Wrestle-offs this weekend

As the annual Red-White Wrestle-offs approach, Edinboro’s squad gears up for another season, sporting four nationally ranked wrestlers, none of which are in their final year of eligibility. The following weekend, their first true test comes when they go to the sixth ranked team in the country, Virginia Tech, for the Hokie Open.

Four wrestlers made their way into the top- 20 of their respective weight class. They were sophomores Sean Russell, Patricio Lugo, Billy Miller, and junior Austin Matthews.

Cracking the top-10 after his stellar freshman season, Lugo looks to improve on his performance last season in New York City after him and Matthews led the team as the only two members able to reach the third round of NCAA nationals competition. Matthews, Edinboro’s 165-pound competitor, slots at ninth ranked.

Weighing in at the lowest possible weight class of 125, the redshirt sophomore Russell is coming in at 14th ranked. Heavyweight Miller is 16th.

There is no question that these men and the rest of the roster will be tested early and often. Virginia Tech’s sixth ranked team has eight wrestlers ranked, four of which are slotted in front of Edinboro’s men in their respective divisions.

Incoming freshman will have their opportunity, just as Lugo and Vath had theirs this past season.

Making up nearly 50 percent of the current roster, Edinboro’s freshman will play a key role this season as potential starters and for meets throughout the year as fill-ins.

Joining Miller in the heavyweight division are two freshman: JD Bojanac and Sam Breese, both from the Pennsylvania area. At 184, Dakota Greer, Aaron Paddock and local Cambridge Springs alum Dylan Reynolds (younger brother of current Edinboro’s own Shawn Reynolds)
will look to bolster the depth after the loss of Vic Avery.

As the only current member listed at 174, true freshman Koltyn Eason will have some chances this upcoming season. Jacob Sweigart and Cullen Wolford will join the team at the 165-pound class. Rounding out the team in weight classes below 150 will be Mike Resignalo, Ozzy Lugo, Pat Lugo’s younger brother, and Matthew Dowler.

Results for next week’s interteam scrimmage can be found here in next week’s issue.

Projected Starters for the 2016 Season: