Bonomo's a light-hearted guy that always takes a strong investment in his teams as a coach. Ten years removed from the best NCAA finish in school history--the Bald Eagles took fifth in 1996-97--Bonomo looks at this year's squad with some pride.
"Normally I'm guardedly optimistic, but this year I'm more optimistic than guarded," said Bonomo. "We've got four guys with national experience, so I have good leadership. I also have some redshirt guys and guys maturing into making an impact. The young guys are coming in and pushing right away. We have a huge team, but most weights are anyone's game."
The teamwork of his squad also is promising.
"I'm pleased with intensity of the preseason workouts," he said. "It's amazing how ‘into it' they are as a team. Usually we lose five-to-10 guys during preseason because we're working them so hard, but this year we're adding to the roster."
The Bald Eagles boast four National Qualifiers on this year's list. Add in a nationally-ranked recruiting class and you've got a mix for success.
125- Junior Obenson Blanc (Naples, Fla./Lely) is one of the team's two-time National Qualifiers, and teams up for a captain role. Blanc grabbed his first career EWL Title in 2005-06, downing Bloomsburg's Mike Sees in somewhat of an upset.
Blanc was 26-10 last season, second on the team in victories, and leads returners with seven major decisions a year ago. The junior went one round deep in the NCAA Tournament last season and has definite All-America potential, according to Bonomo.
"He's a fantastic athlete, one of the best I've ever seen," he said. "If he was a 200-pounder, he could be in the NFL."
Freshman Nick Hyatt (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) is also proving to be a force. The two-time PIAA place-winner should help shore up the lower weights for years to come.
Sophomore James Bodkin (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) is "one of those guys that gets there early and stays late, you can't help but love the kid." Freshman Erik Smith (Villas, N.J./Pittman) is a walk-on student-athlete who has impressed Bonomo "by sticking with it even though he knew it would be tough."
133- Veteran Casey Moore (Beech Creek, Pa./Central Mountain) makes his return after starting all duals for the Bald Eagles last season, running a 10-23 mark. The junior is a local product and strong worker.
Freshman standout Danny Lopes (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) has a strong shot at cracking the lineup in his rookie year. Lopes brings "real aggressiveness" and three-time district champ and two-time state placer credentials with him from New Jersey, a regular recruiting pipeline for Bald Eagle wrestling.
Classmate Anwar Goeres (Holley, N.Y./Phoenix) adds to Bonomo's confusion in picking a starter at this weight, as the rookie posted a 233-18 career record in New York. Coached by the legendary Gene Mills, Goeres was a five-time state placer, winning the title in his junior season.
"The 133 weight class will be hotly contested," according to Bonomo. " I'm looking forward to the battle."
Mark Armstrong (Sugar, Pa./Wyalusing) returns to the squad after a year away from the Bald Eagles. He's a hard-nosed guy that will help the team. Rookie Zach Kell (Ikesburg, Pa./West Perry) is a hard worker that would "go through a wall" for the team. Classmate Matthew Maris (Mooresville, N.C./USMMA) brings great work ethic and technique to the table.
141- At the 141-pound class, sophomore Ollie Cooperwood (Hartselle, Ala./Maple Heights), has the inside track. Literally battle-tested, Cooperwood spent time in the armed forces serving in Afghanistan and Iraq before joining the Bald Eagles a year ago. He was 5-1 in limited action.
"Ollie's maturity gives us value as a wrestler/coach type of competitor," said Bonomo. "He knows exactly what we're looking for and can help those around him."
Last year's starter at the class, junior Brian Ellis (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) went 4-13 after joining the Bald Eagles in the second semester. He improved throughout the year and has some of the strongest hands on the squad, giving him the ability to control tie-ups. Junior Will O'Donnell (Cherry Hill, N.J./Gloucester C.C.) and sophomore Nathan Owens (Morrisdale, Pa./West Branch) add to the depth.
149- Sophomore Matt Fittery (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) returns after a redshirt season. The true freshman National Qualifier at 141 will look to do some damage up one weight. He was 10-5 in unattached action last season.
Added to the action at 149 is freshman Donnie Ament (Acme, Pa./Mt. Pleasant) a former state champion. Ament snapped the career wins record for Pennsylvania, totaling 179 over his career. Sophomore Bradley Marquart (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) is a brother of former Bald Eagle Matt Marquart.
