Metro Championship Headquarters
After waiting 18 years to win a conference title, the Wilkes University wrestling team isn't ready to let it go. They will enter the 2010 Metropolitan Conference Championship this Sunday hosted by TCNJ as one of the favorites to repeat once again this year but will have stiff competition along the way.
The Colonels are currently ranked 15th nationally and will have a target on their backs entering the event. Host TCNJ however will be looking to de-throne Wilkes as it is currently ranked No. 11 nationally. The two teams faced each other back on Jan. 22 where the Colonels took a 20-18 win on TCNJ's home mats. King's and Elizabethtown are also currently ranked nationally as well at No. 19 and No. 29 respectively.
According to d3wrestle.com, Wilkes has three wrestlers ranked No. 1 in their respective weight class in the Metro Conference. At 133,
Ryan Wilson (Manasquan, NJ/Wall Township) is at the top of the list as is
Zach Pizarro (Easton, Pa./Easton) and
Andrew Feldman (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) at 197 and 285 respectively. At 125, freshman
Scott Mantua (Clarksville, MD/River Hill), who has 30 wins this season, is currently ranked No. 3 in the Metro, while freshman
Kris Krawchuk (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh) is at third as well at 141. Sophomore
Anthony Dattolo (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) is ranked second at 149, while
Ben Marich (Kempton, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) is at No. 3 at 165.
Despite being a returning All-American, senior
Frank Heffernan (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) is ranked No. 2 at 174 behind
Brian Broderick of TCNJ. The two met back on Jan. 22 where Broderick took a 3-1 overtime win. At 184 junior
Kevin Gerhart (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin) is ranked No. 3, while Mike Denver of TCNJ is ranked No. 1 in that weight class.
The winner of each weight class will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships on March 5 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Last year, Wilkes sent five members to the NCAA's, including Heffernan and Pizarro, who are back for their final seasons.
All the tournament action can be followed by clicking
here. Results will be updated throughout the day.
