Panthers Wrestling Looks to Build on Last Year's Experience

11/11/2003

Pittsburgh opens the dual meet season Nov. 19 at No. 2 Lehigh.

After a year marked with both tragedy and triumph, the Pittsburgh Panthers’ wrestling team will look to continue its upward climb in the Eastern Wrestling League and NCAA rankings.

Head Coach Rande Stottlemyer, entering his 25th season at the helm for the Panthers, led the Panthers to an 8-5 dual mark and a 19th-place (tied) finish at the NCAA Championships.

Injuries kept the Panthers from putting their top lineup onto the mat until deep into the dual meet season. Former Panthers wrestler and first-year assistant coach David Sandberg passed away in late January, stunning the Pittsburgh community.

Stottlemyer and his team kept moving forward, however, and by the end of the year, all of its hard work came to fruition. Four of the team’s wrestlers qualified for the NCAAs and all of them won at least one match in the tournament.

It was the first-such trip for Ronald Tarquinio and Justin Nestor, redshirt freshmen in 2002-03, while veterans Carl Fronhofer and Justin Giovinco made their fourth and third trips, respectively.

Fronhofer, who came into the tournament unseeded at 174 pounds, won five straight matches and made it all the way to the finals before dropping a decision to Oklahoma’s Robbie Waller. Fronhofer’s magical run led Pittsburgh to a total of 30 points, its highest total in five years and second-best total since 1989.

With all of its starters back except Fronhofer, now an assistant coach, and Giovinco, Pittsburgh will use the experience gained last year to make a statement in 2003-04.

"I really like this team, it’s a good bunch of guys that work really hard," Stottlemyer said. "I like the chemistry that the team has. We’re young but talented and they have the blue-collar Pittsburgh work ethic that is necessary to succeed in our sport.

"They come to work in the wrestling room with the enthusiasm necessary to be successful. We will have a lot of underclassmen in the starting lineup but many of them gained some much-needed experience last year. I’m excited about the things we could accomplish this year."

The following is a weight class-by-class breakdown of the 2003-04 Pittsburgh Panthers wrestling team.

125 POUNDS

The Panthers will begin the 2003-04 season with only two 125-pounders on their roster. True freshman Drew Headlee, a native of nearby Waynesburg, Pa., will be the starter in Stottlemyer’s lineup.

"Drew was a successful scholastic wrestler and the sport is very important in Waynesburg," Stottlemyer said. "We have confidence in him to step in there, do well and certainly will get better as the season goes along."

It would be the second consecutive season that a true freshman is starting at 125 pounds for the Panthers, joining Jordan Sianni in 2002-03.

It is unknown whether or not Sianni will wrestle at 125 or 133 pounds but his team-leading 27 victories last season should help him challenge for a spot.

"Jordan has to make the weight first," Stottlemyer said. "He had great success as a freshman and he’s certainly capable of outstanding performances."

133 POUNDS

The Panthers welcome junior college transfer Tyshawn Scarlett to the 133-pound weight class. Scarlett and last season’s EWL Championships competitor, Mike Ciotti, are the favorites to land the starting nod.

Scarlett was a JUCO All-American at Nassau Community College (N.Y.) last season.

"Tyshawn is a very talented athlete and works very hard to be as good as he is," Stottlemyer said. "He has had success at different levels and we’re anxious to get him out on the mat because of that success."

Ciotti became the starter at 133 pounds midway through last season and performed admirably. He finished sixth at the EWL Championships in Morgantown and will provide competition for Scarlett.

"Mike’s experience bodes well for him and he worked very hard over the summer," Stottlemyer said.

Also providing depth in the weight class is redshirt sophomore Adam Curry, a Pittsburgh native.

"Adam has put in a tremendous summer and really worked hard to get better," Stottlemyer commented. "The only thing he lacks is experience which he should get lots of this season."

141 POUNDS

One of the three returning NCAA qualifiers will man the 141-pound weight class for the Panthers and that’s redshirt sophomore Ronald Tarquinio.

In his first season as a starter, Tarquinio won nine of 13 dual meets and placed fourth at the EWL Championships to earn a wild-card berth into Nationals.

"Ron got some great experience last year and that has made him one of our team leaders for this season," Stottlemyer said. "He has trained hard to increase his size and decrease his body fat.

"His confidence is there and we expect him to have a great year. Ron has certainly earned the respect of his teammates and coaches."

Backing Tarquinio up at 141 pounds will be redshirt sophomore Norm Lohman, who has wrestled just three matches in his first two years with the Panthers.

"Norm is a hard-working wrestler from the Lehigh Valley," Stottlemyer said. "He is a blue-collar athlete that quietly goes about his business."

149 POUNDS

One of the two weight classes the Panthers won’t have the luxury of a returning starter is 149 pounds. The loss of three-time NCAA qualifier Justin Giovinco presents an opportunity for any of three wrestlers.

"It’s one of our more competitive weight classes and I’m interested to see all three progress through this season," Stottlemyer said.

True freshman Matt Kocher, a State College native, won a PIAA title as a senior and wrestled in several tournaments over the summer to prepare for the collegiate season.

"Matt was an All-American at Junior Nationals and certainly has an excellent chance to break into our starting lineup," Stottlemyer said. "Working with Tarquinio will help Matt. He has a bright future here at Pittsburgh."

