Cardinals Loaded with Talent and Experience, Return Five All-New England Grapplers from 2008-09

11.9.09

During the 2008-09 campaign, Wesleyan qualified two wrestlers for the NCAA Div. III Championships. There Dan Bloom '10 (photo insert lower right) went 1-2, missing out on All-America honors at 125 pounds due to a 4-3 loss in his final match. Greg Hurd '10 (main photo, left side) went 0-2 in a very tough weight class (174). Both return as quad-captains of a very capable 2009-10 Wesleyan wrestling squad.

Also back after capturing all-New England laurels last season are quad-captains Josh Berkovic '10 (photo insert upper right), who finsihed second at 165 pounds ; quad-captain David Bachy '10 (photo insert, top middle), who was fifth at 149 pounds but will move up to 157 pounds in 2009-10 ; and heavyweight Dan Conroy '11, who secured third place a year ago.

Also returning after representing the Cardinals at New Englands last year are Chris Alvanos '11 (133), Vin deLalla '12 (141), Tom Oddo '12 (157 last year but 149 in 2009-10) and Zach Rolfe '10 (184). Thus, Wesleyan returns virtually intact from last year's final team activity. Wesleyan also has 10 other lettermen on the squad who saw some dual match action but mostly competed in individual tournaments.

Also in camp are 11 newcomers, making the Cardinals 30-strong at the start of the season, giving the squad stellar depth. Wesleyan has been ranked among the top five teams in New England during the preseason after placing sixth of 15 squads during the New Englands a year ago.

Heading into the regular season, Wesleyan is ranked second among New England Wrestling Conference teams and has seven grapplers ranked among the top six in their weight class including Hurd at No. 1 at 174, Berkovic and Bloom at No. 3 at 165 and 125, respectively, and Bachy at No. 5 at 157. The other three are Luke Erickson '12, 3rd at 197 ; Jefferson Ajayi '13, 3rd at 184 ; and Howard Tobochnik '13, 6th at 141. All the Cardinals will get to show their stuff during a trip to Springfield for the competitive Doug Parker Invitational Sat., Nov. 21.