Trebor Clavette is one of four returning 'Cats who placed third at SoCons last year (photo by Brian Westerholt).
Wildcats Open 2007-08 Campaign Saturday
11/9/2007 5:35:55 PM | Wrestling
Marc Gignac
Five members of the Davidson wrestling team peaked at the right time and finished third in their respective weight classes at the SoCon Championships last season. Four of the five are back for the Wildcats so the question for the 2007-08 campaign becomes, is there an encore?
“When you take third one year, the next step is that you are looking to win it the next year,” said coach Bob Patnesky. “We have a good, young group of talented wrestlers, and we're looking to improve on last season.”
The Wildcats are deeper than in year's past, which will help the team results in a couple ways. First, it sets up some fierce competition in practice with two wrestlers vying for the top role in each weight class, which means each guy will have to bring it every day. Second, two guys competing at each class should help the 'Cats score better in their early-season tournaments.
“We gear everything we do towards the first weekend in March,” said Patnesky. “One thing I can guarantee is that we're going to be in shape, and we're going to come at you.”
125
The four wrestlers in the lower weight classes may provide for the most depth on the team, and the group is comprised of three freshmen and a sophomore.
The sophomore is reigning SoCon Freshman of the Year, Ben Altman, who posted a 26-14 record at 125. He was 12-6 in dual meets and 3-2 in SoCon matches. Altman placed third at the SoCon Championships after winning three of four matches.
Altman will not be able to rest on his laurels as freshman Vitali Radsky is already pushing him hard in practice. A three-time state qualifier, he posted a 24-8 record as a senior in high school and placed eighth in the Ohio state tournament as a sophomore.
“We have two very good wrestlers at 125 in Ben and Vitali, and they are only making each other better,” said Patnesky. “We should be very solid in this weight class for the next four years. The starter won't be determined until we start dual meets.”
133
Two freshmen are vying for the starting nod at 133. Alex Radsky, the twin brother of Vitali, qualified for the Ohio state tournament the last three seasons and posted a 42-3 record at 119 as a senior and tallied a career record of 110-37.
Jack Templeton finished an excellent high school career by posting a 54-1 record as a senior en route to the Georgia state title. He posted a 159-21 career record and owns four school records.
“It's an open class, but I feel good with the two freshman we have here. They are both very talented,” said Patnesky. “We're hoping one of the two performs well and wins matches, but we have to keep in mind that in the grand scheme of things, they are only freshmen.”
141
Carl Sandercock has the early nod as the starter at 141. The sophomore sat out last season but was an NHSCA All-American at Quincy High School in Illinois.
“Carl has the inside track to the starting job and is coming along very well,” said Patnesky. “ He is really stepping up to the challenge.”
The internal challenge is coming from sophomore Ben Thompson and junior Chris Panfili. Thompson wrestled in 11 matches in three different weight classes a season ago, competing in eight matches at 141. Panfili competed in 30 matches at 133 and registered two victories by pin.
“Ben is a do-anything-you-ask type of kid and a very hard worker,” said Patnesky. “Chris will be available second semester and look to contribute.”
149, 157
Freshman Joe McGinley and junior Scott Matthews will compete for the starting spot at 149. The winner of that battle will stay in the class, and the other will wrestle in the 157 slot.
McGinley placed eighth in the NHSCA Preseason Nationals as a senior and finished the campaign with a 20-9 record with nine pins. He logged a 62-29 career mark.
Matthews competed in 26 matches at 149 and three at 157 in 2006-07. He had three wins in dual meets and competed in two matches at 149 in the SoCon Championships.
“Joe has the capability of hitting the big move and ending matches at any time,” said Patnesky, “and he comes from a great wrestling background. Scott is a hard-nosed kid, who is always working to get better.”
165
Kevin Cook will be the 'Cats top wrestler at 165, and it'll be nice that he's found a home, so to speak. The junior wrestled in four different weight classes, ranging from 165 to 197, last year. He was 6-6 in dual matches and posted a 4-2 mark at 184.
“Kevin has put in his time in waiting for the opportunity to start,” said Patnesky. “He's ready to compete, and his work ethic is unparalleled.”
174
Trebor Clavette is the old man on the team, the 'Cats lone senior, and will wrestle at 174. He went 17-8, wrestling at 165 in each match. He posted a 3-1 record to finish third at the SoCon Championships.
“It's no secret that we're looking for a conference championship from Trebor,” said Patnesky. “If he makes a run at the end of the year, he has the ability to become Davidson's first wrestling All-American.”
184
Another third-place finisher at last season's SoCon Championships returns at 184 in Sam O'Hair. The junior posted a 16-14 record at 184 and went 7-5 in dual meets.
“Sam just knows how to win,” said Patnesky. “He wrestles a very strategic type of match, and he is a human leach on top, where he can score.”
197
Mike Waters returns at 197, the fourth veteran who took third at the SoCon Championships. He was 17-10 with two pins at 197 and took third in the West Virginia Open and second in the Davidson Open.
“Pound for pound, Mike is one of the strongest kids I've ever seen,” said Patnesky. “He's a work horse but is going to have to step up because his weight class in the league got a lot tougher.”
Heavyweight
A raw talent with tremendous size will make his debut for the Wildcats at heavyweight. Charlie Wolff is a 6-foot-6, 285-pound freshman, and Patnesky can't help but smile when he talks about him.
“It's great to finally have a true heavyweight,” said Patnesky. “He's still a freshman, and we're bringing him along slowly. We'll see what he has, but one thing is for sure, he's a competitor.”
The Wildcats open the campaign at the Pembroke Open Nov. 10, and fans can get their first glimpse of the squad at the Davidson Open, an all-day tournament at the Baker Sports Complex, Dec. 1.
