All but one of the expected starters heading into last season if they weren't injured or red-shirted, held their spots giving the Pride an experienced line-up for the upcoming season. Red-shirt sophomore Steve Bonanno (Wantagh, NY) will return to his starting spot at 125 pounds after wrestling in just one match last season due to knee and arm injuries. Bonanno defeated sophomore Jamie Franco (Monroe, NY), who posted a 6-16 record while filling in last season, 3-1, in the wrestle-off. Bonanno was 29-15, a CAA finalist and a NCAA qualifier as a true freshman in 2008-09.
At 133 pounds, senior Lou Ruggirello (Walden, NY) will also return to the starting spot that he held for three years before red-shirting last season. He won by fall over sophomore Daniel Manley in the wrestle-off Thursday night. Ruggirello was 30-5 in 2008-09 and is a three-time CAA champion and NCAA qualifier.
Junior Vince Varela (Rio Rancho, NM), a transfer from Arizona State University, gets the starting nod at 141 pounds after defeating junior newcomer Michael Doria (Massapequa, NY) and sophomore incumbent Luke Vaith (Hastings, MN). The featured showdown with Vaith, who was 16-18 for the Pride last season, went to sudden victory with Varela recording a takedown 43 seconds into the period. Varela posted a 20-12 record with the Sun Devils last season.
Red-shirt sophomore Justin Accordino (Wilkes-Barre, PA) will return to the starting spot at 149 pounds that he vacated after four matches last season due to a knee injury after defeating red-shirt freshman and Virginia-transfer Zach Clemente (Troy, NY), 6-5 Thursday night. Accordino, a NCAA qualifier in 2008-09 after a 25-13 season, was 3-1 last season before his knee injury at the North Carolina State Open.
The one question to the starting line-up is at 157 pounds where sophomore Tyler Banks (Griswold, CT) and Zach Clemente will wrestle-off this week. Banks, who was 11-19 last season at 141 and 149, edged freshman Nick Terdick (East Northport, NY) Thursday night.
Two-time NCAA qualifier and 2009 CAA champion P.J. Gillespie (Long Beach, NY) returns to his starting job at 165 pounds after a 31-15 season last year. Gillespie won by fall over sophomore newcomer Matt Spataro (Garfield, NJ). Another two-time NCAA qualifier, senior Ryan Patrovich will also return to his starting job at 174 pounds, which he vacated to a knee injury in early January of last season, with a win by fall over sophomore Pat Murphy (Nazareth, PA). Patrovich, who was enjoying the best start of a season in his career last year, was 16-7 at the time of his injury.
Junior Ben Clymer (Germansville, PA) earned his first NCAA Championship bid last season and will return to the starting spot at 184 pounds this season after a tech fall win over red-shirt freshman and Edinboro-transfer Tim Murphy (Nazareth, PA) in the wrestle-offs finale. Clymer was 23-9 for the Pride in 2009-10.
At 197 pounds, freshman Matt Loew (Wantagh, NY) earned the starting spot with a major decision victory over Murphy. Loew will be one of three new starters in the line-up next week at Edinboro. At 285 pounds, sophomore Paul Snyder (Greensburg, PA) will return to his starting role after a 6-2 victory over freshman Zeal McGrew (Glenville, NY) Thursday night. Snyder posted an 11-16 record in his red-shirt freshman season last year.
Wrestle-Off Results
Match 1 - Cody Ruggirello (Fr.) dec. Jeff Rotella (Sr.), 8-0
Match 2 - Vince Varela (Jr.) dec. Michael Doria (Jr.), 7-2
Match 3 - Jamie Franco (So.) dec. Pete DeTore (Fr.), 5-1
Match 4 - Tyler Banks (So.) dec. Nick Terdick (Fr.), 5-4
Match 5 - Justin Accordino (RSo.) dec. Zach Clemente (RFr.), 6-5
Match 6 - Matt Loew (Fr.) dec. Tim Murphy (RFr.), 14-5
Match 7- Lou Ruggirello (Sr.) WBF Daniel Manley (So.), 1:12
Match 8 - P.J. Gillespie (Jr.) WBF Matt Spataro (So.), 4:44
Match 9 - Ryan Patrovich (Sr.) WBF Pat Murphy (So.), 0:42
Match 10 - Paul Snyder (So.) dec. Zeal McGrew (Fr.), 6-2
Match 11 - Vince Varela (Jr.) dec. Luke Vaith (So.), 5-3 in SV (0:43)
Match 12 - Steve Bonanno (RSo.) dec. Jamie Franco (So.), 3-1
Match 13 - Ben Clymer (Jr.) Tech Fall Tim Murphy (RFr.), 16-1
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