157- Senior Seth Martin (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) is staring down the barrel of joining LHU's 100-win club. The two-time National Qualifier will look to tap into his All-America potential this season. Martin won a team-high 34 games last season, also pacing the team with 11 pins. He stands 23 wins from the 100-victory plateau.
"Seth's a hard worker that gets better every time he steps on the mat," said Bonomo. "He's got high goals for himself, but I have even higher ones."
Freshman Derrick Caldwell (Curwensville, Pa./Curwensville) will provide hard working depth that will "be used more down the road".
Sophomore Daniel Lewis (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) returns for his second season with LHU. He provides depth and an academic boost for the squad.
165- The highlight of the weight-class battles this season comes at 165 pounds. Sophomore Jake Lauffenburger (Warren, Pa./Warren) split time with junior Rory McCoy (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) for the starting spot a year ago. McCoy won out come Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Championship time, but Lauffenburger's 8-9 record bested McCoy's 5-12 overall.
Add to the mix a third-year Bald Eagle in sophomore Andrew Martin (Carlisle, Pa./Big Spring). One of the top LHU wrestlers in the classroom, Martin will look to crack the lineup here.
A quartet of newcomers also figures into this mix, including transfer Decota Cotten (Lebanon, Pa./Noble), and freshmen Landis Wright (Bellefonte, Pa./Bald Eagle), Steve Loomis (Oxford, N.Y./Oxford Academy) and Alex Dalrymple (Branchville, N.J./High Point).
Dubbed "Mr. Excitement" by Bonomo, Wright is a local product, and one of the best in Bald Eagle Area's storied history. Loomis is a 200-plus winner from New York with two-time Greco Roman All-America honors under his belt. Dalrymple set the New Jersey record for season victories with his senior year at 44-5.
Corey Blake (East Fallowfield, Pa./Coatesville) provides depth and hard-work mentality to both here and 174. Junior Jameik Matthews (Laurel, Del./Laurel) is extremely athletic and looks to make the lineup.
174- Moving down to 174 pounds is senior Derrick Morgan (Media, Pa./Athens). A National Qualifier wrestling a weight up at 184 in 2005-06, the team captain was 24-14.
Classmate Mike Metzger (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin) provides excellent depth an maturity both here and at 184. He's a work-horse type that can contribute if needed.
184- Also wrestling a more comfortable weight down are the two competitors at 184 pounds, Tom Kocher (Lancaster, Pa./Manhiem Township) and Ben Hepburn (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock).
Both are solid performers who are mat-tested. Kocher was 18-17, narrowly missing a trip to nationals as a true freshman last season, while Hepburn spent his redshirt season going 7-4 in unattached action. He was the starter at 197 two season ago, getting a pin in his first college start.
Rookie Travis Stem (Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle) is another local product and three-time state qualifier that could jump into the lineup here. Sophomore Donnie Reinhart (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) was 2-4 in tournament action last season.
197- One of the most highly-touted recruits, Jeremie Cook (Venice, Fla./Venice) joins the Bald Eagles, thanks in large part to assistant coach Mike Rogers' roots in the state of Florida. A two-time state champion, Cook took third at nationals in his senior season.
Joining Cook is rookie Dustin Pine(Mercersburg, Pa./James Buchanan) a "big, solid, strong, farm boy" according to Bonomo.
Hwt- At heavyweight, rookies Brandon Bowden (Duncannon, Pa./Central Dauphin East) and Mike Cook (Bellefonte, Pa./Bald Eagle) will do battle with sophomore Chris Grablutz (Newton, N.J./Kittatinny) for the starting role.
Grablutz missed last year because he had to work academically, but "he's proven he's serious about school. He's a big stony kid that will get the job done."
The marquee guy here comes in the form of two-time New York State Champion Jim Almy, a "335-pound monster" according to Bonomo. Almy will have his work cut out for him to make the 285 maximum for heavyweights in the NCAA.
Smith- walk on, tough challenging welcoming the challenge
Lots of supppert wrestling is big here,
"Competition's your best teacher," reveals Bonomo. "So the better competition you can get the better you'll get. These guys are driving each other and wrestling hard to learn the most they can."
Competition from outside this season will come in the form of four nationally ranked squads, No. 8 Penn State University, No. 13 Edinboro University, No. 24 West Virginia University and No. 25 University of Pittsburgh.
The Bald Eagles kick off the season Sunday, Nov. 19 in the Pennsylvania Duals Tournament at the Thomas Fieldhouse. They will wrestle York College at 10 a.m., Clarion University at noon and Lehigh University at 2 p.m.
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