There are also two redshirt freshmen at 149 pounds for the Panthers in Michael Perinotti and Nick Krecker.

Perinotti was 16-9 as a redshirt last season, competing in several open tournaments, but Krecker was sidelined with an injury and did not get any matches in.

"Mike worked pretty hard this summer and is moving up a weight class," Stottlemyer said. "He’s built himself up to compete for the starting job at 149 pounds.

"Nick Krecker is another Lehigh Valley wrestler that showed some good promise last year in practice. He should be in the mix for us and will finally get some experience."

157 POUNDS

The Panthers’ starter at 157 pounds will be redshirt sophomore Justin Nestor, a third-place finisher at the EWL Championships and an NCAA qualifier a year ago.

Nestor won 24 of his 38 matches and tied for the team lead in falls with eight.

"Justin, like Ron Tarquinio, will be a leader for this team," Stottlemyer said. "He’s one of those hard-nosed western Pennsylvania guys that comes at you and won’t go down without a battle. The bottom line with Justin is that he’s a winner."

Stottlemyer will have quality depth at the weight class with junior Jim Mangan, redshirt sophomore Randall Totten, redshirt freshman Jake Doerfler and freshman Tim Allen.

"Jim is in his fourth year with the program and gives us the experience in case we need to make a change in the lineup," Stottlemyer said. "He has continually worked hard since he first got here.

"Randall is coming off of shoulder surgery and will have a chance to get in there and compete after having a few tough breaks the last two seasons.

"Tim is a local kid that wants to get in the wrestling room and work hard. He has limited experience in the sport but he’s earned his spot on this team.

"Jake is moving up a weight class and injuries have slowed him down a bit. He’ll need to spend time in the weight room to get up to 157."

165 POUNDS

Stottlemyer welcomes back redshirt junior Zachariah Doll, a two-time NCAA qualifier before missing last year due to a shoulder injury.

"Zach is in a new weight class after injuries have impaired his performance for the latter part of 2002 and all of last season," Stottlemyer said. "I feel very good about his progress and we’ll be cautious in how we use him.

"We want him ready for the end of the year and we’re excited to see him back out there."

The Panthers will also have quality depth at 165 pounds with freshman Keith Gavin, Donald Rush and Totten.

"Keith is a hard-working guy who can really throw," Stottlemyer said. "He’ll get in there for us and gain lots of experience.

"Donald had thumb surgery last year but he’s a real smart, blue-collar wrestler," Stottlemyer added. "He has a great leg attack and is an intense competitor."

174 POUNDS

The Panthers have lost Fronhofer to their own coaching ranks but sophomore Francis Iorfido will step in after earning the starting nod at 165 pounds late in his first season.

Iorfido won his first four dual meets for the Panthers in 2002-03 and placed fifth at the EWL Championships.

"Francis gained a lot of good experience last season and got bigger in the offseason," Stottlemyer said. "He’s a cerebral guy that never defeats himself. He finds a way to win matches."

Also looking for time at 174 pounds will be Steve Selcher and freshman Michael Heist.

"Steve has been in his fair share of matches as a spot starter over the last two years," Stottlemyer said. "He has to work a little harder at the mental aspects of wrestling to get to the next level.

"Michael has lacked the championship experience in scholastic wrestling but he was a three-sport athlete in high school and can certainly help us."

184 POUNDS

Starting the season at 184 pounds will most likely be redshirt junior Mike Croyle, last season’s starter.

"Mike didn’t win as much as he wanted to in his first year as a starter," Stottlemyer said. "He is one of the toughest competitors we have and it’s important that he stays within his abilities to maximize his opportunities to win more matches."

Two true freshmen, Chas Rush and Joe Ammendola, will look to earn valuable experience in open tournaments throughout the season.

"Chas has had several surgeries coming out of high school so he’ll sit this year and we’ll get him ready to contribute in the future," Stottlemyer said. "Joe is a lot like Michael Heist. He played a lot of soccer in high school and wrestled so he brings a lot of athleticism to the table."

197 POUNDS

Senior Josh Birt will be the Panthers’ 197-pounder for the 2003-04 season after joining the team in January of last year.

A former Junior College National Champion, Birt wrestled in just seven matches before sustaining a foot injury and missing the EWL Championships.

"It was a very difficult year for Josh last year," Stottlemyer said of the Washington native, like the late Sandberg. "He trains very hard and needs to work to give us as much as he can this season."

Backing Birt up will be true freshman Eric Cassidy, a local recruit from North Allegheny High School, who may also get into the lineup at 184 pounds.

"Eric has great physique and is well-suited for the bigger weight classes," Stottlemyer said. "He’ll get some matches in this year and make contributions for us now and in the future."

285 POUNDS

The Panthers return both wrestlers who started for them at the heavyweight class in senior Travis Shirley and sophomore Robert Kail.

Shirley began the season as the starter before Kail replaced him and won 16 matches en route to a sixth-place finish at the EWL Championships.

This season, Shirley will again begin the year as the starter with Kail ineligible until the second semester.

"Travis hasn’t had much experience but he does have some good skills," Stottlemyer said. "He’ll compete for the starting spot throughout the year and will need to put forth a solid effort.

"With Bob, weight is an issue with him but he’s trained very hard to improve all of his skills. His work ethic and commitment are better and he has made strides to get where he needs to be to compete for us."