Photo by: Jeff Sochko - DavidsonPhotos.com
Wrestling continues to grow heading into 2018-19 campaign
11/1/2018 3:12:00 PM | Wrestling
2018-19 Schedule | DavidsonPhotos.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Head coach Andy Lausier begins his second season at the helm of Davidson wrestling in 2018-19 and excitement around the program is building.
FAMILIAR FACES
The Wildcats return nine from the 2017-18 squad including junior 184-pounder, Conor Fenn. Fenn reached the podium at the 2018 Southern Conference Championship, taking third and landing one spot short of a trip to Nationals. Senior 157-pounder, Tony Palumbo, returns for his senior season and looks to improve on a 32-37 career record. Fenn (13 wins), Palumbo (11) and classmate Aidan Conroy (12) return with the best marks from a season ago.
"I am excited to see the progress from our upperclassmen. They have all made incredible technical improvements and they have really advanced their individual styles wrestling, so the key for these guys is to know that they belong on the mat with anyone in the country," said coach Lausier.
KEY LOSSES
The 'Cats will miss a few heavy hitters in Dustin Runzo and Konner Pritchard who grappled in the 141 and 197 weight classes, respectively. Runzo also led the team off the mats, serving as a team captain for multiple years. Davidson will also miss the abilities of Will Cooley and Ryan Devlin in the wrestling room.
GROWING THE ROOM
Lausier added a stable of eight to the Class of 2022, giving him 17 grapplers for the season. Four of the eight were champions from their respective states, while six of them had their hands raised over 100 times in their prep years.
"Coach [Joey] Dance and I are excited to sit in the corner of our freshmen for the first time. This is a talented, gritty, and hard-working group of young athletes, and we will depend on them greatly this season," said Lausier.
2018-19 OUTLOOK
The Wildcats will look to build on the successes of last season. Davidson defeated SoCon foe, The Citadel, for the first time in program history, snapping a 55-match winless streak against the Bulldogs. Fenn's podium presence last year was the first for Davidson since Scott Patrick '15 advanced to the NCAA National Championship.
WHERE CAN I SEE THEM?
The Wildcats have put together an exciting schedule that features three preseason nationally -programs. Davidson plays host to both The University of Pittsburgh (Feb. 9) and Appalachian State in a SoCon dual (Feb. 12). Pitt opens the season ranked No. 25 in the InterMat Poll and is receiving votes in the NWCA Coaches Poll, while the Mountaineers enter the year No. 25 in the Coaches Poll. Another ranked opponent on the schedule is North Carolina State University. The Wildcats will grapple NC State (13/8) on the eve of the Wolfpack Open (Nov. 18). Other home matches in the confines of Belk Arena include the home opener on Nov. 13 against Greensboro, VMI and Sacred Heart visit for a Saturday, Dec. 1 tri-match, while George Mason drops down right before the holiday break (Dec. 20). When the calendar turns to 2019, Brown comes first (Jan. 11), then the matches with Pitt and App State and wraps up with Senior Night on Friday, Feb. 22 against Gardner-Webb.
Outside of dual matches, the Wildcats will compete in a trio of open meets including the season opening Southeast Open. The Wolfpack Open and F&M Open will also test the 'Cats.
"The Southeast Open will be a great measuring stick for where we are as team. We then have the following weekend off which will allow us to make adjustments and further preparations for our home opener on Nov. 13th against Greensboro," said Lausier.
COACHES COMMENTS – ANDY LAUSIER
"We are really excited to kick off the season this weekend. We've had a very productive few months of training since the team arrived in August, and now we get the opportunity to put that training to the test and see where we stand."
FOLLOW ALONG
Be sure to follow the Wildcat wrestling team on Twitter, Facebookand Instagram!
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Head coach Andy Lausier begins his second season at the helm of Davidson wrestling in 2018-19 and excitement around the program is building.
FAMILIAR FACES
The Wildcats return nine from the 2017-18 squad including junior 184-pounder, Conor Fenn. Fenn reached the podium at the 2018 Southern Conference Championship, taking third and landing one spot short of a trip to Nationals. Senior 157-pounder, Tony Palumbo, returns for his senior season and looks to improve on a 32-37 career record. Fenn (13 wins), Palumbo (11) and classmate Aidan Conroy (12) return with the best marks from a season ago.
"I am excited to see the progress from our upperclassmen. They have all made incredible technical improvements and they have really advanced their individual styles wrestling, so the key for these guys is to know that they belong on the mat with anyone in the country," said coach Lausier.
KEY LOSSES
The 'Cats will miss a few heavy hitters in Dustin Runzo and Konner Pritchard who grappled in the 141 and 197 weight classes, respectively. Runzo also led the team off the mats, serving as a team captain for multiple years. Davidson will also miss the abilities of Will Cooley and Ryan Devlin in the wrestling room.
GROWING THE ROOM
Lausier added a stable of eight to the Class of 2022, giving him 17 grapplers for the season. Four of the eight were champions from their respective states, while six of them had their hands raised over 100 times in their prep years.
"Coach [Joey] Dance and I are excited to sit in the corner of our freshmen for the first time. This is a talented, gritty, and hard-working group of young athletes, and we will depend on them greatly this season," said Lausier.
2018-19 OUTLOOK
The Wildcats will look to build on the successes of last season. Davidson defeated SoCon foe, The Citadel, for the first time in program history, snapping a 55-match winless streak against the Bulldogs. Fenn's podium presence last year was the first for Davidson since Scott Patrick '15 advanced to the NCAA National Championship.
WHERE CAN I SEE THEM?
The Wildcats have put together an exciting schedule that features three preseason nationally -programs. Davidson plays host to both The University of Pittsburgh (Feb. 9) and Appalachian State in a SoCon dual (Feb. 12). Pitt opens the season ranked No. 25 in the InterMat Poll and is receiving votes in the NWCA Coaches Poll, while the Mountaineers enter the year No. 25 in the Coaches Poll. Another ranked opponent on the schedule is North Carolina State University. The Wildcats will grapple NC State (13/8) on the eve of the Wolfpack Open (Nov. 18). Other home matches in the confines of Belk Arena include the home opener on Nov. 13 against Greensboro, VMI and Sacred Heart visit for a Saturday, Dec. 1 tri-match, while George Mason drops down right before the holiday break (Dec. 20). When the calendar turns to 2019, Brown comes first (Jan. 11), then the matches with Pitt and App State and wraps up with Senior Night on Friday, Feb. 22 against Gardner-Webb.
Outside of dual matches, the Wildcats will compete in a trio of open meets including the season opening Southeast Open. The Wolfpack Open and F&M Open will also test the 'Cats.
"The Southeast Open will be a great measuring stick for where we are as team. We then have the following weekend off which will allow us to make adjustments and further preparations for our home opener on Nov. 13th against Greensboro," said Lausier.
COACHES COMMENTS – ANDY LAUSIER
"We are really excited to kick off the season this weekend. We've had a very productive few months of training since the team arrived in August, and now we get the opportunity to put that training to the test and see where we stand."
FOLLOW ALONG
Be sure to follow the Wildcat wrestling team on Twitter, Facebookand Instagram!
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