Bloomsburg University -

Bloomsburg
University
of Pennsylvania

Site Navigation
I want to go to...

2000-01 Bloomsburg University Wrestling Preview

For the second straight season, Bloomsburg University head wrestling coach Tom Martucci will have six returning national qualifiers to fit into his lineup. The challenge for the Huskies, still, is winning in the highly-competitive Eastern Wrestling League (EWL).

"We have a nice team," said Martucci. "But, so does Edinboro, so does Lock Haven, so does West Virginia and Virginia Tech. I would think that they are all going to be ranked above us in the preseason."

Great competition produces great teams, and Martucci thinks that only obstacle stands in the way of a successful season. "We're thin," said Martucci. "That's the only concern. We don't have depth. If we stay healthy, my goal is to be top-20 in the country."

Half the team is already there. All five NCAA qualifiers from last season have been ranked in the top-20 in the country in their respective weight classes by Amateur Wrestling News (AWN). George Carter, Ed Hockenberry, Hunter Guenot, Cassidy Shults, and Todd Hockenbroch all return after strong campaigns culminated in trips to St. Louis for the NCAA meet.

But the national stage did not prove to be a gateway to the next level for Bloomsburg last season. "I thought for sure that we should have come home with some all-Americans," commented Martucci.

Carter, Hockenberry, and Hockenbroch each suffered disappointing early-round defeats. And as a result, "We have some upperclassmen that are hungry," said Martucci, "and we have some weights that are going to be new people." Russ Witt, who qualified for the NCAA meet at 125 in 1999, returns after a season away from the team.

Whether it is one of his veterans looking to take the next step at the national level, or one of his rookies looking to take control of one of the lineup spots still open, the Bloomsburg coach says that each one of his matmen will have to show the kind of toughness it takes to succeed against a high level of competition.

Strong competition will come in the very first event of the year for the Huskies as they will once again compete in the University of Oklahoma Classic at Brockport, NY on November 12.

Weight-By-Weight

125: Brock Hite was 13-14 in his first full season of competition last year. Adding strength is key to Hite's continued success. Freshman Jeremy Lucas from Bald Eagle Area will challenge Hite for mat time. "Jeremy is certainly not going to let Brock walk away with the spot," said Martucci. "It's [the competition] going to make somebody good."

133: "It could be between one of three people," Martucci said. "Justin Haupt collected a wealth of experience going through last year." Haupt had a record of 15-13 and won his weight class at the Bloomsburg Invitational. Russ Witt will make a strong push to get back on the mat. Adam Castner battled with Haupt last year and continues to train hard and perform well. "It's going to be fun to see who rises to the top here," added Martucci.

141: Gary Rute saw time last season because of injuries to Brett Tullo. He has enough potential to succeed, but will need all the competitiveness he can muster to battle off challenges from freshmen Craig Fitzgerald and Mark Maney.

149: George Carter had a great season in 1999-2000. "He is by far one of the most talented kids I've ever coached," said Martucci. Carter went 37-4 his way to winning the EWL title. At the NCAA meet, though, Carter struggled to meet the challenge of a pressure-packed meet. But, Martucci says, "If he overcomes that this season, he'll be an All-American, no doubt." Carter is ranked #10 in the preseason by AWN.

157: Ed Hockenberry spent most of 1999-2000 introducing his opponents to arena ceilings. He won 36 matches, 15 by pinfall. He also had problems late in the season, the main one being a third seed in the early rounds of wrestlebacks at the NCAA meet. Hockenberry should be just as dominating this season as he tries to earn another chance to reach All-American status. "When he goes out there, it's war for him," said Martucci. "That's why he wins." Hockenberry is AWN's preseason #9.

165: Hunter Guenot was the Huskies' surprise performer last season. He finished the season as well as anyone on the squad as he showed tremendous improvement over the course of the campaign. Guenot finished 1999-2000 with 24 wins. He was also one win away from reaching an All-American round at the NCAA meet. Guenot is ranked ninth in the preseason by AWN.

174: Cassidy Shults faces some of the best competition the EWL has to offer. Edinboro's Josh Koscheck is ranked third in the preseason by AWN. Shults could face him as many as five times this season. Virginia Tech's Eric Hall is ranked #6 in the preseason. Shults won 28 matches in 1999-2000. He will start off the season ranked #10 in the country by Amateur Wrestling News but will have opportunities early in the season to move up that ladder.

184: This weight class may not be decided until January as Martucci plans to wrestle both Kris Smith and Chad Eckert in all of the Huskies' early-season tournaments. Both are seniors and both are good enough to qualify for the NCAA meet. Smith finished 1999-2000 with a record of 19-8. Eckert used a redshirt season.

197: Todd Hockenbroch was 23-9 last season. He finished second at EWL's but could not win a match at the NCAA meet. Hockenbroch is full of physical talent but needs to show toughness and determination to complement it. He is ranked 16th in the preseason by Amateur Wrestling News.

Heavyweight: Pat Spirelli had the unenviable task of jumping right into the lineup at heavyweight as a true freshman.

A year of experience showed that Spirelli will need to add some strength and some meanness to his hard work. "At heavyweight, that's [meanness] the name of the game," said Martucci. "I know he'll give 100 percent. He works as hard as anyone in the room, whether we are running, wrestling, or drilling."