anderson. “He was a two-time Arizona state champion and showed a lot of promise last year. Prep standout A.J. Guardado will challenge him for the starting nod.”
149
Starter Daniel Shvartsman, who was ninth all-time at Duke for career wins, graduated in May. The big hole being left at 149 pounds will most likely be filled by redshirt sophomore Michael Degli Obizzi, who was 7-4 in tournaments last year and earned a third place finish at the Davidson Open. As a freshman, Degli Obizzi was 15-18 with two falls. Freshmen Colby Johnson and Mike Bell will also compete for the starting job this season at 149. Johnson hails from Conrad, Mont., where he was 148-18 and a two-time state champion in his four years of high school. Bell, a native of Rockwall, Texas, was 155-37 for his career and a state champion at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“Michael DegliObizzi is coming off a redshirt season where he improved tremendously,” said Anderson. “He competed in and did well in several open tournaments last year. He will be challenged by Colby Johnson, two-time Montana state champion and high school All-America, and Mike Bell, a state champion from Tennessee.”
157
This weight class looks to be a very strong one for the Blue Devils this year. Sophomore Voris Tejada hopes to start full-time at 157 after splitting time between 149 and 157 last season. Tejada went 19-8 for the team's best individual winning percentage in 2006-07. He placed third at The Citadel Open, fifth at the UPenn Invitational and fourth at the Nittany Lion Open. He was named Duke's Most Outstanding Freshman for the season. Tejada will be tested by sophomore Jared Sernoffsky. Sernoffsky, a native of Elizabethtown, Pa., was 2-6 in his freshman campaign.
“Voris Tejada had a great freshman year at 149 and is looking to transition smoothly to 157,” said Anderson. “Voris placed in every tournament he entered last year. He'll be challenged by Jared Sernoffsky, a Pennsylvania state placer.”
165
Once again, the 165-pound weight class will be one where Duke will have great depth this year. Four different Blue Devils will compete for the starting spot. Junior captain Addison Nuding will attempt to move up to 165 from 157, where he competed in his first two years. Nuding was 12-10 last season with a 9-3 dual meet mark and holds a career record of 22-27. He may wrestle the entire season at 165 but could drop down to 157 if necessary. Redshirt junior Aaron Glover wrestled to a 19-13 record in 2006-07 at 165. He had four pins and was 11-4 in dual meets. Glover will redshirt the fall semester and return to the lineup in January. His overall record at Duke is 35-36. Freshman Willy Mello, who wrestled to a 104-27 record and was a runner-up at states during his prep career in Chesapeake, Va., also enters the picture.
“This is our deepest weight class by far,” said Anderson. “Aaron Glover was an ACC placer last year and Addison Nuding is coming up from 157 pounds. We are looking for some good competition and success from these guys.”
174
Redshirt junior Turner Rooney will throw his hat into the ring at 174 after competing at 165 in 2006-07. He looks to start this semester. Rooney was 7-4 last year with all of his competition coming at tournaments, and holds a 14-12 mark as a Blue Devil overall. Sophomore Mathew Koelling also figures to be competitive again this season. He posted a 7-11 record at 165 and 174 pounds in 2006-07 and looks to stay at the higher of the two weights this season. Redshirt sophomore Ben Wales will put pressure on the other two as he moves up from 157 pounds. Wales was 8-7 at that weight last season and recorded two falls.
“After two injury-laden years, Turner Rooney should step up and contribute significantly,” said Anderson. “He will be pressed by Mat Koelling and Ben Wales. Koelling contributed well when called upon last year.”
184
Redshirt sophomore captain John Barone figures to have the position won this season as he moves up full-time from 174 pounds. Barone had the most wins and falls on the team last season with 24 and 7, respectively. He also won The Citadel Open and was third at the UPenn Invitational and ACC Tournament. Barone was honored as the Blue Devils' Most Outstanding Held-Back Freshman for the 2006-07 season as he wrestled at 174 and 184 pounds.
“John Barone is moving up from 174 this year to test his ware,” said Anderson. “He was the team's highest placer at the ACC championship last year with a third-place finish.”
197
Duke loses last year's starter, Patrick Keenum, to graduation. Redshirt freshman Robert Holbrook will look to step up from 184 pounds and start for the Blue Devils. Holbrook was 4-3 with one fall in his freshman campaign and placed third at The Citadel Open. The native of Tempe, Ariz., was 129-18 in his prep career and won the state title in his senior season. Redshirt junior captain Dan Tulley will return second semester this year at 197 and compete for the starting job. He was 3-10 in his injury-plagued 2006-07 and is 20-27 in his career. Redshirt junior Dan Fox will also challenge for time. Fox was 8-11 last year with three pins and a fifth place finish at the UPenn Invitational. He gained a great deal of experience last year due to some injuries to other wrestlers and holds a 30-31 record as a Blue Devil.
“Dan Tulley has battled some injuries throughout his career, but is our most seasoned wrestler,” said Anderson. “He has been pushing hard in the room and showing great leadership. Robert Holbrook is a two-time Arizona State champion and will push for time.”
285
Two redshirt sophomores, Wade Van Sickle and Mike Tunick, will both compete this season in the heavyweight class. Van Sickle returns after being redshirted for the 2006-07 season. He was 17-22 with two pins as a freshman in 2005-06. Tunick went 7-18 last year with three pins on the season. The two will push each other in the hopes of elevating Duke's output at 285 pounds.
“Both heavyweights have one year of experience under their belts,” said Anderson. “They have shown great competition in the wrestling room so far, which should translate into success on the mat.”
The Blue Devils kickoff the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 3 when the underclassmen head to the Freshmen and Sophomore Open in Charleston, S.C.
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