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Carter and Guenot Hungry For Trip To NCAA National Championships

BLOOMSBURG--Bloomsburg University senior wrestlers George Carter (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg-Salem)(pictured left) and Hunter Guenot (Kathaus/Bald Eagle Area)(pictured below right) will be looking to put the finishing touches on careers this weekend when they travel to West Virginia University for the Eastern Wrestling League championships Mar. 8-9.

The pair, both coming off red-shirt years in 2001-02, are hungry for that All-American status that has eluded them in each of their previous trips to the NCAA Division I national championships. They hope that after this weekend at EWL's they will have qualified for the NCAA Division I championships in Kansas City, MO, March 21-23 where they will have a chance to go after their dream of being an All-American.

Not only is becoming an All-American a huge feat to conquer, but also just reaching that point is an accomplishment in itself. To get to the NCAA's you have to finish in the top 3 of your weight class at the EWL tournament or earn 1 of 9 wildcard spots. Then to become an All-American you have to finish in the top 8 of your weight class at the National Championships.

Carter and Guenot both know what it takes to reach nationals. Carter has made the trip to the NCAA's three time's while his teammate Guenot has made it twice. “Going to nationals before is definitely an advantage,” Guenot said. “My first trip there my sophomore year I was in awe of everything going on around me, and really didn't know what to expect.” “Now if I have the opportunity to make it back it will be more like a business trip.” “Everyone is fighting for that one prize that they have worked so hard for all year, and also there entire lives,” Carter said. “For many just getting there is an accomplishment, but for others going home empty handed is just failure.”

Their coaches also know a little something about competing in the NCAA national championships, which could take them to that All-American status that has eluded them in each of their previous trips to the tournament. Head coach Dan Wirnsberger was an outstanding 158-pounder for the Michigan State Spartans and earned All-American honors three times while wrestling for the Spartans from 1990-1995. Also in 1995 he was the NCAA runner-up in his weight class. Assistant coach John Stutzman wrestled for the University of Buffalo during his college years and was a two-time alternate for the NCAA Division I championships.

Speaking of the changes both wrestlers had to face would first be three different coaches in the just the five years they have been here. “It hasn't really affected me at all,” Guenot said. “With each coach you need to adjust to what they want you to do, but all in all they have basically the same coaching styles.” “Both of our coaches have been there before, and know what it takes to be successful at this level,” Carter said. “Workouts are grueling at times but I don't feel any of them would steer us the wrong way.”

Carter has won tournaments and qualified for the national championship in each of his previous three years. He was second at the Penn State Open and at EWL's in 2000-01. He also won the EWL at 149 pounds his sophomore season. “George has all the talent and potential,” Wirnsberger said. “He's a fifth-year senior who has been to nationals three times and was an EWL champ and with that experience, he should compete to be an All-American.” While competing at the 157-pound weight class, Carter is currently 27-4 with a career mark of 118-24 for the Huskies. He currently ranks 4th all- time in career wins at Bloomsburg. With a good post-season run he could wind up being 3rd in all-time wins at Bloomsburg.

Guenot went to the NCAA tournament as a wild card selection in 2000-2001 as a 165-pounder. He won the Penn State open this past year and also in his junior year. Guenot also qualified for the NCAA championships as a sophomore after finishing second at EWL's at 165 pounds. Hunter is currently 30-3 leading the team in wins at the 174-pound weight class with a career mark of 87-42.

Looking back at the 2002-03 season, Carter was happy to see the Huskies finish at 8-8 after going 1-13 a year ago. “It was a huge improvement for our team to finish the season with a .500 record,” Carter said. “Going 1-13 last year left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. Of course we would have liked even more wins, but eight victories was a lot more than some people expected from us.”

Both Carter and Guenot know what it takes to get there, and both of them realize this is there last shot of achieving that ultimate goal of what they worked so hard for all season, and there entire lives; becoming a NCAA Division I All-American.