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2004-05 Wrestling Preview

“Train to win, or choose to lose”, words Dan Wirnsberger and his 2004-05 Bloomsburg University wrestling team will live by this season. After returning seven Eastern Wrestling League place winners from a season ago, third year head coach Dan Wirnsberger expects his team this year to be better than last season.

“We are much more improved than we were last year, and last year we were improved from the year before,” Wirnsberger said. “We should continue to improve every year.”

The Huskies return seven starters from last year's team including four who started as true freshmen a season ago. Bloomsburg also has a good core of upperclassmen with a year of mat experience.

Wirnsberger is also impressed with his freshmen class, rated 23rd in the nation by www.intermatwrestle.com.

Brad Forbes

“We have a good core group of 15 freshmen who we expect to perform right out of the chute. We expect most of these guys to compete for starting positions immediately. Overall we are very pleased at how hard they are working out. They are a very coachable group who follow the right philosophy to do what it takes to develop as a collegiate wrestler. They all have good attitudes and as a staff we expect them to compete at their highest level everyday.”

Overall, Wirnsberger is confident that the Huskies will be a physically aggressive team that can be very successful. He feels that his team is capable of competing every match. As a team, Wirnsberger and his Huskies have set the bar high, however, still within reach.

“We've set forth some team goals that we feel are attainable this season. First we want to finish in the top two of the PSAC then place in the top three at the EWL tournament. We also want a winning EWL dual meet record and we would like to qualify half of our team to the national tournament. Hopefully then we can produce some All-Americans and become a top 25 program. As a staff we feel that these goals are realistic if our line-up is able to compete.

125-Five Huskies will battle for the job at 125 this year. Brian Sellers returns after placing fifth in the EWL Championships a season ago. Mike Anderson is a tough wrestler who was a two-time PIAA state runner-up while Joe Hasseman is a junior college transfer with over 30 matches of experience. Mike Sees will also battle for time in the second half of the season with Ivan Usztics adding depth.

133-2004 national qualifier Bryan Hart will get the nod for Bloomsburg. Hart had the best record on the team a season ago and is one of the Huskies most consistent performers. Tony Curto put in extra time this summer training and is also expected to do big things. Mark Piermattei will also fight for time at this weight.

141-Brad Forbes looks to have a breakthrough year for the Huskies at 141 after wrestling at 149 the last two seasons. Forbes won 16 matches a season ago and finished fifth in the EWL Championships. Battling Forbes for time will be three freshmen each with very successful high school careers. George Hickman was a three time state champion in North Carolina at 135 pounds while Darren Kern was a PIAA state runner-up at 135 pounds last season. Will Saylor, a Delaware state champion and three-time place-winner, also looks to battle for time. This may be the deepest weight class for the Huskies this season.

149-Josh Loew moves down a weight class after being the starter as a true freshman at 157 pounds a season ago. Ben Young, a transfer from Slippery Rock, won a match at the national championships last year and looks to battle Loew for mat time.

157-Chris Tate will get the nod at this weight for the Huskies. Battling Tate will be true freshmen Cody Miller, a two-time PIAA state place winner, and Steve Shillady.

165-Fighting for the spot at 165 pounds will be Jim Bertulis and Frank Beasley. Bertulis is moving down a weight class and was one of the Huskies biggest surprises last season. Beasley was a junior college All-American and looks to get time for the Huskies.

Chad Hoare

174-Bryce Hasseman will start at 174 pounds for the Huskies this season. Hasseman wrestled over 60 matches in the off-season and has a legitimate shot to contend for a national championship.

184-Nate Shirk returns after a successful freshman campaign last season. Competing with Shirk for time will be freshman Jesse Hasseman.

197-Chad Hoare will be the hands down starter for the Huskies after winning the PSAC title last season. Backing up Hoare will be two-time Delaware state champion Brian Willis and Brock Troutman, a PIAA state champion last season.

HWT-The Huskies will use a true freshman at this weight, 2004 PIAA state champion, Mike Spaid. Spaid pinned his way through the state tournament last season, finishing with a 43-1 record. He will be backed up by junior Sean Albert who saw action in three matches last season for Bloomsburg.