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2004 EWL Championship Preview

by: Allen Brown and Bruce Closson

The 2004 EWL Tournament will be held at Bloomsburg University on March 6-7. Edinboro University edged West Virginia University for the 2003 EWL Tournament title, and aims to repeat. The EWL will send 37 of its wrestlers - the top 3 in each weight class plus 7 wild cards - to the 2004 NCAA Tournament in St. Louis.

Edinboro won the 2004 EWL dual meet crown, finishing undefeated at 7-0, and have established themselves as the team to beat in the 2004 EWL Tournament. West Virginia finished second in the 2004 EWL dual-meet chase, finishing at 6-1, and the Mountaineers could be the team to dethrone Edinboro. The University of Pittsburgh finished third in the dual-meet race going 5-2, and the Panthers, along with the Cleveland State Vikings look to be in the Tournament hunt. Lock Haven, with a solid bunch of seniors, could be a spoiler. Bloomsburg University, Clarion University and Virginia Tech are each aiming for a first-division finish in our eight-team league.

Let's take a look at each weight class, starting at 125 pounds. Pittsburgh's Drew Headlee is the man to beat at 125. Mr. Headlee is a true freshman from Waynesburg, PA, and cruised through the EWL dual-meet season undefeated. Based on intra-league competition, the best bet to meet Headlee in the finals might be Clarion senior Peter Derstine. Four other good EWL 125 pounders aiming to place high are Cleveland State's DeAngelo Penn, West Virginia's Casey Brewster, Bloomsburg's Brian Sellers, and 2004 PSAC champ Jim Collins from Lock Haven.

Last year's 133-pound EWL champ and outstanding wrestler, Shawn Bunch of Edinboro, is redshirting this season. We expect nationally ranked David Hoffman of Virginia Tech to be the new 133-pound EWL champion. If Mr. Hoffman isn't at the top of his game, Edinboro's Jacob Gray just might wear the crown. A spoiler at this weight could be West Virginia's Seth Lisa. Three scrappy grapplers to keep an eye on are Lock Haven senior Dave Predko, Pitt sophomore Mike Ciotti, and Bloomsburg true frosh Bryan Hart.

The 141-pound weight class is loaded, with six of the wrestlers having held national rankings this season. They are Ron Tarquinio of Pitt, Frank Edgar of Clarion, Joe Clarke of West Virginia, Anthony Coleman of Cleveland State, Ron Doppelheuer of Edinboro, and true frosh Scott Heckman of the host Huskies. This could become a two-bracket train wreck that starts in the quarter finals.

Mike Maney

Two-time NCAA All-American Mike Maney (Lock Haven) aims to take home the EWL gold at 149 pounds. Mike Torriero (West Virginia), however, has a dual-meet win over Maney and has a good shot at the title. Dangerous Deonte Penn (Edinboro), with a recent win over Mr. Torriero, will also he in the hunt. Expect Pitt true frosh Matt Kocher, Cleveland State senior Matt DePolo, and Bloomsburg sophomore Brad Forbes to place. Also, keep an eye on freshmen T.J. McCance (Clarion) and Tyde Prater (Virginia Tech).

Last season WVU's Matt Lebe was EWL runnerup at 157 pounds. This year Mr. Lebe is perhaps the favorite to win the weight class. LHU senior Charlie Brenneman, however, also is capable of grabbing the crown. Other very good competitors at 157 are: Chris Horning (Clarion), Justin Nestor (Pitt) and Jason Effner (CSU). Edinboro's Eric Ring is capable of placing, as is Bloomsburg true frosh Josh Loew.

Matt King

The best 165 pounder in the EWL is Edinboro All-American Matt King. Last season King won the EWL's and placed fourth at the NCAA Tournament. Virginia Tech's Chris Stith has swapped wins with King this season, and we just might have a King/Stith finals on tap! Two solid seniors are Jason Gilligan of LHU and Jeremy Reitz of CUP. Pitt Panther Zack Doll has held a national ranking this season and Mountaineer fans have been bragging about their blue-chip true frosh Zac Fryling. In addition, keep an eye on Matt Klinger of Cleveland State and Ryan Garner of Bloomsburg, who both have the potential to place.

Edinboro's Nate Yetzer, who holds a top-ten national ranking, looks like the best EWL 174 pounder this season. Two guys having a shot at the finals are Francis Iorfido (Pitt) and Aaron Wright (Clarion). CSU Viking Matt Kallai, Bloom Huskie Jim Bertulis and VT Hokie Steve Borja all are capable of placing high this season.

Greg Jones

NCAA champion Greg Jones (West Virginia) leads the way at 184 pounds, followed by Alex Clemsen (Edinboro). Mr. Jones is undefeated this season and holds the nation's number one ranking. Mr. Clemsen, who wrestled high school in Missouri, would like nothing better than to beat the champ, if/when they meet in the 2004 EWL finals. Look for LHU senior Mike Greenberg to place high. Other solid grapplers at this weight are Cleveland State's Ron Howard, Pittsburgh's Mike Croyle, Virginia Tech's Shaun Guttridge, Bloomsburg's Nate Shirk or Ryan Chulada and Clarion's Kyle Cathcart or Marcus Surin.

The 197-pound class is about as easy to predict as a stray dog's breakfast. These five guys have taken turns whomping on each other this season: Matt Daddino (WVU), Josh Birt (Pitt), Joe Phillips (CSU), Chad Hoare (BU) and Mike LaBella (EUP). Gentlemen, who wants the title the most?

The best two EWL heavy weights, both nationally ranked, are Cleveland State's Russ Davie and Edinboro's Joe Hennis. Following those two in the 285-pound class are: West Virginia's Lanfer Simpson, Pittsburgh's Travis Shirley, Lock Haven's Steve Itterly, Clarion's Matt Wilcox and Virginia Tech's Kris Wiedegreen. One other EWL grappler who deserves mention is Ryan Wilman of West Virginia. Leather-tough Wilman is a 184 pounder, but can brawl with the big boys. When the Mountaineers have needed help at either 197 or 285, Wilman has jumped in for them and won matches. Pound for pound, Mr. Wilman is one of the best we have in our League.

Best of luck to all competitors in the 2004 Eastern Wrestling League Tournament! Also, we thank you many college wrestling fans who have visited the EWL Site on WrestlingReport.com.