St. Louis Next Stop for Four BU Wrestlers

BLOOMSBURG-- The Bloomsburg University wrestling team will send four wrestlers to the 2009 NCAA Division I championships in St. Louis, MO.

The Huskies who have advanced to the national championships are 125 pounder Ian Moser (Dover, DE/Caesar Rodney); 149 pounder George Hickman (Castle Hayne, NC/Riverside), 157 pounder Matt Moley (Phoenixville/Spring-Ford) and 165 pounder Ricky Schmelyun (New Oxford/Bermudian Springs).

Left to right--Ian Moser, George Hickman, Ricky Schmelyun, Matt Moley

"Sending four guys to nationals is a really great accomplishment," said head coach John Stutzman. "It is a testament to their dedication and work ethic. What it does for our program is show that we can, and do compete on a national level. It also shows that you don't have to go to a big school to have big time wrestling success. Look at Edinboro, and Lock Haven they are traditionally great programs, and now we are beginning to produce All-Americans as well on a consistent basis"

"Every match at the NCAA's is tough," Stutzman continued. "Division I wrestling is the top as far as wrestling goes. There is nothing like the Division I NCAA tournament as far as the fan support/competiveness. I truly believe we are sending guys out to St. Louis who can and will compete hard to become NCAA Champions/All- Americans and that's the goal. I said it once and I will say it again we are going out there to win and bring home medals. Down the road 10 years when these guys look back then they can enjoy the experience, but right now we are all business."

And how does Stutzman feel about a small school competing with the big schools? "Wrestling is wrestling," says Stutzman. "The moves are the same whether you are at Iowa or Bloomsburg. It comes down to who is on that day. Tradition dictates that we can compete. We have done it here for 50 years and when we don't we are letting are fans and alumni down. Russ Houck, Roger Sanders, and Tom Martucci have shaped this program to where it is today and it is my job to take it to the next level. The formula is simple...Work Ethic Equals Wins."

The brackets for the tournament were released and Moser, who is 22-12 on the year, will face Brad Pataky of Penn State in the opening round. Moser beat Pataky early in the season by a 10-5 score at the Michigan State Open.

Hickman, 23-12 this year, drew fourth-seeded Lance Palmer of Ohio State in round one. Palmer is 27-3 on the year and finished third at the Big 10 championships.

Moley, 31-5 on the season, is seeded seventh and drew a first round bye. He will face Jason Johnstone of Ohio State, a fourth-place finisher in the Big 10 championships, in his first match. At 165 pounds Ricky Schmelyun, 31-13 for the season, will face Roger Smith-Bergsrud of Illinois in his first round match-up. Smith-Bergsrud is 19-10 on the year and was sixth at the Big 10 championships.

The NCAA Division I wrestling championships will be held March 19-21 at the Scott Trade Center in St. Louis, The top eight in each weight class will earn All-American honors.