After a realignment during the offseason, the Statesmen are now grouped with Bacone (Okla.), Missouri Valley, Oklahoma City, Waldorf, and York (Neb.) in the Central Region. Three-time national champion Missouri Valley enters as Penn's toughest competition, most recently claiming the trophy in 2003. Oklahoma City will be in its first year sponsoring a wrestling program, while Bacone, Waldorf, and York all come over from the same region Penn was in a year ago.
Three-time All-Americans Darren Cotton (Sr., Atlanta, Ga., McNair HS), at 149 pounds, and Abel Trujillo (Sr., Durham, N.C., Riverside HS), at 174 pounds, lead the way for Penn as both top their respective weight class. Fellow top-ranked Statesmen wrestlers include 141-pounder Earl Robinson (Jr., Davenport, Davenport Central HS), a two-time national qualifier, 165-pounder Nate Stirgus (Sr., Muskegon, Mich., Muskegon CC), who finished seventh at last year's national tournament for Honorable Mention All-American status, and 285-pounder Jordan Wall (So., Liberty, N.C, Eastern Randolph HS), who was also a national qualifier a year ago.
Penn also has seven other individuals ranked second, including 125-pounder Shamar Haynes (Jr., Cedar Rapids, Ellsworth CC), 133-pounder Josh Hines (So., Dallas, Texas, Sam Houston HS), 149-pounder Paul Carter (Sr., Carson City, Nev., Carson HS), 157-pounder Brandon Graham (Jr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS), 184-pounder Jorge Ortiz (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Wilbur Wright CC), 197-pounder Nigel Collins (Sr., Sterling, Ill., Ashford), and 285-pounder Chauncey Coleman (Sr., Fresno, Calif., McLane HS). Within that group are seven national-qualifying campaigns and a junior-college All-American in Haynes (fourth place) last year.
Also ranked for the Statesmen is 165-pounder T.J. Stuart (So., Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS), in third, 125-pounder Kevin Jury (Fr., El Paso, Texas, Americans HS) and 174-pounder Mark Lovelace (Sr., Adrian, Mo., Adrian R-1 HS), who are both in fifth, and Spenser Sharp (Fr., Hoquiam, Wash., Hoquiam HS), in sixth.
Penn opens the season on November 11 with wrestlers attending one of two tournaments, the Dakota Wesleyan Open in Mitchell, S.D. at 9 a.m. or the Iowa State Open in Fort Dodge at 10 a.m.
NAIA Central Regional Preseason Rating - November 7, 2006:
125
1. Billy Exline So. Missouri Valley
2. Shamar Haynes Jr. William Penn
3. Kevin Gray Jr. York
4. Justin Blumer So. Oklahoma City
5. Kevin Jury Fr. William Penn
6. Bryan Yale Fr. Waldorf
133
1. Jon Gerhold So. Missouri Valley
2. Josh Hines So. William Penn
3. Gabe Hale Fr. Oklahoma City
4. Matt Cimmino York
141
1. Earl Robinson Jr. William Penn
2. Clint Leonard Missouri Valley
3. Rob Thomas So. Waldorf
4. Brandon Pigorsch Jr. York
149
1. Darren Cotton Sr. William Penn
2. Paul Carter Sr. William Penn
3. Jody Ashline Missouri Valley
4. Zach Rosson So. Oklahoma City
157
1. Chad Jennings So. Missouri Valley
2. Brandon Graham Sr. William Penn
3. Kelly Rydberg Sr. Waldorf
4. Weston Fleming York
5. Zach Rosson So. Oklahoma City
165
1. Nate Sturgis Sr. William Penn
2. Kevin Guinn Sr. Waldorf
3. T.J. Stuart So. William Penn
4. Ryan Kromer York
5. Dillion Blackman Oklahoma City
6. Brett Trenhaile Jr. Waldorf
174
1. Abel Trujillo Jr. William Penn
2. Jake Oberfoell So. Missouri Valley
3. Josh Wilcox Jr. Oklahoma City
4. Derek Pike Waldorf
5. Mark Lovelace Sr. William Penn
6. Trey Jackson Jr. York
184
1. Jasper Lockett Sr. Missouri Valley
2. Jorge Ortiz Sr. William Penn
3. Kent Scheff Waldorf
4. Mitchell Eichenauer Fr. Oklahoma City
5. Tony Ponce Jr. York
6. Spenser Sharp Fr. William Penn
197
1. Jeff Cobb Missouri Valley
2. Nigel Collins Sr. William Penn
3. Jake Head Jr. Waldorf
4. Cory Johnson Fr. Oklahoma City
5. Bryan Irsik York
285
1. Jordan Wall So. William Penn
2. Chauncey Coleman Sr. William Penn
3. Josh Reis So. Waldorf
4. Wade Empting Fr. Missouri Valley
5. Jeremy Johnson Fr. Oklahoma City
6. Jamie Brisbin York
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now