Dual matches begin in the second semester, and Gardner-Webb visits Davidson Jan. 15. The 'Cats also host Chattanooga, Campbell, Anderson and Duquesne this season before heading to the SoCon Championships March 8, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“When you take third one year, the next step is that you are looking to win it the next year,” said coach Bob Patnesky. “We have a good, young group of talented wrestlers, and we're looking to improve on last season.”
The Wildcats are deeper than in year's past, which will help the team results in a couple ways. First, it sets up some fierce competition in practice with two wrestlers vying for the top role in each weight class, which means each guy will have to bring it every day. Second, two guys competing at each class should help the 'Cats score better in their early-season tournaments.
“We gear everything we do towards the first weekend in March,” said Patnesky. “One thing I can guarantee is that we're going to be in shape, and we're going to come at you.”
125
The four wrestlers in the lower weight classes may provide for the most depth on the team, and the group is comprised of three freshmen and a sophomore.
The sophomore is reigning SoCon Freshman of the Year, Ben Altman, who posted a 26-14 record at 125. He was 12-6 in dual meets and 3-2 in SoCon matches. Altman placed third at the SoCon Championships after winning three of four matches.
Altman will not be able to rest on his laurels as freshman Vitali Radsky is already pushing him hard in practice. A three-time state qualifier, he posted a 24-8 record as a senior in high school and placed eighth in the Ohio state tournament as a sophomore.
“We have two very good wrestlers at 125 in Ben and Vitali, and they are only making each other better,” said Patnesky. “We should be very solid in this weight class for the next four years. The starter won't be determined until we start dual meets.”
133
Two freshmen are vying for the starting nod at 133. Alex Radsky, the twin brother of Vitali, qualified for the Ohio state tournament the last three seasons and posted a 42-3 record at 119 as a senior and tallied a career record of 110-37.
Jack Templeton finished an excellent high school career by posting a 54-1 record as a senior en route to the Georgia state title. He posted a 159-21 career record and owns four school records.
“It's an open class, but I feel good with the two freshman we have here. They are both very talented,” said Patnesky. “We're hoping one of the two performs well and wins matches, but we have to keep in mind that in the grand scheme of things, they are only freshmen.”
141
Carl Sandercock has the early nod as the starter at 141. The sophomore sat out last season but was an NHSCA All-American at Quincy High School in Illinois.
“Carl has the inside track to the starting job and is coming along very well,” said Patnesky. “ He is really stepping up to the challenge.”
The internal challenge is coming from sophomore Ben Thompson and junior Chris Panfili. Thompson wrestled in 11 matches in three different weight classes a season ago, competing in eight matches at 141. Panfili competed in 30 matches at 133 and registered two victories by pin.
“Ben is a do-anything-you-ask type of kid and a very hard worker,” said Patnesky. “Chris will be available second semester and look to contribute.”
149, 157
Freshman Joe McGinley and junior Scott Matthews will compete for the starting spot at 149. The winner of that battle will stay in the class, and the other will wrestle in the 157 slot.
McGinley placed eighth in the NHSCA Preseason Nationals as a senior and finished the campaign with a 20-9 record with nine pins. He logged a 62-29 career mark.
Matthews competed in 26 matches at 149 and three at 157 in 2006-07. He had three wins in dual meets and competed in two matches at 149 in the SoCon Championships.
“Joe has the capability of hitting the big move and ending matches at any time,” said Patnesky, “and he comes from a great wrestling background. Scott is a hard-nosed kid, who is always working to get better.”
165
Kevin Cook will be the 'Cats top wrestler at 165, and it'll be nice that he's found a home, so to speak. The junior wrestled in four different weight classes, ranging from 165 to 197, last year. He was 6-6 in dual matches and posted a 4-2 mark at 184.
“Kevin has put in his time in waiting for the opportunity to start,” said Patnesky. “He's ready to compete, and his work ethic is unparalleled.”
174
Trebor Clavette is the old man on the team, the 'Cats lone senior, and will wrestle at 174. He went 17-8, wrestling at 165 in each match. He posted a 3-1 record to finish third at the SoCon Championships.
“It's no secret that we're looking for a conference championship from Trebor,” said Patnesky. “If he makes a run at the end of the year, he has the ability to become Davidson's first wrestling All-American.”
184
Another third-place finisher at last season's SoCon Championships returns at 184 in Sam O'Hair. The junior posted a 16-14 record at 184 and went 7-5 in dual meets.
“Sam just knows how to win,” said Patnesky. “He wrestles a very strategic type of match, and he is a human leach on top, where he can score.”
197
Mike Waters returns at 197, the fourth veteran who took third at the SoCon Championships. He was 17-10 with two pins at 197 and took third in the West Virginia Open and second in the Davidson Open.
“Pound for pound, Mike is one of the strongest kids I've ever seen,” said Patnesky. “He's a work horse but is going to have to step up because his weight class in the league got a lot tougher.”
Heavyweight
A raw talent with tremendous size will make his debut for the Wildcats at heavyweight. Charlie Wolff is a 6-foot-6, 285-pound freshman, and Patnesky can't help but smile when he talks about him.
“It's great to finally have a true heavyweight,” said Patnesky. “He's still a freshman, and we're bringing him along slowly. We'll see what he has, but one thing is for sure, he's a competitor.”
The Wildcats open the campaign at the Pembroke Open Nov. 10, and fans can get their first glimpse of the squad at the Davidson Open, an all-day tournament at the Baker Sports Complex, Dec. 1.
Dual matches begin in the second semester, and Gardner-Webb visits Davidson Jan. 15. The 'Cats also host Chattanooga, Campbell, Anderson and Duquesne this season before heading to the SoCon Championships March 8, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
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