Frank Popolizio and his Journeymen Wrestling Club have assembled the biggest names in wrestling and MMA to appear over course of a two-day event that includes top-level dual meet action, the musical styling's of America's most famous choir and a chance for wrestlers of all age to learn from the best in the sport.
Highlighting the first day of clinics is coaching guru Mike Krause, who'll be offering interested campers his unique brand of energy, motivation and technique. Krause who runs NXT LVL Wrestling Academy is considered by some to be the best youth coach in the country. In recent years his profile has been raised as a result of his popular videos on Flowrestling.com that feature his engaging and energetic approach to technique. Krause is developing a brand of wrestling that's become synonymous with success.
Joining Popolizio's assemblage of talent will be a trio of current UFC fighters. Top middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, featherweight superman Urijah Faber, local-wrestler-turned-UFC vet Matt Riddle, and fan-favorite Clay "The Carpenter" Guida will all be available for a three-hour technique and skills display on November 25 for $150. Popolizio and the New York state wrestling community understand and appreciate the crossover between wrestling and the MMA community is strong and only continuing to grow.
The weekend will also include a performance by the Boys and Girls Choir of Harlem Alumni Ensemble, which will take place during halftime of the dual meet tournament. Tickets are $15.
In spite of all the fanfare surrounding the event, the highlight of the weekend is the collection of talented college wrestling teams battling through a weekend of dual meets. Highlighting the competition will be Arizona State, a program that finished sixth at last season's NCAA tournament, along with consistent top-10 finisher Central Michigan, forever-improving Maryland, and the resurgent Binghamton squad coached by Frank's brother Pat Popolizio.
Here is a sampling of some of the tournament's top matchups by round.
Round 1: No. 8 American vs. No 16 Penn
Two of the EIWA's premier programs are meeting in an early-season statement dual that could help establish tournament seeding. American University's new head coach Teague Moore has a talented squad, with four potential All-American candidates. He'll have plenty of help getting the rest of his team to perform with returning All-Americans Ganbayar Sanjaa and Ryan Flores leading the squad into the day's first dual. Sanjaa finished fourth in last year's NCAA tournament, while Flores gave Lehigh's Zack Rey all he could handle in the heavyweight finals, falling short by a point. Sanjaa has moved up to 157 pounds this season.
Penn is a well-balanced team; fans of the program should expect them to perform well all year in at least eight of their weight classes this year (they're ranked third in the ultra-tough EIWA). The Quakers return All-American No. 4 Zach Kemmerer (141) and round of 12 wrestler, No. 6 Micah Burak (197), who owns a win over last year's NCAA champion Dustin Kilgore of Kent State. The team's ranked wrestlers rounded out by No. 10 Mark Rappo (125) and No. 15 Bryan Ortenzio (133)
Round 2: Army vs. Binghamton
The New York locals will do battle in the day's second dual meet. The Army Black Knights are led by second-year head coach Joe Heskett. The young coach is already seeing major gains in his program, three weeks ago knocking off a then No. 22 Iowa State in dual meet competition, 23-22. The Black Knights have a solid squad of young competitors, highlighted by 133 pounds. Jordan Thome, the team's only returning NCAA qualifier.
Binghamton is hoping to continue its string of successful seasons in 2011-2012. Last year the Bearcats sent a program-best six wrestlers to the NCAA tournament, of which they return 2010 NCAA All-American, No. 6 Justin Lister (157) and No. 10 Donnie Vinson (149), who defeated two-time NCAA champion (and New York native) Kyle Dake of Cornell last season.
Round 3: No. 6 Lehigh vs. No. 24 Purdue
Ivan Lopouchanski headlines a Boilermaker squad looking to improve on its ninth-place Big Ten finish last season. The 149-pound wrestler is ranked ninth in the country and has already had successful start to his 2011-2012 campaign. Other top Purdue wrestlers include 2010 All-American, No. 8 Cashe Quiroga (133) and No. 11 A.J. Kissel (197).
Lehigh is back. The squad that only four years ago was trending south is highlighted by returning NCAA champion heavyweight, top-ranked Zack Rey. The Mountain Hawks are loaded with talent this season and poising themselves for a run at the team podium. Head coach Pat Santoro's team includes an impressive five wrestlers in the top 20 nationally: No. 1 Zach Rey (285), No. 1 Robert Hamlin (184), No. 9 Brandon Hatchett (165), No. 6 Stephen Dutton (141) and No. 9 Joe Kennedy (197) are all candidates to finish high on their respective podiums in 2012. Hamlin, a 2011 NCAA runner-up is from nearby Vermont, known throughout the 19th century as home to world's greatest wrestlers -- should he capture an NCAA title, he'd be honoring a century's worth of near-forgotten talent.
Round 4: Central Michigan vs. No. 9 Maryland
Central Michigan head coach Tom Borrelli is in a rebuilding year, but look for his Chippewas to make an impact at this dual meet event. Always underestimated for the talent they recruit, Borelli is a master at creating tough competitors who are as strong at 6 p.m. as they were at 6 a.m. The team is without two-time All-Americans Scotti Sentes and Jarod Trice, both of whom are expected to redshirt this season. The coaching staff will be looking for leadership on the mat from their other two-time All-American, No. 9 Ben Bennett a junior who has moved up to 184 pounds from 174 pounds last season. The team included 24 freshman, so Bennett will be key to reminding them of the Chippewas winning ways.
Kerry McCoy will be leading the Maryland Terrapins once again in 2011-2012. The team is shaping up to be the best it's been in years with two of last season's three All-Americans returning to the lineup. The Terps are ranked 11th and have five wrestlers ranked in the top 20 nationally: No. 2 Josh Asper (165), No. 6 Spencer Myers (285), No. 16 Kyle John (157), No. 17 Jimmy Sheptock (174), and No. 18 Corey Peltier (184).
*The man you hear yelling right now is Robin Ficker, former Washington Bullets heckler and current No. 1 fan of Maryland Terrapin Wrestling.
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