Wrestling looks to improve in 2012-2013
Junior Matt Spano returns as one of the bullets’ top wrestlers, competing at 133. He compiled a 34-12 (28-9) record last year. The Bullets will head to Ursinus College on Nov. 10 for the Fall Brawl. (Photo by Dave Sinclair).
By Alexander Cattermole, Staff Writer
The Gettysburg wrestling team began their season at the King’s College Monarch Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 3. The team placed eighth out of 12, but there were a few bright spots on the day as First-year Tyler Cunningham took 6th place in the 157 weight bracket in his collegiate debut. Senior Kevin Poplaski, the reigning Centennial Conference 285 lb. champion, won four matches in the consolation bracket before losing by medical forfeit.
The Bullets are returning six of their seven 10+ match winners from the 7-15 2011-2012 season.
Sophomore Zach Thomson will wrestle in the 174 lb. weight class. Compiling a 41-3 overall record last year competing at 165 lbs., Thomson led the 165 pounders of the Centennial Conference in both wins (33) and winning percentage (.971). In last year’s CC Tournament, he made it all the way to the finals His 165 falls were good enough for third in the conference throughout all weight classes and first among the 165 lb group.
In last year’s NCAA tournament he advanced to the Final 16.
Junior Matt Spano wrestled at the 133 lb. weight class last year and will continue to do so in 2012-2013. He compiled a 28-9 record in conference with 34 wins and 12 losses overall. His winning percentage of .757 put him second place for 133 pounders in the CC. At the King’s College Monarch Invitational, Spano lost in his first round match but recovered with two victories in the consolation bracket.
Junior Jared Leon competed in the 174 lb weight class his sophomore year but will move up a weight class to 184 this season. Leon’s 19-10 record gave him a .655 winning percentage which put him 3rd among CC 174 pounders and overall he compiled a record 22-13. He lost in the finals of the Centennial Conference Tournament to Ryan Dormann of Stevens in a dramatic 3-2 overtime defeat.
Senior Marshall Puls is a three-time letterwinner and will compete at the 197 lb weight class this year. He recorded 14 wins and suffered 16 losses on the season last year and his11-11 CC record placed him 6th in the conference in winning percentage among 197ers. At the King’s Monarch Invitational Puls won his first round match up, but lost in the next round. Puls battled with teammate Jared Schlett and recorded a 5-3 win. Schlett, a junior competing at 197, went 0-2.
Junior Andrew Petroulias will compete at the 125 lb weight class this year. In the 2011-2012 season, Petroulias picked up 12 wins in 34 matches.
Sophomore Josh Scharf- is a 133 pounder who finished last season with a 11-13 overall record. Other Bullets had made appearances at King’s College last weekend include Sophomores Holt Johnson and Matt Laux, both looking to replace the departed Abe Evans at the 125 spot. They went 0-2.
Junior Dan Traficanti (141) picked up a win but suffered two losses. Cody Keane, also at 141, went 2-2.
First-years Will Cauffman and Jonathan Faul both went 0-2 in the 149 lb. bracket. Manny Markatone finished 2-2 in the 157 lb bracket.
Gettysburg had two wrestlers in the 184 pound bracket, Junior Anton Serhan (0-2) and First-year Luke Iorio (2-2). Along with returning CC champ Poplaski, First-year Nick Diunizio and Sophomore Thomas Tesar competed in the heavyweight bracket and both went 0-2.
The Bullets travel to Ursinus for the Ursinus Fall Brawl, Saturday, Nov. 10 at 9:30 a.m.
