WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University wrestling team would have under normal circumstances began their 2020-21 season in early November but have been limited to competition and workouts solely within the program. Finally the team will get to put their hard work to use against some outside competition when they square off against a limited schedule of opponents.

Head coach Jon Laudenslager '99 is in his 18th year, bringing in a 265-117-5 dual match record to his credit. Last season a young Wilkes squad finished with an 11-10 overall mark.

"We had a great first semester despite not having competitions," Laudenslager said. "We were very fortunate to be able to strength and condition the whole time and the last month and half we got to wrestle some.  The student-athletes were very committed to staying in decent shape over the semester break and we have resumed and are very grateful to hopefully get some outside competitions in this semester."

While the schedule currently consists of three matches at the Marts Center, other dates could be added in what is certainly a fluid season. The Colonels are first set to face Delaware Valley on Saturday, February 20. Then comes a date with Stevens on Saturday, February 27 followed by a meeting with Alvernia on Sunday, March 7. All matches are scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

"The wins and losses are not as important to me as the opportunity to give these young men to compete in the sport they love," Laudenslager said of planning to interchange his lineup. "Don't get me wrong, if we are going to wrestle, we are wrestling to win."

The Colonels still feature a youthful lineup with a roster consisting of 11 freshmen and 10 sophomores. Four seniors and seven juniors make up the rest of the 32-grappler roster.

"All of our upperclassmen have really taken the role as leaders for the new guys," Laudenslager said. "It's really important during these times that we have a team willing to make the sacrifices for each other to keep each other on the mat. Each team member has done an excellent job following protocols and safety measures, just to give us this opportunity to be in the room and get to this point."

With the work put in over the fall semester and so far in the spring the Colonels as a whole will now get to compete outside their own dressing room and give the first-year student-athletes their first taste of collegiate wrestling.

"Our expectations for the 11 first-year members of this year's recruited class is much the same to a normal year," Laudenslager commented. "Adjust to college classes, adjust to the demands or college wrestling and add to the great team culture we have. I am super proud of the freshman coming in and really challenging themselves in the classroom and bringing great value to our team."

Weight-by-Weight Preview

125 – Junior Nicholas Bauer (Coplay, PA/Wyoming Seminary) has amassed a 33-22 record in the Navy and Gold. Last season he went 18-12 and placed eighth at the NCAA Southeast Regional. First-year Matthew Martin (Green Lane, PA/Upper Perkiomen) finished with a 34-8 senior-year record at Upper Perkiomen High School and was a PA State Qualifier.

133 – Sophomore Jack Bauer (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central) went 19-14 as a freshman in the Colonels lineup last year and placed fifth at the NCAA Southeast Regional.

141 – Junior Max Shaffer (Doylestown, PA/Archbishop Wood) was named an NWCA Division III Scholar All-American last year after going 20-10 on the mat. Shaffer has a 38-19 career record. Senior Brock Horton (Towanda, PA/Athens) has registered 23 wins over his career. Michael Richardson (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) joins the fold after a 36-6 senior season at Brick Memorial High School where he was a two-time New Jersey State Qualifier.

149 – Senior Dylan O'Connor (Somerset, NJ/Bishop George Ahr) went 17-17 as a junior and also has an even 45-45 record for his career at Wilkes. Sophomore Kyle Tino (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) went 15-14 during his first season with the Colonels. Junior Allen Kokilananda (Springfield, VA/Annandale) has 11 career wins and sophomore Christopher Mann (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) also returns at the weight-class. They will be joined by freshman Frankie Gabriel (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) from Oakcrest High School in New Jersey.

157 – Juniors Liam Flaherty (Needmore, PA/Southern Fulton) and Cody Dix (Egg Harbor, NJ/Egg Harbor Township) return along with sophomores Benoit Chestnut (Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park) and James Shaw (Campbell Hall, NY/Burke Catholic). Flaherty went 18-16 as a sophomore while Dix was a 13-time winner last season. Dix has a career 31-23 record.

165 – Sophomore Trevor DuBoff (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) returns along with newcomer James Geiger (Dallas, PA/Dallas), who joins the Wilkes grapplers after one season at Keystone College. Geiger went 16-7 overall during his first collegiate season.

174 – Sophomore John Devito (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) led the Colonels with 30 victories last season. The terrific 30-14 freshman season was highlighted by a second-place finish at the Messiah Petrofes and third-team All-MAC honors. He placed sixth at the NCAA Southeast Regional. Shawn Gardner (Lehighton, PA/Palmerton) went 22-9 at Palmerton High School last season.

184 – Returning are sophomores Brady Mitchell (Brunswick, ME/Mount Ararat) and Dawson Tallant (Cape May, NJ/Middle Township). Mitchell had his hand raised eight times in victory and Tallant also was a five-time winner last year. They will be joined by two freshmen in Kevin Falcon (Whitehall, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) and Alexis Perez (Mahoney City, PA/Mahoney Area). Falcon is from Allentown Central Catholic High School and Perez went 34-7 his senior year at Mahoney Area High School.

197 – Senior Moustafa Almeky (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) is back as a team leader at 197. Almeky is 52-46 for his career after a junior season that saw him finish 25-13 and with Third Team All-MAC honors. He placed fifth at the NCAA Southeast Regional. Junior Austin Cominsky (Cape May Courthouse, NJ/Middle Township) has 19 career wins to his credit. Robert Bruce (Newton, NJ/Kittatiny) joins the Colonels after he was 27-7 at Kittatiny High School as a senior.

285 – Roger Horton (Towanda, Pa./Athens) went 16-12 for the Colonels last season and has a career 39-37 record heading to his senior season. Three first-year student athletes join Horton. Kevin Croley (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain) went 35-10 at Blue Mountain High School last season. Nevin Rauch (New Columbia, PA/Milton) was 37-9 last season at Milton High School. Sean McCurdy (Philadelphia, PA/Academy of the New Church) was 27-7 at the Academy of the New Church in Philadelphia.