Nov. 7, 2009
The Boston University wrestling team is eager to build off a solid season as the Terriers enter the 2009-10 campaign with a strong lineup that includes two returning NCAA qualifiers headlining a squad that includes a mix of talented veterans and promising newcomers.
“We have one of the stronger teams that we have had in the last 10 years,” said head coach Carl Adams, who is set to begin his 29th season at the helm of the Terriers. “I think the attitude of all the guys is tremendous. They work hard. They’ll run through a wall for you.”
Last year’s team sent three wrestlers to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2005 and Adams believes the pieces are in place this year to improve greatly on a seventh-place finish at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships. “It is a tough conference but we are going to be right in the thick of things with the top three teams,” said Adams.
A trio of wrestlers will lead the Terriers this season with senior C.J. Inglin (165), junior John Hall (184) and sophomore Hunter Meys (174) selected as captains. Hall and Meys competed at the NCAA Championships last season, while Inglin has been a regular in the lineup for three years, placing at the CAA Championships last season. “They are all good leaders in their own way,” said Adams. “Hunter is quiet, John is vocal and C.J. just works and he is a team guy.”
BU opens the season on Saturday (Nov. 7) against Millersville and Bloomsburg and will take on some of the nation’s best in four tournaments before the new year, competing in the Binghamton Open, Keystone Classic, Nittany Lion Open and Southern Scuffle. “I would say the most intense part is going to be the first half of the season,” said Adams. “You have to get your power ranking up and to do that you have to beat the best kids in the country.”
The Terriers will host four days of dual meets at Case Gym, facing East Stroudsburg and North Dakota State on Jan. 23, Princeton on Feb. 5, Drexel on Feb. 6 and Rider and American International on Feb. 20. BU will be aiming for CAA glory at the conference championships on March 5-6 in Lawrenceville, N.J,
Here is a weight-by-weight breakdown of the 2009-10 Terriers:
125
After two seasons riddled with injuries, Freddy Santaite is hoping to stay healthy for a full season to provide a steady presence at 125. Santaite showed great potential at the start of each of the last two seasons. “If we can keep Freddy in one piece, I think he can be an All-American,” said Adams.
Backing up Santaite is sophomore Ryan Dowd, who filled in for Santaite at the 125 spot last season.
133
Senior Ryan Buff split time with junior Alex Cournoyer last year, but Buff will take over the 133 spot this season with Cournoyer moving up a weight class. Buff went 5-7 last year and earned a fall at the CAA Championships.
141
Senior Abbie Rush leads a deep group at 141. A regular in the lineup at several weight classes over the last three years, Rush wrestled exclusively at 141 last year and is expected to do the same in his senior campaign. “Abbie has a lot of experience under his belt,” Adams said.
Cournoyer will move up from 133 to back up Rush and freshman Ian Squires provides a third option at the 141 spot.
149
Freshman Nestor Taffur will step into the starting role after the graduation of NCAA qualifier Mike Roberts. Taffur brings impressive credentials, placing fourth in New Jersey at Bound Brook High School last year. “He’s going to start for us and he’s good,” said Adams.
Sophomores Matt Morgenstern and Andrew Swank are also in the mix at 149. “We’re pretty solid at that weight as far as depth,” said Adams.
157
Senior Ben Mandelbraut will once again be the primary option in the 157 spot, a role he moved into last season, where he collected a career-best eight wins. Morgenstern or Swank would move up a weight class to back up Mandelbraut.
165
Inglin returns in the 165 spot and that weight class is further bolstered by freshman Kyle Czarnecki. Inglin won 15 matches and earned five falls as the starter at 165 last year. “C.J. is the type of kid that would wrestle anywhere we needed him to compete at,” said Adams. “He’s just really solid.”
Last year’s Illinois high school champion, Czarnecki will also see plenty of action as a rookie. “I think he is going to be real quality,” said Adams. “He’s already pretty tough.”
174
Meys returns after an outstanding rookie year in which he posted a 27-12 record and tallied 13 pins, qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a freshman and showing why he was one of the most coveted recruits in the nation.
“Hunter is doing really well,” said Adams. “He’s the most dominant wrestler in the room.”
184
Hall will also be looking for a return trip to the NCAA Championships, working to move down a weight class after qualifying at 197 last season. Hall went 25-12 with five pins over his sophomore campaign. “Hall worked hard all summer,” said Adams. “He’s really much improved over what he was last year.”
197
Junior Brock Mantella, a transfer from Pittsburgh, and Hall can both wrestle at either 184 or 197, giving Adams some versatility in his lineup. Mantella went 18-14 for the Panthers last year. “With Brock Mantella in the lineup, that makes us really solid there,” said Adams.
Senior Carmen Rondash will back up both the 184 and 197 spots after appearing in nine matches last season.
285
Freshman Nate Lavallee comes aboard in the heavyweight slot. A three-time state champion in Maine, Adams sees plenty of potential in Lavallee. “He’s an incredible athlete for a heavyweight,” said Adams. “He wants to learn, he wants to get better.”
Sophomore Brad Castronovo is another heavyweight option in the lineup.
