Young Laker Wrestlers Eager to Start Season

Oswego, NY: The Oswego State Wrestling team is prepared to begin the 2002-03 season as they will compete in the 20th Annual Ithaca College Invitational, Friday and Saturday, November 8th and 9th.

   The Lakers are coming off an outstanding season a year ago.  Oswego State cracked the top ten at the NCAA Division III Championships for the first time since 1984.  The Lakers finished ninth in the final team standings with three All Americans.  The 2002-03 Oswego State squad is eager to hit the mat and continue the success of a year ago.  Graduation has taken it's toll, gone from a year ago are All-Americans Noah Seitel and Tom Mulchy as well as starters Jason Belcher and Jeff Holmes.

    A large group of freshmen and transfers combined with a solid nucleus of returnees should prove to be an exciting year for the Lakers.   In the Pre Season National Wrestling Coaches Association Brute-Adidas Team Rankings the Lakers appeared at the 27th spot in the poll.  Coach Mike Howard sized up this year's Laker wrestlers by saying "we may experience some growing pains early, but by the end of the season we hope to be ready for the challenges of the Empire and NCAA tournaments."

    Leading the list of experienced grapplers is Tenkoran Agyeman who placed third at the 2002 Empire Conference Championships at 133 pounds and compiled an overall record of 24-8.  Agyeman also won the Springfield Invitational, was second at the RIT Invitational and fourth at the Ithaca Invite last season. The Laker sophomore is currently ranked eighth in the individual NWCA Brute-Adidas national rankings.

    Fifth year senior and Co-captain Ed Miller will return to a more comfortable weight and compete at 174 pounds.  Miller a 2001 Empire Conference place finisher at 174 pounds, wrestled at 157 last season and placed fourth at the IC Invitational.

    Gino Giannettino gained conference honors a year ago as he placed fourth at heavyweight. This season, the Laker sophomore has trimmed down and will look to compete at 184 pounds.  Giannettino was 12-19 at heavyweight last season.

    Dan Dempsey also returns to the Laker lineup, he is a former two-time Empire Conference place finisher at 125 pounds.  During the 2000-01 season, Dempsey compiled a record of 25-15 that included a victory at the RIT Invitational as well as a third place finish at Springfield.

    Jeremy Calkins (285), Chis DeMichiel (165), Jon Jagatnarian (184), Mike Kline (141), Mark Mancari (141), Gabriel Young (133) and Max Zimmermann (141) return after getting plenty of action as freshmen a year ago.  These individuals will be counted on to fill some of the voids left from a year ago.

    Newcomers that will look to make an impact this season for the Lakers are Brian Bowen at 141 pounds, Matt Champion at 157 pounds, Jores Peters at 165 pounds and Pete Kaskella at heavyweight.  Bowen placed third in last season's Section V Championships while Champion placed second.  Peters was third in Section IV while Kaskella placed sixth at the 2001 New York State High School Championships.

    Two-time conference place winner and former national qualifier Jeff Holmes will join the Laker staff as the assistant coach for the 2002-2003 season.

    Oswego State will open their home schedule on Wednesday, November 13th, as they will host R. I. T. in a dual meet at 7:00 pm in Ziel Gymnasium in Laker Hall.